How to Eliminate Odor in the Dishwasher? Do It Yourself

As you use your dishwasher constantly, limescale, food particles and grease can build up inside your dishwasher and on the interior sides of it. And if you doesn’t give attention to your washing machine, an unpleasent smell may occur in time.

Luckily, with an appropriate maintenance you can keep your dishes clean and fresh all the time. Here are the DIY steps to eliminate unpleasent odors in your dishwasher. Follow the steps below and keep your washes clean!

Change the drain filter

Change the drain filter
Change the drain filter

The most common reason of a smelly dishwasher is the piling of the food particles in your dishwasher’s filter and over time they begin rotting in a warm, moisture enviroment. To acces the drain filter, remove the bottom rack of your dishwasher and take out the filter deflectingly. Clean the drain filter with soap and hot water. If you can’t reach all of the interior parts of filter, try to use a foam rubber. Remember to clean the filter at least once in a month. You will see that your washing machine smells more fresh and works properly.

Clean the door gasket

Clean the door gasket
Clean the door gasket

As you know, the door gasket is the black rubber seal that covers the dishwasher’s door. Mainly, it prevents water leakings during cycles. When food particles stuck on the sides of the gasket, it can be an unpleasant odour in your dishwasher. It may also collect moisture and dirt. So, you have to wipe down it regularly, too.

Wipe out the inside of the dishwasher

Wipe out the inside of the dishwasher
Wipe out the inside of the dishwasher

Over time, grime and other dirts may accumulate on the inside of the dishwasher and interior walls of it. And this may cause the smells. You must wipe down and scrub out the entire unit of washing machine. Remove all racks, upper and lower, from the inside of the dishwasher. With a rag or kitchen sponge, scrub out the interior sections of dishwasher. Use hot soapy water when you perform this process. You can use some washing agents to help you scrub it out.

Clean the spray arm

Sometimes, spray arm can clogged with food particles and this cause to reduce the dishwasher’s ability to clean your plates, glasses and other kitchen utensils greatly. This also cause to a smelly dishwasher. But it is easy to solve. Remove the upper and lower spray arm. Remove the food particles from the spray arms using a brush or sponge. Run water through the spray arm and repeat the same process with the other spray arm, too.

Check the drain hose

Check the drain hose
Check the drain hose

If bad smell goes on after you used all the methods above, the problem could be in the drain hose. Especially check into drain hose if you see water in the bottom of your dishwasher after end of the each cycle. The drain hose may bent or restricted which cause to the flow of water can be limited and built-up water may occur a bad smell in the hose.

If you can pull out your dishwasher from the wall, pull out to check the drain hose. Check to be sure if the hose isn’t bent or restricted. If you see the drain water backing up into the dishwasher, raise the loop of the drain hose a little higher.

Remove odour with vinegar and baking soda

Remove odour with vinegar and baking soda
Remove odour with vinegar and baking soda

Vinegar has a very strong smell itself. However, it is one of the most potent odour-removing agents. The acid in it provides this effect. It is also a natural product and safe to use. Baking soda is also a potent odour-removing without using chemical cleaners. You can use both but don’t use at the same time.

Firstly, empty the appliance of all your dishes in your washing machine. Place a little vinegar in a bowl on the top rack of your dishwasher. Then, run the dishwasher on a hot cycle. Use the hottest cycle available. The acids in the vinegar will help break down the residues on the interior of the dishwasher and make a fresh smell. When you done, remove the bowl from the dishwasher and sprinkle a cup of baking soda over the floor of the dishwasher. After all process, run a short cycle at a hot temperature to dissolve all the baking soda. Then, your diswasher will have a fresh and clean smelling.

Dylan Joseph
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