10 Best Washing Machine Cleaners UK 2024 | Dettol, Calgon and More

This super convenient cleaner couldn't be easier to use. Simply pop one of these handy tablets into your washing machine every month to keep it free from limescale, grime and detergent build-up. The wrapper is also soluble, so it's mess-free and easy peasy to keep your machine clean! 

It cleans not just your machine but the pipework too, and it’s safe for use in septic tanks. Made in the UK, this cleaner ticks the boxes of those wishing to make ethical and environmentally-sound choices, as it is cruelty-free, vegan and non-toxic!

Effective on both washing machines and dishwashers, this cleaner helps extend the life of your washing machine (and dishwasher) by preventing the build-up of limescale, detergent and dirt. Used every three months as a part of your regular machine maintenance regime, this cleaner gives sparkling clean results. 

HG also produce a deep clean version of this product, so if you have a considerable build-up of limescale and detergent, it is worth trying a more intense clean first before making the maintenance products a regular fixture in your cleaning schedule. The box contains enough product for two treatments.

These handy sachets are packed full of cleaning power, removing limescale as well as grease and detergent build-up to ensure your washing machine is sparkling clean and odour-free. This cleaner is even suitable for other appliances, such as your dishwasher.

One box includes 12 pre-measured sachets, so there is no measuring, no fuss. Each sachet delivers the right amount for one treatment - your washing machine should be treated every four to six weeks. There is even a handy monthly tick chart on the box to keep track of the cleaning you do - genius!

Dettol’s five-in-one washing machine cleaner is an all-round product that can clean and protect your washing machine, leaving it fresh and sparkling. Use it every two months to keep your machine free of limescale, bad smells, hidden dirt and nasty germs. 

One bottle is enough for one treatment, both to clean within the machine and to dilute and clean the drawer and door. This is a great option for general maintenance from a brand you can trust. It offers great performance and value for money. 

Used quarterly as part of your regular machine cleaning schedule, the Bosch Washing Machine Cleaner is a highly effective way to keep your washing machine looking and smelling fresh and clean. 

It works by stopping build-up of detergent, limescale and dirt, which ensures that unpleasant odours become a thing of the past. This cleaner will keep your machine sparkling clean, extending the life of both your machine and your clothes but it is an expensive option as the tub contains only one application.

Dylon is not a brand normally associated with cleaning products, but their washing machine cleaner is an effective maintenance treatment for washing machines. Not only does it remove limescale from the machine, but it also cleans off old soap scum and detergent and freshens the machine, leaving it stink-free and ready to clean your clothes properly. 

The treated wipe that is included is a nice touch, and is the perfect way to deep clean your dispenser drawer as well as the drum itself. However, this product is a single-use treatment, so it does work out quite expensive and high on packaging for just one use.

Each box of these pre-measured sachets contains enough for a year’s worth of monthly treatments for your washing machine or dishwasher. It neutralises limescale while removing detergent residues in your machine and is an effective treatment whether you live in hard or soft water areas. 

Giving your washing machine a sparkling shine and eliminating bad smells, if used regularly, this cleaner can help not only extend the life of your appliance but also ensure that when you clean your clothes, they get truly clean.

Taking care of your washing machine is a small investment in time that can reap big rewards in savings on your repair bill - both for the machine and for your clothes! The Cleenly Washing Machine Cleaner and Descaler helps in the battle against washing machine grime by stripping out the layers of soap scum, bacteria, dirt and limescale that can build up over time.

This product not only breaks down these layers that can build up to cause blockages, but it also neutralises the smells caused by these build-ups. This product should be applied every other month to keep your machine in tip-top condition. This product is sold in a a bulk quantity, making it ideal only for those with space to store it.

Calgon's 3-in-1 tablets protect against limescale while tackling built-up residue and noxious odours. Its key active ingredients - polycarboxylates - soften hard water and neutralise limescale. 

The handy tablet format means you can just pop it into the wash compartment to get sparkling results and cleaner laundry! This product is not a descaler so it has ranked lower on our list than other, more powerful products. However, the fact that it is added to every wash with your usual detergent makes it a convenient, time-saving purchase.

The Service-it Deep Clean powder contains an oxygen-based bleaching agent to remove the dirt and kill microorganisms, as well as active charcoal to eliminate lingering bad smells. It should be used every two months or every 30 washes for best results. 

However, this product doesn’t tackle limescale, which is a major source of problems in washing machines (especially in hardwater areas) and the box only provides one treatment, which is why it's found lower down on our ranking.