If your dishwasher smells – it needs a clean, STAT!
Just because your dishwasher cleans your dishes, don’t presume it doesn’t need a regular clean itself! See our general dishwasher smell cleaning tips below.
3 steps to a removing foul dishwasher smells
1. Clean the filter
Most dishwashers have a filter on the drain to avoid food from clogging the drain. This is the most common cause of stinky dishwashers, as it needs to be cleaned regularly but is often forgotten.
- Remove the filter from the dishwasher floor
- Use hot soapy water and a bottle brush to fully clean the inside and outside of the filter
- Clean the drain where the filter goes and remove any food and gunk before you put the filter back
2. Clean the inside of the dishwasher
Fully clean the inside of the dishwasher, including all sides and door seals. Use a simple solution of water and white vinegar, which has antibacterial properties and is odourless once dry. Remove any racks and clean with hot soapy water before reinserting.
A quick wipe down can do wonders for removing a build-up of gunk and grime, eliminating odours. To clean thoroughly, run an empty dishwasher on a hot cycle with 1 cup of vinegar in the top rack an bi-carb sprinkled on the dishwasher floor.
3. Clean the drain hose
If odours still persist of return quickly once you’ve thoroughly cleaned your dishwasher then there is likely a build-up of food in the drain hose, clogging it and causing water to drain slowly and become stale.
Pull the dishwasher out and check the hose for any blockages or kinks, which could be affecting the flow of water.
The build-up of food, grease and grime your dishwasher removes builds up somewhere and in order to keep doing its job, your dishwasher needs some regular TLC too. Follow the tips above if you start noticing a stench, or even better, follow these cleaning steps regularly to fully prevent any nasty build ups causing a smell in the first place and keep your dishwasher in optimum working order!
