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How to Clean a Smelly Dishwasher

BlondeWoman Cleaning Dishwasher with Rubber GlovesIs your dishwasher having an unpleasant smell? Foul odors from your dishwasher only mean one thing, your dishwasher needs a good cleaning. If you want your appliances to serve you well into the future, you need regular cleaning and maintenance. So much more for dishwashers as they remove food particles all the time. If your Mt. Vernon rental has this problem with your dishwasher, find out more on how to clean and keep it smelling fresh all the time.

A smelly dishwasher may be caused by several reasons. But the most common problems are food particles and dirty water getting trapped in the drain hose, drain filter, spray arm, or other areas. Aside from that, if you don’t completely drain your dishwasher after using them, you could have mold growing inside it. This could then lead to health issues in your household and cause your dishwasher to break down.

To clean your dishwasher, the first order of business is the drain filter. A smelly dishwasher will most likely have a clogged drain filter. Look for the drain filter first, most dishwashers have them at the bottom rear of the tub. Pull it out and clean it with hot soapy water and a bottle brush. The drain should be clear.

Dishwashers with spray arms can also get clogged causing you the same problem as the drain filters. Now that the filters are cleaned and yet the odor is still there, try to remove the spray arms then rinse them. For food particles that get clogged in the holes, use a toothpick and run water through the arm to get rid of them.

On the other hand, the insides of your dishwasher are like drain filters and spray arms in such a way that they can get dirty from soap scum and grime. That’s why, it is important for you to regularly scrub the interior of your dishwasher which includes the racks, door gaskets with hot soapy water. Another great way to clean your dishwasher’s interior is to run separate empty cycles with vinegar and baking soda. Not only are they effective, but they are natural cleaners as well.

This process requires your dishwasher to run twice. You need to put the cleaners inside the dishwasher separately, otherwise, it will cause a chemical reaction. For the first cycle, you fill a bowl with the white vinegar, place it in the top rack of the dishwasher, then run a hot water cycle. You can then add a few drops of essential oil like lavender, orange, or lemon if you do not prefer the smell of vinegar. Next, prepare for the second cycle by putting a cup filled with baking soda at the bottom of the dishwasher then run it. After completing the process, your dishwasher should no longer have unwanted odors.

Finally having solved the problem, you need to work on how to prevent it from recurring. You need to repeat the process mentioned above three or four times a year as suggested by appliance experts if you want your dishwasher to last longer. But that’s not the only thing you can do. Scraping and rinsing your dishes before loading them in the dishwasher can prevent food particles from becoming trapped in the first place. Also, when your dishwasher is on, avoid running other appliances that use hot water. This is because you want your dishwasher to fully utilize the hot water available in order to break down soap and food particles to clean your dishes effectively.

Do you need more information on keeping your rental house clean and odor-free? Visit our blog today, or if you’re in the market for a new Mt. Vernon rental home, take a look at our current listings.

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