Every time you use your dishwasher, there are food particles dancing around. Over time, they could lead to unwanted nasty smells. However, there are a few ways how you can keep the dishwasher from smelling between washes.
Dishwashers are a staple appliance in any home. They are convenient and save you time and effort. However, they are not perfect. They do a lot of work keeping our utensils neat, but over time, grime will accumulate, leading to a foul smell.
These appliances, just like any other kitchen electrical appliances, need some maintenance to avoid the stink.
What May Cause Your Dishwasher to Smell?
The most common reason your dishwasher smells even after using it could be food stuck within. This is pretty can be disgusting, especially over time. It encourages mold growth that grow inside the machine’s racks making the smell worse.
Another good way to keep your dishwasher from smelling in between washes is by making sure its door is open as often as possible. This discourages mold growth.
Suppose the odor coming from your dishwasher smells like vegetables, meat, and fish or cheese; it most likely could be mold. When your hose filter is clogged, there will be stagnant water that encourages mold growth.
Have your dishwasher door open as often as you can to discourage mold growth. On the other hand, when the odor is more sewage-like, there are chances that your dishwasher drains are clogged.
Tips on How to Keep the Dishwasher From Smelling Between Washes
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Always leave the spray arm clean after every wash
When the spray arm is not cleaned correctly, it may clog, leading to an unpleasant smell in the dishwasher. A clogged spray arm will also not help clean the dishes too well. Make sure you have your arm sprays fresh and clean before your next wash.
All you need to do is take the arms off and run water through them. If any clogs are left, use a toothpick to unclog the holes. Run water through the arm spray one more time till clear.
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Leave your dishwasher in the inside after use
You can do this easily with a piece of cloth and hot soapy water. Scrub off all the grime and soap scum to avoid it from building up. The fabric and water wipe them all off.
Wipe the door gasket and racks to avoid mold from growing on them.
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Always leave the drain filters clean
A clogged drain filter is a common cause of dishwasher smells. Always clean out the filter as often as possible.
Dethatch the filter from your dishwasher and cleaning out at the kitchen sink. Use hot soapy water and a brush. Before putting the filter back in, wipe off all the remaining food particles.
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Clean the garbage disposal
With a garbage disposal in your kitchen, you will likely experience a smelly dishwasher. A smelly dishwasher could mean that the garbage disposal and hose are not clean. The dishwasher pumps dirty water into the garbage disposal through the hose. Take out the hose and confirm whether the smell is coming from the garbage disposal.
If so, clean the garbage disposal hose using a cloth and a bottle brush. You can use small pieces of lemon to clean the hose out and some white vinegar through the hose when done.
The Vinegar and Baking Soda Trick
Cleaning out every component of a dishwasher is a good way on how to keep your dishwasher from smelling between washes. However, backing soda or vinegar can be used as a final deep clean procedure. They do wonders for a smelly dishwasher.
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Vinegar
Vinegar is perfect for dishwasher cleaning. It neutralizes the stench of residue food particles; cuts down grease and sum build up.
First, empty your dishwasher. Place a bowl with a cup of distilled vinegar on the top rack on the glasses side. Run the dishwasher once on hot and then open the door for about an hour. This is to make sure it airs out.
This process is recommended for a dishwasher at least once every three months. Though it is not always recommended in between washes, it prolongs the freshness of your dishwasher.
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Baking soda
Using backing sods is another easy way on how to keep the dishwasher from smelling between washes. Sprinkle a cup of baking soda at the bottom of your dishwasher and run a short cycle on hot. You can do this as often as possible, and it will leave your dishwasher brighter and fresh.
Other ways on how to keep the dishwasher from smelling between washes include:
- Give your dishes enough space in-between them for soap and water to pass quickly.
- Avoid over-stacking the dishwasher. Your dishes will hardly clean well, and there will be a lot of food particles accumulating on the drain filter.
- Lightly Rinsing and scrapping food from the dishes before loading them in the dishwasher helps avoid too many food particles swirling in the dishwasher.
- Scrap off all the big chunks of food to avoid blockage.
Conclusion
Dishwashing is an everyday activity in most households. Smelly dishes are unhygienic and are a put-off.
Now that you know a few things you can try on how to keep the dishwasher from smelling between washes, practicing these habits often and some maintenance over time will help.