Washing Machine Cleaner NZ: Best Options & How to Clean

If your laundry smells like damp cloth even when it’s been washed, the problem might not be the detergent — it could be your washing machine. NZ households running loads several times a week may not realise how quickly residue builds up inside the drum. This guide runs through the cleaners you can find at Bunnings and Mitre 10, what each one actually does, and how to give your machine a proper clean.

Top NZ product: Ceraclen · Frequency recommended: Every 2 months · Ceraclen price: Around $7 · Dettol claim: Removes 99.9% germs · Fisher & Paykel rec: Ceraclean

What is the best thing to clean a washing machine with?

The question sounds simple, but the answer splits into two distinct approaches: commercial products designed specifically for the job, and DIY alternatives that sit in most kitchen cupboards already. Each has a different strength, and the right choice depends on how built-up the residue is.

Commercial cleaners available in NZ

Bunnings and Mitre 10 both carry dedicated washing machine cleaners — typically positioned near laundry products or appliance accessories. The most discussed product across NZ reviews is Ceraclean, a formula designed to address odours, mould and limescale buildup. Bunnings advises running a full normal cycle with the cleaner added to an empty drum, with no clothes or additional detergent Bunnings Warehouse official cleaning guide.

Fisher & Paykel, one of New Zealand’s major appliance brands, specifically names Ceraclean as a recommended cleaner for their machines. For buyers who want brand-backed assurance that a product won’t void a warranty, that recommendation carries weight.

Dettol Washing Machine Cleaner takes a different angle — its packaging prominently claims removal of 99.9% of germs. That antimicrobial positioning appeals to households focused on hygiene rather than just residue removal. It’s available at Chemist Warehouse and some supermarkets.

Tricleanium is another product that has gained traction via Bunnings viral reviews, priced at $9.98 at Bunnings AU stores, though NZ pricing has not been independently confirmed Honest Test of Bunnings Top-Rated Products review. One reviewer notes that after using Tricleanium, wiping down residue with a wet cloth is required — so it isn’t a completely hands-off product Honest Test of Bunnings Top-Rated Products review.

DIY alternatives

White vinegar and baking soda are the two most commonly cited DIY cleaners for washing machines. The method is straightforward: add roughly two cups of white vinegar to an empty drum and run the hottest cycle available. After that cycle completes, sprinkle half a cup of baking soda inside, run another hot cycle, and leave the door open to dry.

Vinegar addresses soap scum and mild odour. Baking soda adds a mild abrasive and deodorising action. Neither product contains the limescale-dissolving compounds found in commercial formulas — so for households in hard-water regions (common across much of the North Island), vinegar alone may not fully address the problem.

For a quick maintenance option between commercial cleaner uses, the vinegar cycle is a reasonable shortcut — but it shouldn’t replace a purpose-built cleaner entirely if you’re seeing visible buildup or persistent smells.

How do I clean my washing machine in NZ?

The process is straightforward: empty the drum, add the cleaner to the designated compartment or drum, select the appropriate cycle, and run it. Where it gets specific is the product choice and cycle selection — details that matter for effectiveness.

Steps from Bunnings

Bunnings’ official cleaning guidance recommends running a full normal cycle with the appliance cleaner only, with no clothes or detergent in the machine at the same time. The key principle is simple: you want the cleaner working on the drum and internal components, not getting diluted by laundry or competing with detergent residue Bunnings Warehouse official cleaning guide.

Run the longest available cycle with the hottest water the machine allows. If your model has a dedicated “tub clean” cycle, use that — it’s designed for exactly this purpose Bunnings Warehouse official cleaning guide. If no dedicated cycle exists, select the longest normal wash with hot water.

Powder-based cleaners (like OxiClean and Tide) dissolve quickly and start sudsing immediately, which some users prefer as a visible signal the product is working. Tablet-based cleaners like Affresh take longer to break down — they bounce around the drum before dissolving, which means the cleaning action starts partway through the cycle rather than immediately Best Washing Machine Cleaner Comparison YouTube test.

Products at Mitre 10, Countdown

Mitre 10 stocks washing machine cleaners under their own-brand and selected partner ranges. Their formulas typically focus on limescale and soap scum removal — practical for areas with hard water. Countdown supermarkets carry a more limited range, mostly focused on Dettol and smaller niche brands.

For NZ buyers who prefer to shop in-store and see the product before purchasing, Bunnings and Mitre 10 offer the widest in-person selection. Online shopping at bunnings.co.nz and mitre10.co.nz lets you check stock and compare prices before visiting.

Is it worth using a washing machine cleaner?

This is where NZ households might be skipping a step without realising the cost. A washing machine that hasn’t been cleaned can harbour mould in the gasket, soap residue in the dispensers, and limescale on heating elements. None of that is visible from the outside.

Pros and cons

Consumer.org.nz advice

Consumer.org.nz reviewed washing machine cleaners on 12 October 2023. Their testing looked at how effectively various products removed residue and odours from real machines. Their recommendation ranked Ceraclean highly — a finding that aligns with Fisher & Paykel’s own endorsement.

The broader insight from Consumer.org.nz is that any dedicated cleaner outperforms running an empty cycle with water alone. If you’ve been relying on hot water flushes to keep your machine clean, adding a purpose-built product will likely produce a noticeable difference.

How do you do a deep clean on a washing machine?

A deep clean goes beyond the monthly maintenance cycle. It involves addressing parts of the machine that a standard cleaner cycle doesn’t reach — the gasket, detergent drawer, and filter.

Deep clean steps

1. Clean the gasket — Wipe around the rubber door seal with a cloth dampened in white vinegar. Mould accumulates here, particularly in front-loading machines. Use an old toothbrush for the grooves if needed.
2. Clear the detergent drawer — Remove the detergent and fabric softener compartments and scrub with warm water and vinegar. Residue from softeners especially can cause blocking.
3. Check and clean the filter — Most machines have a filter near the bottom front panel. Clean it monthly if you’re running frequent loads. Refer to your machine’s manual for the exact location.
4. Run the commercial cleaner cycle — Add Ceraclean or your chosen product to an empty drum, run the hottest long cycle available.
5. Wipe down with a dry cloth — After the cycle, leave the door and drawer open to air dry. For Tricleanium users specifically, wipe residual matter with a wet cloth as noted in reviews Honest Test of Bunnings Top-Rated Products review.

The deep clean procedure addresses the parts a standard cleaner cycle cannot reach. For most households, performing this process quarterly combined with bi-monthly commercial cleaner cycles keeps the machine running efficiently and extends its usable life.

Prevent smells

The two biggest contributors to a smelly washing machine are trapped moisture and soap residue. After each deep clean, the single most effective habit is leaving the door and detergent drawer ajar between uses. This allows air circulation and prevents the damp environment where mould thrives.

Running a monthly maintenance cycle (every four weeks for average-use households, every two months for lighter use) prevents residue from building up to a point where odours become noticeable.

Can I put vinegar and baking soda in my washing machine to clean it?

Yes — but with the caveat that vinegar and baking soda work differently from commercial cleaners. They’re effective for maintenance between deeper cleans, not as a full substitute when residue is already established.

Vinegar and baking soda method

• Pour 2 cups of white vinegar into an empty drum
• Run the hottest cycle available
• After the cycle completes, add ½ cup baking soda
• Run another hot cycle
• Leave the door open to dry completely

Vinegar is mildly acidic and cuts through soap scum and mild mould. Baking soda acts as a mild abrasive deodoriser. Together they tackle the most common sources of washing machine odour Bunnings Warehouse official cleaning guide.

One thing to note: don’t mix vinegar and baking soda in the same cycle. The chemical reaction between them neutralises both ingredients before they can work on the machine’s interior surfaces. Always run them as two separate cycles.

What dissolves gunk?

The most stubborn residue in a washing machine is limescale — calcium and magnesium deposits from hard water. Vinegar handles mild limescale but commercial cleaners with chelating agents are more effective for heavy buildup. If you live in a hard-water area (much of the Waikato, Canterbury plains, and parts of Auckland), a dedicated limescale-fighting cleaner like Ceraclean will outperform vinegar alone.

Soap scum responds well to both vinegar and commercial surfactants. Mould in the gasket responds best to physical scrubbing with vinegar — no cleaner cycle reaches that area effectively.

The implication for hard-water households is clear: relying on vinegar alone will leave limescale deposits that gradually reduce heating efficiency and shorten the machine’s lifespan.

These specifications show the range of cleaner options available at major NZ retailers. For buyers prioritising brand endorsement, Ceraclean’s Fisher & Paykel recommendation gives it an edge over unendorsed alternatives.

True Fresh delivers the lowest per-use cost at $0.72, but NZ availability remains limited to imports. Ceraclean strikes the best balance between local stock, brand endorsement, and cost for NZ households.

“You may think your washing machine doesn’t need a clean, but they can actually get surprisingly dirty!”

— Bunnings Warehouse, Retailer

“it’s hard to beat this cleaning okay so the true fresh you get 24 or no 25 packs for $18 that equates to 72 per”

— Reviewer, YouTuber

NZ households often turn to reliable options like Ceraclen or Dettol usage guide from Bunnings and Mitre 10 for effective odour and gunk removal.

Frequently asked questions