Home » Puppy Care Guides » Musty Puppy Towels? Affresh vs Active Washing Machine Cleaner

Musty Puppy Towels? Affresh vs Active Washing Machine Cleaner

Affresh vs ACTIVE washing machine cleaner: fragrance, cleaning frequency, formula differences and our alternative for puppy households.

We sell LoveMyPuppy Washer Cleaner Tablets. Our recommendations reflect published information, not our own head-to-head testing.

Affresh vs ACTIVE: Choose ACTIVE’s standard formula when an unscented tablet matters most. Choose Affresh for a monthly tablet with published ingredient information.

For our puppy-household alternative, LoveMyPuppy combines pre-measured monthly cleans with a 45-day refund policy.

The towels smell musty again, and another laundry cycle costs time. Check the empty washer before changing detergent.

What changes your buying decision?

Both brands sell tablets for cleaning an empty washer. The useful differences are fragrance, frequency and the exact formula.

ACTIVE’s standard cleaner and pet-owner cleaner are separate products. A pet-hair claim on one does not describe the other.

Affresh

Affresh publishes an ingredient list that includes fragrance. Its ingredients include sodium percarbonate and sodium carbonate. Its manufacturer recommends monthly use, or as needed.

ACTIVE standard unscented cleaner

ACTIVE describes its standard cleaner as unscented and recommends cleaning every two weeks. Follow the directions on your current pack.

Buying pointAffreshACTIVE standard
FormatTabletTablet
FragranceListed in official ingredientsUnscented, per manufacturer
RoutineMonthly or as neededEvery two weeks, per manufacturer
Pet-specific versionDo not assume hair dissolvingSeparate pet-owner formula available

Sources: ACTIVE standard formula and directions, the separate Pet Owners formula, and Affresh ingredients.

We have not run a controlled head-to-head test. Manufacturer claims and customer reviews cannot establish a universal performance winner.

The Spruce’s roundup selects Affresh overall and ACTIVE for value. Those editorial categories answer different buying priorities.

Start with your own requirement rather than treating every “best” badge as the same result.

Will either fit your washer?

Both manufacturers list front-load, top-load and HE compatibility. Your appliance manual still determines which cleaner and cycle are appropriate.

Both also state septic compatibility. Check the current label if your system has additional treatment restrictions.

Fragrance sensitivity is a separate concern. “Unscented” does not establish that a formula will suit every person.

For Affresh, use the published ingredient list. For ACTIVE, confirm you are buying the standard unscented formula described here.

If a manual conflicts with the package, ask the manufacturer before running a cleaning cycle.

What about LG’s acidic-cleaner warning?

LG’s front-loader guidance warns against acidic and chlorine-based tub cleaners because of corrosion or discoloration risks.

Follow your exact model’s manual. An ingredient name alone does not establish a finished cleaner’s acidity or LG approval.

What matters in a puppy household?

Wet towels and crate covers make frequent loads normal. Cleaner tablets belong in a separate, empty-machine cycle.

Keep the box secured away from puppies and children. Never leave a loose tablet on the floor or open door.

Remove loose fur before washing bedding. Neither standard product should be assumed to dissolve hair without an explicit label claim.

For that separate task, see our pet-hair washer cleaner guide.

A Vizsla puppy gets muddy paws dried beside the laundry basket
A red Vizsla puppy gets her paws dried at the back door after a rainy walk.

For the direct matchup, read Affresh vs LoveMyPuppy washer cleaner tablets.

Our pick for puppy households

LoveMyPuppy Washer Cleaner Tablets fit owners who want a pre-measured monthly routine and direct support from our store.

Twelve tablets cover twelve monthly cleans. Free US shipping and our 45-day money-back guarantee are included.

The supplier lists baking soda and citric acid. Review the complete label before choosing them for your machine.

Our supplier confirms they dissolve loose hair left in the drum. We have not independently verified that claim.

We do not present them as fragrance-free or septic-certified. Ask us for current label details if either matters.

Use the cleaner without creating another problem

  1. Empty the washer and remove accessible loose hair.
  2. Follow your selected product’s dose and placement instructions.
  3. Run the cycle approved by the label and appliance manual.
  4. Wipe loosened residue and follow separate filter-maintenance instructions.

Use one cleaner at a time. Never add bleach, vinegar or another cleaner to the tablet cycle.

Persistent odor, slow draining or leaks need diagnosis. Repeated cleaner cycles will not repair a drainage fault.

Our sewer-smell troubleshooting guide helps distinguish that problem from routine residue.

Your questions, answered

Is ACTIVE washing machine cleaner as good as Affresh?

We have not tested them side by side. Choose between the current formulas using fragrance, cleaning frequency and appliance compatibility.

Is ACTIVE washing machine cleaner worth it?

A 24-tablet pack provides 24 single-tablet treatments. At one treatment every two weeks, that covers 48 weeks. Compare the instructed routine as well as pack size; monthly Affresh use requires fewer treatments.

Does ACTIVE washing machine cleaner have enzymes?

ACTIVE advertises a 5-in-1 enzyme blend for its separate Pet Owners cleaner. We have not confirmed that blend in the standard unscented cleaner compared here.

Does Affresh really clean the washing machine?

Affresh is designed to remove washer residue. A cleaning cycle may still leave gasket buildup requiring separate manual care.

Considering powder instead? Read our Affresh and Tide comparison.

Reviewed October 23, 2026. Sources: Affresh product information and ACTIVE’s standard cleaner directions.

Michael Northcutt, PhD

About the author

Michael Northcutt, PhD

Founder, LoveMyPuppy.store · Certified Pet Therapy Specialist · Certified Companion Animal Rehabilitation Therapist (CCAT) · Member, AAPT Certification Board

Dr. Michael Northcutt is a pet therapy and companion-animal rehabilitation professional with 14 years of experience. His work covers animal-assisted interventions, rehabilitation, animal welfare and the human-animal bond. He holds the Certified Companion Animal Rehabilitation Therapist (CCAT) credential from North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He also serves on the Animal Assisted Play Therapy® (AAPT) Certification Board. He was a keynote speaker at the 2017 International Veterinary Symposium Conference.

His core principle: what we do for an animal should support its health, comfort, safety and quality of life. Not a veterinarian.

Browse all puppy care articles