So my washing machine started smelling funky last week - like wet dog mixed with mildew. Yeah, totally sucks. Figured I needed to clean the dang thing but had zero clue where to start.

The Messy Research Phase

First I Googled "how to clean smelly washer". Big mistake. Everyone's pushing their favorite products. Saw powders you pour in, tablets you drop, liquids you splash around. Felt overwhelming as hell. Read like 20 articles comparing all these cleaners. Still confused.

Key stuff I looked at:

• Price: Some cost like three bucks, others twelve bucks per use?! What gives?
• Effort Level: Pour-and-run cleaners vs. scrub-with-toothbrush nightmares
• Effectiveness: So many fake reviews saying "OMG MIRACLE PRODUCT"

The Dirty Testing Part

Bought three random cleaners first. Total waste. Brand A's powder clumped up in the dispenser like soap jello. Brand B's liquid left sticky residue everywhere. Brand C's tablet just spun around the drum doing nothing. My machine still stank.

Tried the "natural" method too - vinegar and baking soda. Holy bubbles Batman! Overflowed everywhere. Cleaned the floor more than the washer. Wife threatened to divorce me.

The Tide Solution

Finally caved and grabbed Tide Washing Machine Cleaner. Pack says "just drop pod in empty washer and run hot cycle". Skeptical but desperate.

Exactly what I did:

• Wiped rubber gunk from the door seal (disgusting black slime)
• Plopped one blue pack into empty drum
• Hit "Clean Washer" button on my machine
• Grabbed beer and waited

Shockingly Simple Result

Three hours later? Opened washer expecting disappointment. Instead - smelled like NOTHING. Just clean. No perfume nonsense, no leftover funk. Actual miracle worker.

Checked those reviews again afterward. Realized Tide's instructions actually worked instead of being "marketing lies" like others. They said to run hot cycle? Ran hot cycle. Said no clothes? Put no clothes. Basic stuff others made complicated.

Honestly? Stop wasting time like I did. Just get the Tide packs. Follow their stupid simple directions. Works like magic without the crying and calling your mom part.