Yes, citric acid is highly likely to cause damage if you use it in your washing machine.
Citric acid is an excellent ingredient when it comes to household cleaning, but one area where it should not be used is your washing machine.
Why Shouldn’t You Use Citric Acid in Your Washing Machine?
Citric acid is brilliant for killing bacteria, germs, and various fungi which makes it a perfect, low-cost household sanitiser.
It also works well on eliminating soap scum, rust, limescale, and watermarks so it would be a seemingly natural progression to use it to clean a washing machine.
However, washing machines have several rubber parts and citric acid is highly acidic, which means it will swiftly begin to degrade any rubber in your machine.
What Can You Use Instead of Citric Acid?
If you’re wanting to use relatively common household ingredients to clean the inside of your washing machine, there are always other options aside from citric acid.
Vinegar and bicarbonate of soda are two highly reliable household products that will efficiently clean your washing machine without any detrimental effects, especially if used in moderation.
Vinegar contains acetic acid, which is also corrosive but, when used in the right amounts, vinegar is an outstanding household cleaner that can be used on almost any surface.
Bicarbonate of soda will have a reaction when mixed with vinegar, but if you are careful with how you combine them then these two products together are a magical cleaning team.
Another option to use as an alternative to citric acid is Zoflora, which is a trustworthy disinfectant that is also safe on most household surfaces and will kill the germs and bacteria inside your machine without any damage. However, it should also always be used in moderation.
Conclusion
Citric acid can be dangerous to your washing machine if you use it regularly to clean the inside.
If you’re wanting to keep your machine’s rubber components in peak condition, then try the other affordable alternatives to citric acid, such as vinegar and bicarbonate of soda.
An adventurous book lover with an animal obsession and a proclivity for travel and spontaneity. Used to passionately despise cleaning but has grown to enjoy it thanks to learning all the best tricks and shortcuts to guaranteeing a stress-free routine and a spotless home.
