How to Clean a Smelly Dishwasher

 

 

Cleaning the dishes is a task that must be done several times a day, and if you don’t have the time for it you might want to opt for a handy dishwasher. This machine can do wonders by washing the  dishes at high temperatures and leaving your cookware sanitized and spotless. But sometimes, even when the machine cleans the dishes perfectly, the dishwasher itself starts smelling…odd.

In this article we’ll explain the best practices to clean your dishwasher and avoid unpleasant smells that could become mold in the future.

Why does your dishwasher smell bad?

First off, you might be wondering why a cleaning device ends up smelling bad? There are a few reasons why your dish-washing machine might stink. The fact that sometimes standing water gets stuck inside can promote mold growth, this also happens when you leave the door closed for too long.

Another possible reason is when food particles build up in the drain filter, the spray arm or basically any small nook and corner of the machine. This odor starts to intensify as the food decays, especially if we’re talking fish, egg or fruits. Check out how to clean your dishwasher best.

Clean the insides regularly

Sure, your washing machine runs constant cycles or soap, but this can also build up and end up accumulating unpleasantly, creating grime on the walls of the dishwasher. To avoid this gunk build-up, take hot, soapy water and a scrub brush and scrub the insides of the dishwasher. Make sure to also brush the racks and baskets on a weekly basis or every other week.

Clean the filters

Most people don’t think about the filter when, in fact, it should be one of the pieces to look after the most. Don’t overlook the filter, if your dishwasher has one. In case it does, remove it once in a while and throw away everything that’s stuck. When you take it out you’ll be surprised to discover grease and decaying food, which is probably promoting the bad smell.

Run a self-washing cycle

When it comes to deep cleaning, vinegar and baking soda are two superstar ingredients. These will give your dishwasher a fresh smell and a sanitation, all at once. Start by placing one cycle with a bowl filled with vinegar on the top rack. When you’re done, pour one cup of baking soda at the bottom of the dishwasher and run a second cycle. in the end, you’ll have a shiny and fresh-smelling machine.

Unclog the spray arm

As you might imagine, the water and soap used during any cycle go out through small spray arms, which can easily get clogged with debris and become the main source of stinky smells. If you realize the spray arm is clogged, start by removing the arms and cleaning the clog using a toothpick. Then run some water through the holes to double check they have full access now.

Prevent strong smells

There are some good practices you can follow on a daily basis to avoid your dishwasher becoming stinky again. Before you load your dishwasher make sure to scrape and rinse the dishes as much as you can, repeat the cleaning of the drain filter regularly, run two cycles of vinegar and baking soda once a month and when you use the hot water cycles try not to use hot water on other appliances.

Did you know these handy tips to clean your smelly dishwasher? Forget about that smell once and for all!