Okay, let me walk you through my whole mess with the washing machine funk last week. Seriously, it started smelling like a swamp, even right after cycles. My towels came out damp and weird. I knew it was time to tackle it.

The Gross Beginning

First, I poked around the rubber seal - ew. Slimy black gunk everywhere. Then I ran an empty hot cycle just with vinegar, like folks online say. Womp womp. Still stank like wet dog. Felt totally pointless.

Grabbing the Clean People Stuff

Found this "Clean People Washing Machine Cleaner" tub at the store. Figured why not try? Directions were dumb simple: dump the powder in the drum, run the longest hottest cycle. No scrubbing? Sign me up.

What Actually Went Down

Poured that whole tub in. Smelled kinda like lemon candy, weirdly. Hit start on the "sanitary" cycle - hottest water, extra rinse. Took forever, honestly. Forgot how long those cycles run.

After it finished? Popped the door open expecting disappointment. Mind blown.

• First Benefit: Nuked the Stank: Zero swamp smell. Like opening a window after rain. Didn't even need baking soda magic after.
• Second Benefit: Actually Cleaned the Hidden Gunk: Checked the rubber seal again. That black goop? Gone. Completely. Drum looked shiny new, weirdly satisfying.
• Third Benefit: Clothes Felt Different: Threw in a load of workout clothes next. Came out fresher? Like, actually crisp smelling. Didn't expect that bonus.

The Takeaway

Yeah the vinegar hack’s cheaper. But if you want nuclear-level results? Worth dropping a few bucks. Lasted a solid three months for me before faint smells crept back. Now it’s routine - toss some in every few months while watching Netflix. Easy win.