Nothing makes your dishes smell dirtier than a stinky dishwasher. How can a dishwasher keep your plates clean?
Although you can temporarily get rid of the smelly dishwasher, we recommend you do a deep cleaning to remove the root cause of the smell. Before discussing how to handle it, we need to know why it smells.
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Reasons Behind the Dishwasher Smell
Dishwasher smells originate due to trapped food particles or grease. Their accumulation leads to the clogging of filters, spray arms, drain hoses, and other components.
The most common cause of dishwasher odor is letting food debris develop in the dishwasher. It leads to the fishy or funky smell that everyone hates.
Worse, it can transmit onto the dishes. Furthermore, your dishwasher will offer the best possible conditions for bacteria and mildew to grow.
If the smelly dishwasher gives off a musty or damp smell, there is a high chance of a clogged drain filter or a kinked hose. You will have to pull the dishwasher carefully from its place and inspect if the hose was damaged or not.
Handle Dishwasher Smells Like A Pro
We have listed simple steps below to help you clean food scraps and stinky dishwasher smells. The dishwasher runs smoothly and efficiently when assisted with regular cleaning. The more frequent your wash cycle is, the more frequently you should clean the dishwasher.
Cleaning the Dishwasher Filters and Drain Hose
You will start by removing the bottom rack or dishwasher tray. The next step involves taking out the detachable filter(s). You should be easily able to unscrew it, but check the product manual for proper instructions if you feel doubtful.
Look for any clogged food particles in it. Soak the filters in warm water for at least 10 minutes if found. Subsequently, thoroughly scrub the filter with a stiff brush (a toothbrush would suffice), soap, and hot water.
Cleaning the drain filter at the bottom of the dishwasher would ensure the removal of any residual gunk. You can even add a half cup of baking soda to freshen it up. Finally, put the neat filters back into the dishwasher.
Clean the Spray Arm
The initial step would require you to move the spray arm. You will have to drag out the lower rock and unscrew the spray arm off its mounting.
Now, remove the hard deposits and clean out the passageways by using a piece of wire or scrub brush. After doing so, the spray arm will get reattached to the dishwasher.
Remove Any Food Particles
The next thing you would inspect is your garbage disposal. Since dishwashers and garbage disposals use the same central hose, disconnect it and clean it well. An early warning-if you haven’t cleaned it for a long time, you will have to tackle a dirty business.
The next step would be to wipe down the inside walls of the dishwasher with the help of a soapy rag. It will ensure that no mildew grows from the food debris.
Cleaning the interior of the dishwasher door will give you extra points. Ensure that you tend the door lips (the area between the door hinge, accessible when you fully open it) and gasket (magnetic strips that prevent water from leaking out of the dishwashers). Most dishwashers have food bits lingered in these areas. Hence, it becomes necessary to remove these stubborn bits.
Dishwasher Still Stinking? Alternative Ways to Remove the Smell
The ways mentioned above would remove the stinky odor from the dishwasher altogether. But many of us don’t have the patience to do all the process.
Hence, we need a quick fix to make our dishwasher models odorless. So, here are the top eco-friendly solutions that will help deodorize your whole dishwasher.
Vinegar
White vinegar possesses acidic properties that help break the food build-up in the dishwasher. It acts like a dishwasher cleaner, which will take away the stinky odor from it. Many people are not fans of white vinegar’s scent. Hence, to make the smell more pleasing, you can add a few drops of any essential oil.
First and foremost, bring out everything from the dishwasher. Now, pour a cup of distilled white vinegar into a dishwasher-safe container and position it on the top rack. Alternatively, you can also run it into the drain directly.
Run the empty dishwasher on a short cycle. Warm water or hot soapy water is more suited for this process. After it completes, you can enjoy your stink-free dishwasher.
An important thing to note is that don’t overuse vinegar because of its acidic properties. It may damage the inside walls of the dishwasher.
Baking Soda
A baking soda rinse will help keep your dishwasher and dishwasher filter away from the foul odor. It will maintain a fresh smell and keeps dishwashers shinier and brighter.
To start with the procedure, get a bowl of baking soda. Then, sprinkle it all over the bottom of your dishwasher. Like vinegar, run a short cycle with either hot or warm water.
Develop Healthy Dishwashing Habits
To avoid any other odors that may ruin your mood, you should take preventive measures and develop healthy washing habits. You can use detergents to wash dishes regularly. They stop hard water from filming and keep the inside nice and clean.
Make sure to rinse dishes with care before returning them to the dishwasher. Switch off other water appliances to provide maximum water supply to the dishwashers. Using hot cycles will ensure that no bacteria or mildew grows on it.
Modern dishwashers require cleaning at least once every four months. It will ensure that it works at its maximum capacity and doesn’t degrade dishwashing quality.
Maintaining a routine to clean dishwashers takes you on a long journey. After some time, you will forget that weird dishwasher smell once you maintain regular cleaning. Just refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines whenever required. Your dishes and roommates will show you gratitude for keeping things clean and hygienic.
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