If your dishwasher stinks, don’t worry. You are not alone.
But let’s admit, a dishwasher that smells isn’t exactly what you want in your kitchen. So the question now is, what should you do if your dishwasher stinks?
Housekeeping Tips Winfield IL: Dishwasher Smell Remedies
Before calling the experts to fix your problems, here are a few solutions you can try out for yourself.
Reasons Why Your Dishwasher Stinks
It might seem quite ironic when a dishwasher emits a foul smell. After all, its duty is to clean the dishes, right?
However, there are various reasons why your dishwasher might stink. Before you begin cleaning, first try to figure out the root cause of the smell. The most common cause is a build-up of food particles and grease. Another reason would be a clogged hose or drain. Fortunately, we have practical ways to solve your problem.
Best Ways To Remove Dirt and Odor From Your Dishwasher
The good news is that cleaning a dishwasher doesn’t need to be technical. You don’t have to be an appliance repairman to get the job done. But be careful because not doing it properly can ruin your appliance. Make sure to follow the tips below to have a clean and fresh dishwasher all the time.
Remove Your Dishes From the Dishwasher
Make sure that you empty your dishwasher before cleaning it. This means you have to take out all the dishes and utensils before you start. Afterward, use a microfiber cloth so you can wipe the debris inside your dishwasher.
Don’t forget to remove the bottom rack, too!
Clean Your Drain Filter
Remember that a clogged drain is one of the most common causes of a smelly dishwasher. Most dishwashers, it is found at the bottom of the tub.
Take out the filter and manually clean it using soapy water and a bottle brush. Doing so will allow you to clean the filter thoroughly. When done, check your drain if it’s free from food particles. If you are 100% sure your drain is clear, place the filter back inside your dishwasher.
Check Your Spray Arm
Take a look at your dishwasher’s spray arm. It could be the culprit to why your dishwasher stinks. If this is clogged, then you’re in trouble.
Cleaning this is simple. Just remove the arms, hold them carefully and remove the food particles. Using a toothpick should do the trick.
To ensure that you didn’t miss a spot, run water through the holes.
Time To Clean the Inside Of Your Dishwasher
When you have your dishwasher running for months, soap can accumulate on the door and the walls of your dishwasher. The simple solution is to scrub it using a cloth. As always, use hot soapy water and you will be surprised how much this can do to your dishwasher.
Don’t forget to wipe all corners because there could be mold and mildew.
Use Good Ol’ Fashion Vinegar and Baking Soda
What’s great about cleaning your dishwasher is you can use ingredients commonly found in your kitchen. We’re talking about vinegar and baking soda. Both are powerful cleaners and we suggest doing two separate cycles. The first one is with vinegar and the next cycle is with baking soda.
For vinegar, have a bowl of white vinegar and place it on the top rack of your dishwasher. From here, you can run a normal cycle. When done, place a cup of baking soda onto the bottom rack of your dishwasher and run the next cycle. You will be surprised that your dishwasher will be stink-free!
Dry Your Dishwasher
You can now leave your dishwasher’s door for an hour and let it air out completely. Remember that a damp dishwasher can cause mildew growth and could cause odor.
Add a Nice Scent
Some people do not fancy the smell of vinegar. You can always add a more favorable scent according to your liking. You can use essential oils like peppermint, orange, lavender, or lemon instead.
Best Practices for Your Dishwasher
As always, be safe when cleaning, especially with kitchen appliances. Here are a few tips that could help you prolong the life of your dishwasher.
Regularly Clean Your Dishwasher
We recommend cleaning your dishwasher as often as you can — four times a year at a minimum. This can prevent it from having a foul smell to begin with. Let us reiterate our tips above for you.
Always rinse before loading, clean the filter, and run vinegar and baking soda. When you do this, your dishwasher will be odor-free all the time.
Don’t Mix Vinegar and Chlorine
If you plan to use DIY cleaning solutions, never mix vinegar with chlorine. That could create toxic fumes.
Even if you don’t use these two at once, there could be chlorine in the dishwashing detergent left in your dishwasher. Always read the labels and choose chlorine-free products. But if you are using a detergent with it, thoroughly wipe your detergent tray before starting your machine.
Stack Your Dishes Properly
Check if your dishes are not too close to each other. The right amount of space in between will allow the soap and water to pass through. Also, remember not to over stack your dishes because running two cycles is more cost-efficient than washing your dishes again.
Use Lemon Juice
You can also place a cup of lemon juice in a dishwasher-safe container. This can help your dishwasher from smelling awful, thanks to lemon’s citric juice.
Choose the Right Detergent
Look for a good detergent that is strong enough to wash away food particles. There are many to choose from. Try to make it a habit to read reviews before choosing a brand that will work best for your appliances.
Need help with cleaning your Winfield IL home?
We perfectly understand if you want to spare yourself from cleaning your dishwasher. In that case, let us do the hard work for you. At Helping Hands Cleaning Services in Winfield IL, we can clean your dishwasher and more. Our professional cleaning experience has earned us the trust of many homeowners.
With our years of consistently outstanding cleaning services, you’ll be in good hands. Call us today!