Your Guide to Keeping Your Dishwasher Clean
Did you know that your dishwasher requires cleaning to function properly? Many people don’t realize that cleaning the dishwasher is needed until they start to notice an unpleasant smell. Food particle buildup, clogs in the lines, and dirty filters can all lead to bad odors and impair the ability of the dishwasher to thoroughly clean your dishes. Learn more about how to clean the dishwasher to keep your dishes sparkling and your kitchen smelling fresh.
Why Does My Dishwasher Smell Bad?
Your dishwasher is oftentimes the source of a lingering odor in the kitchen. It’s a common problem with a simple solution once you understand where the smell is coming from. There are several culprits that cause lingering odors:
- Build up of food in the dishwasher: Your dish soap causes a buildup of soap scum over time that traps food particles. Regular cleaning can prevent this issue. Vinegar is a great cleaning product to remove the buildup and the smell.
- The dishwasher filter is full: This is usually the cause of a persistent dishwasher odor that doesn’t budge. The filter can start to smell bad when food particles become trapped in it and start to rot. To clean your filter, you need to consult your product manual for instructions. You generally must remove the bottom rack to unscrew and remove the filter. Once you take it out of the dishwasher, rinse it with hot water and replace it back in the dishwasher.
- Clogged drainage: Pay close attention to drainage problems as they can lead to leaks. Your dishwasher may have a built-in alarm to notify you of a clogged drainage line. Clogs require professional help and should be addressed as soon as possible.
The type of smell that you notice can tell you a lot about the problem. Odors of rotten food typically point to a dirty filter or a clogged drain. If you notice more of a wet dog or even a sewage smell, then drainage issues are the likely source. Fortunately, you can get rid of bad odors in no time when you learn how clean dishwasher.
How to Clean My Dishwasher
If you’ve ever noticed a less-than-pleasant smell hanging around your kitchen that you just can’t seem to eliminate, check your dishwasher for the above issues. Now, you may be wondering how can I clean dishwasher. The answer is simple. Just follow these steps.
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Remove Any Dishes, Utensils in the Dishwasher
The first step to cleaning out your dishwasher and eliminating smells is to remove all the dishes and utensils. You need to empty out the space to inspect the interior and then use your cleaning method of choice.
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Clean Out Any Food or Leftover Debris
Once all the dishes are removed, take a few minutes to clean away any visible food particles and debris. Gently wipe down all the surfaces. Pay special attention to hard-to-reach areas and places that are difficult to see as these areas often trap food. Have someone help you by holding a flashlight to illuminate these areas if possible.
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Run Dishwasher on Hot Cycle with Vinegar
The acidity found in white vinegar makes it a great choice to neutralize odors. Plus, it’s easy to use vinegar to clean your dishwasher. Simply pour a cup or two of any white vinegar into a bowl that’s dishwasher-safe. Put the bowl on the bottom rack of the dishwasher and run it on the hot cycle.
There is no need to add dishwasher detergent during this cycle. Be careful about pouring vinegar directly into the dishwasher as you would a detergent. This may cause damage. You can get effective results without risking this with the method described.
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Run Another Cycle with Baking Soda
Another great way to give your dishwasher a deep clean is by using baking soda. Add about a cup of baking soda to the bottom rack of your dishwasher and run another cycle. Baking soda can absorb missed food particles and helps to neutralize odors. The combination of a vinegar cleaning cycle followed by a baking soda cycle should do the trip to remove odors and leave your dishwasher squeaky clean.
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For a Final Touch, Clean the Exterior Dishwasher Door
Now that your dishwasher is sparkling clean on the inside, give a little TLC to the outside as well. Wipe away food spills, smudges, and fingerprints to get a shiny and clean surface. It only takes a moment and makes a big difference in the appearance of your kitchen.
Try Fresh Wave Odor Eliminating Products
Musty and foul odors don’t belong in your kitchen. It’s a place to prepare delicious meals and entertain family and friends. Unpleasant odors take away from this experience and must be addressed quickly.
It’s important to clean a dishwasher on a regular basis to keep your kitchen sanitary and smelling great. As you now know, there are easy and practical ways to help get rid of your dishwasher odor quickly and effectively.
Take your cleaning efforts one step further by using Fresh Wave Odor Eliminating Spray. This product is an excellent solution to get rid of any lingering smell or odor coming from the dishwasher. It works fast, so you can even use it in a pinch. Do you have guests coming over and just now noticed a smell? No problem! A few sprays of Fresh Wave and you are ready to entertain!
Use our products with confidence. Fresh Wave uses natural, plant-based ingredients that work to actively neutralize and remove the smell completely instead of covering it up. Selecting products to use in your home is a big deal. With Fresh Wave, you can feel confident that you’ll get the results you want with gentle and effective ingredients you can feel good about.
