Cleaning a top loader washer with just baking soda?

Does your washer have a sanitizing setting? Or, “extra hot” setting? That should help clean out the drum. Also, if you wash anything in that very hot water it’s best do only whites that won’t shrink and add some bleach. Otherwise, don’t wash anything and just run the cycle and I’d say still add ½ to one cup of bleach. Don’t do a dark wash after a bleach wash. Make the next load white to make sure you don’t ruin your clothes.

If there is a rubber part around the top of the drum check to see if mold is hiding in it. Use gloves. Replacing that part might help a lot if it is covered in mold. If it it just a small amount you can wipe it out with paper towel.

Once you get it clean you should always leave the lid open between washes so the drum dries out.

I completely cured my musty smell after my washer was in storage when I moved with the sanitizing setting and a quick wipe down or the rubber part.

I’ve made it a habit to add some baking soda & vinegar to at least one load of wash per week. I usually do it when doing a load of whites as that combo seems to make my whites whiter!!! It automatically assists in cleaning the inside of the washer WITHOUT any additional smells. It naturally neutralizes any odors in the machine. PLUS it’s relatively inexpensive so, IF it doesn’t work for you, you won’t be out of a huge financial outlay!!!

Thank you for the tips. Fixed typo. Removing odors, not doors.

I have a top load washer and per the instructions I have used the clean cycle with a cup of bleach once a month. I have never had an issue with odor.

A agree with marissa that vinegar can be used if you don’t like to use bleach.

The super hot water in the cleaning/sanitizing cycle is what really did the trick for me though.

I use Affresh cleaner, it is tablet that you put in machine and run it on hot water and longest cycle.

Just run three cups of bleach through it in a hot water cycle. That will handle that odor.

I use Affresh too. Be careful for the fine powder that floats around when you first open the package. It’ll make you cough.

Could use a sanitizer wipe.

Try ½ cup baking soda with a load of towels and hot water. Add 1 cup white vinegar with the rinse. It fights odor and softens your towels. Fabric softeners tend to build up on towels and make them less absorbent.