If you own rental property in North Carolina or South Carolina, there is a maintenance problem that costs almost nothing to prevent — and creates real friction between landlords and tenants when it is ignored.
Smelly appliances.
Specifically, a dishwasher that smells like mildew or a washing machine that carries a musty, sour odor. These are among the most common tenant complaints in rental properties across the Charlotte metro, Fort Mill, Rock Hill, and the broader Carolinas market — and they are almost entirely preventable with a routine that costs about a dollar and takes about five minutes to start.
White vinegar.
Run your dishwasher and your washing machine with white vinegar once a month. That is it. The smell goes away. The problem does not come back. And you have one less maintenance complaint to deal with.
This guide explains exactly how to do it, why it works, and how Carolina Property Management makes sure this kind of routine care happens consistently at the properties we manage.
Why Dishwashers and Washing Machines Develop Bad Smells
The short answer is moisture. Both appliances retain water between cycles — in hoses, seals, gaskets, filters, and hidden internal surfaces. In the Carolinas' warm, humid climate, that retained moisture becomes a breeding ground for mold, mildew, and bacteria.
Dishwashers accumulate food particles in the filter and drain area. When these particles sit in a warm, moist environment between cycles, they decompose and create odor. The rubber door gasket is another common source — it traps moisture and food residue in its folds. A dishwasher that smells bad is not necessarily broken. It is usually just dirty in places the regular wash cycle does not clean.
Washing machines — particularly front-loading models — are especially prone to odor problems. The rubber door seal on a front-load washer is designed to create a watertight seal during the cycle. But that same seal traps moisture, lint, detergent residue, and fabric softener buildup between cycles. Over time, mold and mildew colonize the seal and the drum. According to Tide's published appliance care guidance, if high-efficiency front-load washers are not cleaned regularly, mold or mildew can develop in the machine.
According to Consumer Reports' appliance maintenance guidance, washing machines should be cleaned about once a month to prevent mold and mildew.
In rental properties, these problems tend to be worse than in owner-occupied homes for a simple reason: tenants are less likely to perform routine cleaning on appliances they do not own. The filter in the dishwasher never gets cleaned. The washer door seal stays closed and wet between cycles. Over a 12-month lease, what would have been a minor maintenance note becomes a genuine odor problem that tenants complain about, that affects their satisfaction, and that can cause them to leave at renewal.
The White Vinegar Method: How It Works and Why
White vinegar is one of the most effective and safest appliance cleaning agents available — and it costs about $1 for a large bottle at any grocery store. It works because of its acidity: white vinegar is a dilute solution of acetic acid with a pH of approximately 2 to 3. That acidity breaks down mineral deposits, soap scum, detergent buildup, and the biological material that causes odor — without harsh chemicals that could damage seals, gaskets, or finishes.
Cleaning a Dishwasher With White Vinegar
Step one: Make sure the dishwasher is empty. Remove any dishes, utensils, or food debris.
Step two: If your dishwasher has a removable filter (located at the bottom of the machine), remove it and rinse it under warm running water. This step alone can dramatically reduce odor in many dishwashers.
Step three: Place a dishwasher-safe cup or bowl on the top rack and fill it with one cup of white distilled vinegar.
Step four: Run the dishwasher on a hot water cycle. The vinegar will distribute through the machine during the wash, breaking down mineral deposits, grease, and odor-causing residue.
Step five: For an extra freshness boost after the cycle, sprinkle one cup of baking soda across the bottom of the dishwasher and run a short hot cycle. This neutralizes remaining odors and leaves the machine fresh.
According to General Electric's published dishwasher care guidance, vinegar can be used in the dishwasher for cleaning and deodorizing. However, GE notes that vinegar should not come into contact with the rubber components inside the dishwasher for extended periods — which is why the cup-on-the-rack method is recommended over pouring vinegar directly into the bottom of the machine. Always confirm compatibility with your specific appliance model.
Cleaning a Washing Machine With White Vinegar
The approach differs slightly depending on whether the machine is a top-loader or a front-loader.
For a top-loading washing machine:
Set the machine to the largest load size and the hottest water temperature. Add two cups of white vinegar directly to the drum (not the detergent dispenser). Let the machine run through a full wash cycle. For extra cleaning power, pause the cycle partway through to let the vinegar water sit in the drum for 30 to 60 minutes before completing the cycle.
After the cycle, wipe down the drum, lid, and any accessible seals with a clean cloth dampened with vinegar.
For a front-loading washing machine:
Pour two cups of white vinegar into the detergent dispenser drawer. Run the machine on the hottest, longest cycle available. After the cycle completes, wipe down the rubber door seal thoroughly — paying special attention to the inner folds where moisture collects. Leave the door open for 30 minutes to allow the drum to dry completely.
According to Samsung's official washing machine care guidance, running a self-clean cycle with white vinegar is recommended for deodorizing and removing buildup from the drum.
Monthly is the right frequency. According to Consumer Reports, once per month is the recommended cleaning schedule for washing machines. For properties in the Carolinas where high humidity accelerates mold and mildew growth, monthly is even more important.
Why This Matters Specifically for NC and SC Rental Properties
The Charlotte metro and broader Carolinas market sit in a humid subtropical climate zone. Summer humidity regularly exceeds 70% to 80%. This is the humidity that drives mold growth in crawl spaces, fosters mildew in HVAC systems, and accelerates odor development in appliances that retain moisture.
A washing machine in a Charlotte rental property is operating in an environment that is more hospitable to mold and mildew than the same machine would be in Denver or Phoenix. Monthly cleaning is not an overreaction to this reality — it is the appropriate response to it.
For property owners whose rental units include appliances as part of the lease — as is common in many Charlotte-area single-family rentals, townhomes, and newer construction communities in Gaston County, Cabarrus County, and York County SC — appliance condition and odor are tenant experience issues that affect satisfaction and renewal decisions.
According to NAR's 2025 rental housing research, tenant retention is one of the most significant drivers of rental property profitability. Every day a unit is vacant costs a landlord the daily equivalent of a month's rent divided by 30. Preventing the kind of tenant dissatisfaction that leads to non-renewal — including odor complaints from poorly maintained appliances — is one of the most financially valuable things a property manager can do.
A tenant who renews their lease because they have a clean, well-maintained home is far more valuable than a tenant who moves out and triggers a vacancy, a turnover cleaning, and a re-leasing process.
Other Simple Habits That Keep Rental Appliances Fresh
White vinegar is the core of the odor-prevention routine. But a few additional habits work together with it to keep rental appliances in the best possible condition.
For dishwashers:
- Clean the filter monthly. Most dishwasher filters unscrew from the bottom of the machine and rinse under running water in 60 seconds. This is the single most effective step for preventing dishwasher odor.
- Scrape dishes before loading. Dishwashers are not garbage disposals. Food debris that enters the machine ends up in the filter and the drain, where it decomposes between cycles.
- Run hot water at the kitchen sink before starting the dishwasher. This ensures the machine fills with hot water from the first rinse rather than cold water from sitting pipes.
- Leave the door slightly ajar after a cycle if the machine does not have a self-drying mode. This allows the interior to dry rather than trapping moisture.
For washing machines:
- Leave the washer door open between loads. This is the single most important front-loader habit. A closed door traps moisture in the seal and drum — which is exactly what produces the musty odor that front-load washers are known for.
- Use the recommended amount of high-efficiency (HE) detergent. Excess detergent creates suds residue that builds up in hoses and seals and contributes to odor.
- Wipe the door seal after the final load of the day. A 30-second wipe with a dry cloth removes the moisture that would otherwise sit in the seal folds until the next wash.
- Use the Self Clean cycle (if available) monthly instead of or in addition to the vinegar method. Most modern washers have a self-clean cycle designed for this purpose.
How Carolina Property Management Handles Appliance Maintenance
Property maintenance compliance — including routine appliance care — is most reliable when it is part of a documented, scheduled system rather than something left entirely to tenant initiative.
At Carolina Property Management, regular property visits include an assessment of appliance condition. During these visits, we check that dishwasher filters are being maintained, that washer doors are not being kept sealed between cycles, and that any visible odor or mold in appliances is identified and addressed before it becomes a tenant complaint or a turnover issue.
When we turn over a unit between tenants, our cleaning protocol includes running both the dishwasher and the washing machine through a cleaning cycle with white vinegar — so the incoming tenant begins their tenancy with fresh, odor-free appliances. This is part of how we maintain the condition of properties between tenancies and reduce the chance of a new tenant's first experience being a complaint about smell.
We also include appliance care guidance in our tenant orientation materials — explaining the monthly cleaning routine, how to clean the dishwasher filter, and why leaving the washer door open between loads matters. Informed tenants are better tenants. The ones who understand why these habits exist are more likely to follow them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Appliance Odors in NC and SC Rental Properties
Is white vinegar safe for all dishwashers and washing machines? White distilled vinegar is safe for most dishwashers and washing machines when used as directed — one cup in the dishwasher on a hot cycle, two cups in the washer drum or dispenser on a hot cycle, once per month. However, some manufacturers advise against extended contact between vinegar and rubber components. Always confirm compatibility with your specific appliance model by checking the owner's manual or the manufacturer's website before using any cleaning method.
Can I put vinegar and baking soda in the machine at the same time? For the best results, use them sequentially rather than simultaneously. Run the vinegar cycle first to dissolve mineral deposits and eliminate odor-causing buildup. Then, for dishwashers, follow with a separate short cycle after sprinkling baking soda across the bottom. Combining them in the same cycle creates a neutralization reaction that reduces the effectiveness of both.
Who is responsible for appliance cleaning in a North Carolina or South Carolina rental — the tenant or the landlord? Under North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 42, tenants are required to maintain the premises in a clean and safe condition and to use appliances in a reasonable manner. Routine appliance cleaning — like cleaning the dishwasher filter or leaving the washer door open — is generally considered a tenant responsibility. The landlord is responsible for ensuring that appliances are in good working condition at the start of the tenancy. If an appliance develops a mechanical issue or an odor problem that cannot be resolved through routine cleaning, that may become a landlord maintenance responsibility. When in doubt, consult your lease agreement and a licensed property management professional.
What if a tenant complains about a smelly appliance? Address it promptly. A slow response to appliance odor complaints creates tenant dissatisfaction that compounds. For routine odor, the vinegar cleaning method described above typically resolves the issue. If the problem persists after cleaning — particularly in front-load washers — the rubber door seal may need to be replaced. Seal replacement on a front-load washer typically costs $100 to $250 with a service call. Carolina Property Management coordinates maintenance responses for the properties we manage and can help property owners address these issues efficiently.
How do I prevent appliance odor between tenant turnovers? Run a full vinegar cleaning cycle on the dishwasher and washing machine as part of every unit turnover. Clean the dishwasher filter. Wipe down the washer door seal. Leave both appliance doors open for 24 to 48 hours before the new tenant moves in. These steps take 30 to 60 minutes and prevent the new tenant's first experience from being an odor complaint.
The Bottom Line for NC and SC Property Owners
A bottle of white vinegar costs about a dollar. A monthly cleaning routine takes five minutes to start. And it prevents one of the most common, most avoidable tenant complaints in rental properties across Charlotte and the Carolinas.
Appliance odors are not a sign that something is broken. They are a sign that something routine has been skipped. In the Carolinas' humid climate, where mold and mildew find every available opportunity to grow, that skipped routine becomes a real problem faster than it would in a drier market.
Preventing it is simple. Fixing it after it has been ignored for a year is more expensive and more disruptive. The month-to-month maintenance habit that Carolina Property Management builds into our property management process is exactly the kind of small, consistent action that keeps rental properties in the condition that attracts and retains good tenants.
Carolina Property Management serves landlords and investors across the Charlotte, NC and South Carolina markets. We include appliance condition checks in our regular property visits, provide tenants with maintenance guidance at move-in, and coordinate repairs and cleaning services between tenancies. If you own rental property in Mecklenburg, Gaston, Cabarrus, York County, or surrounding areas and want to make sure maintenance stays ahead of problems, contact us today.
