I tried a 30p hack that got rid of bad washing machine smell

Now, I would say it’s turned into a hobby and I am here for it (no grime or mould-covered surface is a chore for me).

I find it therapeutic and it genuinely makes me feel on top of the world when I can sit down at night and admire everything sparkling clean around me.

Unlike most, my social media apps are constantly inundated with cleaning hacks, from viral floor brushes to oddly shaped dust busters (no Beyoncé posts on my ‘for you’ pages)

Many get sucked into adverts for clothes and new in food products, but show me some kind of a magic cloth and I will order 10.

But my obsession with being in the know with the latest trending cleaning tips and tricks pays off from time to time. 

When I lived in my rented home which had a pre-installed washing machine, I discovered it wasn't the best working appliance and trying to keep one of the world’s worst smells at bay became tiring.

Can a lemon and bit of toothpaste really transform your washing machine? (Image: Newsquest)

I tried all sorts of products at various prices to target different parts and while some got rid of it after a few washes, it always came back.

However, enough was enough and I refused to put up with a smell I could only describe as a rotting something blasting me in the face every time I opened the washing machine door.

So I turned to trusty TikTok, to see what the millions of Stacey Solomon and Mrs Hinch fans recommended.

How do I get rid of a bad smell in my washing machine?

This is the cheapest method I've found to get rid of a bad washing machine smell (Image: Newsquest)

I came across a video showing someone cleaning their washing machine drum with a lemon and toothpaste – that’s it.

It seemed so ridiculous I thought part of the video was missing, but I soon realised it really was that simple.

Knowing I had these everyday items in my house and it wasn’t going to require any effort, I decided to give it a go, even if I did feel very silly.

I chopped a lemon in half (30p each at Tesco) and squirted a swirl of toothpaste on each lemon (I will disclose I didn’t use my usual expensive toothpaste for this).

I didn't even find mashed up lemon inside my washing machine (Image: Newsquest)

Then I chucked it into the washing machine and put it on a quick wash.

I watched the water fill up inside as the lemons bashed about and the toothpaste foamed up.

When the cycle ended, I opened the door and the smell was literally, like a breath of fresh air.

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The citrus and mint smell combined was heavenly – but did it stay?

Well, after a few days and three washes, the ghastly smell didn't come back.

Even when the fresh scent disappeared, it banished the rotting odour I had become so used to inside my washing machine and it felt terribly satisfying.

This is now a hack I use religiously and it beats any other washing machine cleaner, in my opinion.