I Ran a Dishwasher Tablet Through My Empty Washing Machine – Here’s What Happened
I have been doing my laundry the exact same way for over a decade. Detergent goes in the drawer, clothes go in the drum, press start, done. I never questioned it because it seemed to work fine. But last month, a friend told me something so bizarre that I genuinely thought she was having me on. She said she runs a dishwasher tablet through her empty washing machine once a month, and that it completely transformed the cleanliness of her laundry. I was sceptical, to say the least. But after seeing the results with my own eyes, I am now a total convert.
Why Your Washing Machine Is Secretly Dirty
Your washing machine is essentially a large basin that constantly cycles water through its pipes, drum, and pump. Over time, a combination of detergent residue, fabric softener build-up, minerals from hard water, and the natural oils and dirt from your clothes creates a sticky layer inside the machine that you cannot see. This hidden grime is the reason your clothes sometimes come out smelling musty even when they have just been washed, or why you might notice dark flecks appearing on your light-coloured laundry.
The machine is actually contaminating your clean clothes with its own hidden dirt.
Why a Dishwasher Tablet Works
A dishwasher tablet is designed to tackle exactly this kind of build-up. They contain powerful ingredients that are specifically formulated to break down residue, grease, and limescale.
- Enzymes eat away at the biological residue inside the drum
- Degreasers dissolve soap scum and fabric softener build-up
- Descaling agents tackle limescale on the heating element and inside pipes
It is a deep clean that standard washing machine cleaners simply cannot match, and it costs a fraction of the price.
How To Do It Step by Step
- Wait until your washing machine is completely empty
- Take a single dishwasher tablet (the cheapest one you can find works perfectly) and place it directly into the empty drum. Do NOT put it in the detergent drawer.
- Set your machine to the hottest cycle available (typically 90 degrees) and select the longest wash programme
- Close the door, press start, and let it run its full course
- Leave the door and detergent drawer open afterwards to air dry completely
The entire process takes a couple of hours, but you only need to do it once a month.
The Results Genuinely Shocked Me
When the cycle finished, I opened the door expecting to see no difference at all. Instead, I was hit with a wave of freshness. That musty, damp smell that I had become so used to was completely gone. The inside of the drum looked visibly cleaner and brighter, and when I wiped around the rubber seal, the grey grime came away effortlessly.
But the real proof came with the next load of laundry:
- Towels came out smelling genuinely fresh and feeling fluffy again
- White shirts looked noticeably brighter
- No dark flecks or grey residue on any fabric
- Results have been consistent every single month for three months running
The Cost Comparison
This is where it gets really convincing:
- Dishwasher tablet method: Around £2 for 30 tablets = approximately 7p per clean
- Dedicated washing machine cleaner: Around £5 for a single treatment = £5 per clean
- Annual saving: Nearly £58 per year
Some cleaning experts also suggest adding half a cup of white vinegar to the detergent drawer during the hot cycle for an extra descaling boost, which is a great tip if you live in a hard water area. Always check your washing machine manual before running a 90-degree cycle. Try it once and I guarantee you will be a convert too.
