True Fresh Vs. Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner Tablets: In-depth Differences

I’ve been tackling laundry for years, and let’s be honest—keeping the washing machine fresh is just as crucial as clean clothes. That funky smell? It’s a sign your machine needs love.

So, I decided to put True Fresh and Affresh washing machine cleaner tablets head-to-head. My mission: figure out which one truly banishes grime, odors, and buildup while being easy on my wallet and machine.

In this article, I’ll share my experience, break down the pros and cons, and help you decide which cleaner deserves a spot in your laundry routine.

A Brief Comparison Table

Why I Decided To Test These Cleaners?

Picture this: I open my front-load washer, expecting that clean laundry smell, and instead, I’m hit with a whiff of damp socks. Gross. My machine was crying for help, and I knew it was time to clean it.

I’d heard about Affresh—Whirlpool’s golden child with over 225,000 Amazon reviews singing its praises. But then I stumbled across True Fresh (also sold as Finally Fresh in some markets), a budget-friendly option promising similar results.

Could it really compete with the big name? I had to find out.

Both cleaners claim to tackle the usual suspects: mold, mildew, detergent residue, and those pesky odors. They’re tablets you toss into an empty washer, run a cycle, and voilà—clean machine. But I wanted to know the real differences.

How well do they work? Are they worth the price?

And which one leaves my washer sparkling and my laundry fresher? I tested both over several months, running monthly cleanings and noting everything from scent to residue removal.

Unpacking True Fresh: What’s It All About?

True Fresh caught my eye because it’s affordable.

A pack of 12 tablets often costs less than $8, making each clean under a buck. That’s a steal compared to pricier options.

The tablets are marketed as eco-friendly, with EPA Safer Choice certification, meaning they’re formulated with ingredients that won’t harm the environment or your septic system.

The main players in True Fresh are sodium bicarbonate (baking soda, essentially) and bio-enzymes, which work to break down organic gunk like mold and mildew.

Using True Fresh is a breeze. I popped a tablet into the drum of my empty washer, selected the “clean washer” cycle (or a hot normal cycle on older machines), and let it do its thing. The tablet dissolves slowly, creating a fizzy foam that scrubs the drum, hoses, and pump.

After the cycle, I wiped down the drum and door gasket with a cloth, as some residue can linger. The smell? Neutral, maybe a hint of “clean,” but nothing overpowering. My clothes came out fresher, and the musty odor was gone—at least for a couple of weeks.

Pros of True Fresh

• Budget-Friendly: At $0.50–$0.70 per tablet, it’s one of the cheapest cleaners out there. Perfect for those of us watching our laundry budget.
• Eco-Conscious: The EPA Safer Choice label gives me peace of mind that I’m not dumping harsh chemicals into my septic system or the environment.
• Easy to Use: No measuring, no mess—just toss and run. Even my tech-averse mom could handle it.
• Good for Light Buildup: It tackled the everyday grime in my machine, especially when I used it monthly as recommended.
• Widely Available: I found it on Amazon, Walmart, and even some smaller online retailers, often with bulk discounts.

Cons of True Fresh

• Weaker on Heavy Buildup: If your washer’s been neglected (guilty!), True Fresh struggles with thick mold or limescale. I had to run two tablets for stubborn grime.
• Short-Lived Odor Control: The fresh smell faded after about two weeks, and faint mustiness crept back if I skipped a cleaning.
• Limited Brand Recognition: Unlike Affresh, True Fresh doesn’t have a big name like Whirlpool backing it. Some reviews mentioned inconsistent quality, possibly due to counterfeits.
• Minimal Scent: If you love a strong, fresh laundry room vibe, True Fresh’s neutral smell might disappoint.
• Packaging Issues: A few users (and I noticed this once) reported tablets arriving crushed, which can make dosing tricky.

Affresh: The Heavy Hitter

Affresh is the rockstar of washing machine cleaners, and it’s easy to see why.

Backed by Whirlpool, it’s designed to work with all washer types—front-load, top-load, HE, you name it.

Each pack contains six tablets, typically priced around $6–$9, so about $1–$1.50 per clean.

The ingredients include sodium carbonate (a cleaning powerhouse), citric acid (great for descaling), and sodium percarbonate (similar to OxiClean), which team up to dissolve residue and banish odors.

Using Affresh is identical to True Fresh: drop a tablet in the drum, run a hot cycle, and wipe down any leftover gunk. The tablet fizzes and foams, scrubbing deep into the machine’s nooks and crannies.

I noticed a light citrus scent during the cycle, which was pleasant but didn’t linger. After one use, my washer’s drum looked shinier, and the musty smell was completely gone. Even better, my clothes stayed fresher for nearly a month.

Pros of Affresh

• Top-Notch Cleaning Power: Affresh obliterated heavy buildup, including mold and detergent residue, in just one cycle. It’s a lifesaver for neglected machines.
• Long-Lasting Odor Control: The fresh smell lasted almost a month, and my laundry didn’t pick up any weird odors.
• Trusted Brand: With Whirlpool’s stamp of approval and thousands of glowing reviews, I felt confident in its quality and consistency.
• Septic-Safe and Eco-Friendly: Like True Fresh, it’s EPA Safer Choice certified, so it’s gentle on plumbing and the planet.
• No Harsh Chemical Smell: Unlike bleach-based cleaners, Affresh’s light scent didn’t overwhelm my laundry room.

Cons of Affresh

• Pricier Per Use: At $1–$1.50 per tablet, it’s double the cost of True Fresh. That adds up if you clean monthly.
• Packaging Waste: Each tablet is individually wrapped in plastic, which feels less eco-friendly than True Fresh’s simpler packaging.
• Occasional Residue: In my tests, I sometimes had to wipe down the drum to remove dislodged gunk, especially in my front-loader’s gasket.
• Potential Skin Sensitivity: Some users reported irritation after handling the tablets or washing clothes post-cleaning. I didn’t experience this, but it’s worth noting.
• Not a Disinfectant: Affresh focuses on residue removal, not bacteria-killing, so it’s not a true sanitizer like bleach.

How True Fresh And Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner Tablets Stack Up?

Let’s break this down by the factors that matter most when choosing a washing machine cleaner. I tested both products in my front-load HE washer, which is prone to mildew thanks to its airtight door.

I also spoke with friends who used these in top-loaders to get a broader perspective.

• Cleaning Performance

Affresh is the clear winner here. Its formula, with citric acid and sodium percarbonate, tackled heavy mold and limescale in one cycle.

After using Affresh, my washer’s drum looked polished, and the rubber gasket was noticeably cleaner.

True Fresh did a solid job on light buildup, but when I skipped cleanings for a few months, it took two tablets to get similar results.

For a severely grimy machine, Affresh is your go-to. If you’re maintaining a relatively clean washer, True Fresh holds its own.

• Odor Elimination

Odors are the bane of my laundry life, so this was a big deal. Affresh knocked it out of the park, eliminating musty smells for nearly a month. My towels and sheets stayed fresh, even after sitting wet in the drum for a day (oops).

True Fresh reduced odors, but the effect faded after about two weeks. If I ran a load of sweaty gym clothes, I’d sometimes catch a faint whiff of that old mustiness. Affresh is better for long-term odor control.

• Ease of Use

Both are dead simple. Toss a tablet in, run a hot cycle, and wipe down the drum. No measuring, no mixing, no fuss. The only difference is that Affresh sometimes left more residue to wipe away, especially in my front-loader’s gasket.

True Fresh dissolved more completely, but I still needed to clean the gasket manually. It’s a tie here—both are user-friendly, even for laundry newbies.

• Cost and Value

True Fresh is the budget champ. At half the price of Affresh, it’s ideal for regular maintenance on a tight budget. I could clean my washer monthly for a year with True Fresh for under $10.

Affresh, while pricier, delivers superior cleaning power, so I needed fewer cycles to get the job done. If your machine is in rough shape, Affresh’s efficiency might save you money in the long run. For routine care, True Fresh offers better value.

• Eco-Friendliness

Both cleaners are septic-safe and carry the EPA Safer Choice label, so they’re gentle on plumbing and the environment. True Fresh edges out slightly with its bio-enzymes and simpler packaging, which produces less plastic waste.

Affresh’s individual wrappers bugged me—why add extra trash? Still, both are solid choices if you’re trying to keep things green.

• Scent and Experience

I’m not a fan of overpowering chemical smells, so I appreciated both cleaners’ subtle-leaning scents. Affresh’s light citrus vibe was a tad more pleasant, giving my laundry room a subtle “just cleaned” vibe.

True Fresh’s neutral scent was fine but forgettable. Neither left a lingering fragrance on my clothes, which is a plus. Affresh wins for a slightly better sensory experience.

What Others Are Saying About True Fresh And Affresh Tablets?

I didn’t just rely on my own tests. I scoured reviews and chatted with friends to get the full picture.

On Amazon, Affresh boasts over 225,000 reviews with a 4.5-star average.

Users rave about its ability to revive smelly washers, with one saying, “I tossed one in on the sanitizer setting, and my washer smells amazing!”

True Fresh, with fewer reviews (around 10,000), gets solid 4.2 stars, with fans praising its price and ease of use.

However, some complained about crushed tablets or lackluster results on heavy grime.

My friend Sarah, who owns a top-load washer, swears by Affresh for keeping her machine spotless. “I used to get brown streaks on my whites,” she said. “Affresh fixed it in one cycle.”

Meanwhile, my neighbor Tom, a True Fresh user, likes the cost but admitted, “It’s not as strong for deep cleans. I use two tablets if it’s bad.” These insights confirmed my findings: Affresh for tough jobs, True Fresh for budget-friendly maintenance.

Tips For Getting The Most Out of Your Cleaner

No matter which tablet you choose, a few tricks can maximize results:

• Run a Hot Cycle: Both cleaners work best with hot water to dissolve grime and kill bacteria.
• Wipe Down Gaskets: Front-loaders especially need manual cleaning of rubber seals to prevent mildew.
• Leave the Door Open: After washing, let your machine air out to reduce mold growth.
• Clean Monthly: Stick to a schedule to prevent buildup. Affresh suggests weekly cycles for three weeks for severe cases.
• Check Your Detergent: Using too much can leave residue, making cleaners work harder. Measure carefully.

FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered

My Final Verdict: Which Should You Choose?

After months of testing, I’m torn but leaning toward Affresh. Its cleaning power and long-lasting odor control make it worth the extra cost, especially if your washer’s in rough shape. My machine looked shinier, smelled fresher, and my clothes stayed clean longer with Affresh.

But True Fresh isn’t a slouch—it’s a fantastic budget option for regular upkeep, saving me cash without sacrificing too much performance. If you’re diligent about monthly cleanings and don’t have major buildup, True Fresh gets the job done.

So, what’s the right choice for you?

If your washer’s screaming for a deep clean or you hate that musty smell, grab Affresh and give it a spin. If you’re on a budget or just want to keep a fairly clean machine in check, True Fresh is your friend. Either way, don’t skip cleaning—your laundry (and nose) will thank you. Try both, see what works for your machine, and let me know how it goes!