How to Fix a Smelly Dishwasher

Let’s face it, dishwashers make life a whole lot easier for most of us, but sometimes they can start to smell and we wonder what to do about it. There are a few rules to follow with smelly dishwashers you may not be aware of, and there is also a few easy ways to get rid of that horrible smell.

What Makes a Dishwasher Smell

Dishwasher smell comes from a variety of different factors, but the number one culprit is old food stuck in it. Old food particles can be trapped in the filter at the bottom of the dishwasher and when they begin to decompose, the smell is unmistakable.

The simple thing to do is to remove the old food particles that may be stuck in your dishwasher and then clean it. There are several ways to clean your dishwasher which we will get into below.

What Not to Put in Your Dishwasher

Contributing to the smell of dishwashers are certain things that have been placed in them that shouldn’t have been. There are also things you should never put in dishwashers that are unrelated to the smell. However, dishes that have big chunks of food on them should never be placed in dishwashers without being rinsed off first.

You also really shouldn’t put certain types of items in your dishwasher, including anything with paper labels, printed measuring cups, plates that have been glued back together, wood, aluminum cookware, brass, bronze, or pewter, hand-painted ceramic cookware, antiques, or china with metallic decoration.

How to Clean a Smelly Dishwasher

Avoiding putting certain items that shouldn’t be in a dishwasher in them is one thing. Removing the food particles that are causing the smell in your dishwasher is another. But dishwashers can still smell if they haven’t been properly cleaned on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

Daily Steps

Remove visible food particles thoroughly that may be in your dishwasher. Pay attention to the bottom area near the filter where the water goes down the drain. Food usually collects there and has to be taken out when it does, so you have to do this every day.

Weekly Steps

Take a sponge and some appliance cleaner and wipe down the doors, hinges, and handles of your dishwasher, making sure to remove any visible food particles or other grime that may have accumulated.

Monthly Steps

At least once a month you want to do a full cleaning of your dishwasher. There are a couple of ways you can do this. One is to use a dishwasher cleaner and run it through the dishwasher without any dishes in it.

This is an easy way to do it. However, you could also use vinegar to accomplish the same task. To deep clean your dishwasher with vinegar, place one cup of vinegar in a large bowl with hot water and place it on the top rack of your dishwasher.

At this point, run the dishwasher for a full cycle with the vinegar in it and it should get the job done just fine.

Keeping it Clean

If you follow these steps, you should be able to keep your dishwasher from developing that horrible smell and keep it fresh and clean all the time. Garbage disposal installation in the Greater Sacramento Area is another step you can take to keep your kitchen smell-free. If interested in garbage disposal installation, Home consult the professionals at Ace Plumbing.