6 Simple Methods for A Better Smelling Dishwasher
Have you noticed your dishwasher is giving weird smells that just seem to be getting worse and worse? You’re not alone.
With the amount of moisture and food debris that is regularly left inside dishwashers, it’s no wonder that they tend to stink after awhile. Fortunately, there are tons of easy methods you can do yourself to get rid of those disgusting smells and make your dishwasher smell brand new! Keep reading for our list of simple methods for a better smelling dishwasher.
If you tried these and your dishwasher is still giving off a putrid smell, it has problems that aren’t as simple to fix. For a dishwasher repair in the Cochrane area, give First Aid Appliance Repair a call. We’ll diagnose your issue and fix it the same day!
De-Stinking Methods
Clean Regularly: Regularly cleaning out your dishwasher can help keep it from smelling. To clean, first remove all dishes and utensils. Then, take warm, soapy water and scrub down the interior and bottom of the dishwasher. Look out for mold and mildew that could be growing inside your dishwasher since they will definitely cause odor.
Vinegar: A quick, easy way to eliminate nasty smells from your dishwasher is to run a cycle with just vinegar. Take one cup filled with 8 ounces of white vinegar and place it on the top rack, then turn the dishwasher on for a quick rinse cycle. Although the vinegar has a strong smell itself, it is one of the most best ways to remove potent smells, and the smell from the vinegar will disappear as it dries.
Baking Soda: Baking soda is another great way to neutralize odors. One way to use it in your dishwasher is to sprinkle a generous amount along the bottom of the dishwasher and again turn the dishwasher on with a quick cycle. The baking soda will get rid of any unpleasant smells, and will dissolve with the water for a quick clean. This method can be used by itself, or following the vinegar rinse.
Rinse: Rinsing is a quick and easy way to keep your dishwasher from getting smelly. Simply rinsing large food debris and stains off of your dishes before you put them in your dishwasher will keep them from running off of your dishes and rotting inside the dishwasher between cycles. Don’t rinse them so much that they are practically clean though; your dish detergent will work better if it actually has something to clean.
Lemon: Lemons are another simple, and natural, way to get rid of bad odors. Just simply stick a lemon wedge inside your dishwasher, either in the cutlery holder or the top rack if it has small gaps, and turn your dishwasher on. You can use the lemon with an empty dishwasher or a full one; if you use it with a full dishwasher, it will help make your dishes even cleaner. In addition to getting rid of gnarly smells, the acid found naturally in lemons will even remove minor rust inside of your dishwasher.
Use Regularly: When you leave dishes and food debris in your dishwasher for long periods of time between cycles, it gives them time to start smelling. Make sure you are turning your dishwasher on regularly to avoid giving the items on the inside a chance to fester and smell. If you live alone or with only one other person, and you don’t accumulate too many dishes, try hand washing a couple of dishes such as pots and pans. This might be more work, but it will leave less dirty dishes in your dishwasher between cycles.
