Spring Cleaning - Keep It Smelling Fresh: Dishwasher

"Your dishwasher may be working extra hard to make sure your dishes are nice and clean but who’s cleaning the dishwasher? After time, grime will build up making it smell. In fact, there are a number of reasons why unpleasant smells may be coming from your dishwasher. Use these tricks to make sure yours smells fresh as a daisy at all times."

Check if food is caught in the filter. Remove the filter, soak it in soapy water and rinse it out. Sprinkle a cup of baking soda in the bottom, then run a cycle.

Smells may build up from dirt and grime that has built up inside the dishwasher. Give the dishwasher a good clean. Remove all the racks and scrub. Then use hot soapy water to scrub out the door and walls of the dishwasher.

One really common problem when it comes to the smell of your dishwasher can be due to any drainage problems. You should definitely check this if water is building up at the bottom of the dishwasher after each cycle. Check if the drain hose is bent or restricted. If your drain hose is easy to detach, inspect it to see if it has become blocked with any food.

Make sure your dishwasher is empty then place a cup of distilled white vinegar in the top rack of the dishwasher. Because vinegar is an acid, it is the best smell-removing agent. The smell of vinegar will eventually disappear as it dries. Run the dishwasher for a full cycle and it will be blasted all over the inside of the dishwasher. Next sprinkle a cup of baking soda over the bottom of the dishwasher. Baking soda is also really good at neutralising any smells. Run for an additional cycle.

If the smell of vinegar bothers you, you can do the same with a cup of lemon juice instead as this is an acid and has the same affect.

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