Affresh washing machine alternatives - what works and what to avoid
Need a replacement for Affresh to clean your washing machine?
Your washing machine should be cleaned monthly. Fortunately, most new machines are easy to clean due to the "Clean Washer" setting. However, your washer also probably recommends using a washing machine cleaner too - and most brands recommend Affresh.
What is Affresh?
Affresh is a brand of cleaners with products to clean washing machines, dish washers, coffee makers and more. But if you can't find any at your local store (or want to try something else) - there are alternatives.
OxiClean and Tide also make washing machine cleaners
Uproot Clean has a pet-specific offering
Try Borax Powder as an Affresh Replacement
Borax powder's main ingredient is sodium tetraborate, which is from the same chemical family as baking soda and the Affresh tabs. At about $5 for a 65 ounce box, Borax powder is also much cheaper than the Affresh tabs. Bonus - it is an excellent laundry booster to add to a load of whites or a particularly stinky batch.
Toss in 1/3 cup of borax powder and hit the clean cycle. That's it.
Avoid bleach as a replacement
Some manuals say liquid bleach works as an alternative but bleach is an extremely strong chemical and using too much can damage the rubber seals. It is safer to wait until you have a proper washing machine cleaner