Is my washing machine going to blow up?

[Weezermum]

I’ve just put sodium bicarbonate and vinegar in my washing machine and started to run a hot wash. I then read that together they form a volcano. Is it going to blow up??

I’m not sure. The reaction isn’t a long one (dependant on qtys.

Did you not see it react when you put it in?

No. The reaction can be quick but it's not explosive, and any gas will just escape.

It is however pretty pointless to mix vinegar and bicarb for cleaning. Vinegar's an acid and bicarb's a base and each by themselves is a useful cleaner, but mixing them means they neutralise and you pretty much get fizzy water.

Nothing yet but it is making a strange whirring noise. Oh god. Thought I was being really proactive! DD needs a feed but I’m too scared to leave it.

Oh. I’ve been making more effort to clean with non toxic ingredients and thought I’d read somewhere that this is a good way to clean/neutralise a washing machine but rushed it as baby was crying and must’ve done it wrong!

Vinegar is enough to clean it. Also good to add to the final rinse.

You could end the cycle, put it on rinse, wait until it stops and then start again with just vinegar on a really hot cycle.