Does Your Dishwasher Stink? Try These Sure-Fire Solutions

Does Your Dishwasher Stink? Try These Sure-Fire Solutions

Ironically, the home appliance that makes our dishes shine is the most likely to get dirty. Read on to discover a few tips and tricks to keep your dishwasher clean and prevent it stinking up the house.

 

Have you ever opened the dishwasher door after a cleaning cycle and been hit by a fishy smell? Indeed, this extremely practical time-saving device can sometimes harbour some unpleasant surprises (and mould) if not properly maintained. 

Why Does It Smell?

There are many reasons why your dishwasher stinks. The filter, which catches excess food debris, might need to be cleaned or replaced. Or bits of food got stuck in the baskets a few weeks ago and are rotting. The small wholes along the rotating arms can also become clogged with food residue. Finally, don’t forget that limescale from the water can also build up on the dishwasher’s interior walls and cause a bad smell. 

What Can I Do to Prevent Odours?

—Firstly, clean the dishwasher thoroughly with white vinegar or citric acid, two products that can effectively—and cheaply—remove limescale.

 

—Next, remove the appliance’s filter to determine if it also needs a good clean with a brush and water, or if it must be replaced. Throw it out if it is damaged or unable to do its job anymore. Caution: if the filter is hard to access and you must unscrew certain parts, remember to unplug the dishwasher before you proceed.

 

—Take this opportunity to remove any residue that has become stuck in the rotating arm’s jets using a toothpick or other tiny pick-like object. Such deposits may seem harmless but can just on their own cause quite offensive smells. 

 

—Then, clean the rubber gasket around the appliance’s door with soap. Employ a small brush—or toothbrush—if you need to. This will make the job easier.  

 

—End by running an empty cleaning cycle, filling the soap dispenser with baking soda and pouring white vinegar into the bottom floor appliance to eliminate any persistent mould and odours.

What If My Dishwasher Is not Working Effectively?

Poorly cleaned forks, white spots on wine glasses, smudges of sauce on the plates … you’ve started putting the dishes away only to discover that they are not completely clean or at the very least still a little greasy. This unfortunate scenario can be avoided, however, if you take the time to properly rinse plates and cutlery before placing them in the dishwasher. Leaving too much food on the dishes may clog the filter and break it! As to the white spots, those can be the result of overfilling the detergent dispenser or caused by the water. If you suspect that the municipal water contains too much chlorine or lime, we encourage you to install a water softener connected to your dishwasher’s water supply.

What to Do When You’ve Tried Everything?

Is your dishwasher still not behaving despite all your efforts? Do your forks and spoons continue to come out dirty? Does it stink every time you open the door? Clean it top to bottom with this special cocktail! In a bucket combine 125 ml of a bleach solution (1/2 cup), 65 ml of baking soda (1/4 cup) and 1 litre of hot water (4 cups). Spray the mix over all the surfaces and into those hard-to-get corners. Let it stand 10 minutes, then scrub with a cloth and rinse well. Not only will this kill all bacteria, but your precious dishwasher will work like new again!

A dishwasher’s lifespan depends on several factors, including quality and how it is used. However, it’s a fallacy to believe that it must be replaced every ten years. If well maintained, this appliance can function wonderfully for 20 years or more!

RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

A leader in the real estate industry since 1982, the RE/MAX network brings together the most efficient brokers.