In a lot of multiple occupancy households, dishwashers are used at least once a day, and while they get our kitchen items shiny and clean, have you ever thought about how much grime and debris passes through them on every cycle?
With this in mind, it’s little wonder that they can become smelly from time to time, and while you can buy fresheners to place inside the machine, this is only masking the problem. What your dishwasher really needs, is a deep clean. Let’s look into the problem a little more closely:
What makes my dishwasher dirty and smelly?
Because they’re designed to remove particles of food and grease from pots, pans and dishes, it’s no surprise that they’ll get bunged up with leftover food and other stinky gunk from time to time. Keep in mind that the warm and damp environment inside the dishwasher makes it a perfect place for mold and bacteria to grow, too. Combine all of these things, add in a splash of standing water, and you’ve got one not so delightfully fragrant dishwasher!
How to get your dishwasher hygienically clean
Fortunately, it’s pretty simple to clean your dishwasher, and for most households, doing this once a month is enough to keep it smelling fresher and working at its best. Here’s how to do it:
Step one:
Clean the filter
You can remove the filter from the drain as often as you wish and give it a quick clean to remove any leftover food particles, but a more thorough clean of the drain as well, should happen at least once a month.
To do this, remove the bottom rack from the machine, don a pair of rubber gloves, and get stuck in removing any food waste from the drain. This will not only help the entire machine smell better, but it’ll help make sure the water drains properly, and that your dishes get as clean as they can be.
Step two:
Clean the spray arm
Typically found at the very top or bottom of a dishwasher, the spray arm can also get clogged up with food particles from time to time, and may even have a build-up of minerals on its surface. To combat this, remove the arm and soak it in white vinegar for around 15 minutes. Then, scrub it clean if necessary and inspect the spray holes for blockages.
Step three:
Clean your dishwasher inside
Cleaning your dishwasher shouldn’t take more than a few minutes, and all you need is a sponge or scrubber, and a solution of white vinegar, warm water and dish soap. Don’t forget to clean the seals and inside of the door.
Step four:
Eliminating odors
To get your dishwasher smelling fresh again, simply fill a bowl with a couple of cups of white vinegar, place it on the top rack and run a full, hot cycle. If necessary, you can also pop around a cup of baking soda onto the floor of the dishwasher, and run another cycle to increase the freshness levels further. Once done, leave the door open to allow it to dry out fully.
While the second, third and fourth steps may only need to be done every few months or so, it is a good idea to clean your dishwashers filter and drain more often. Why not add it to the list of chores your cleaning service are responsible for (if they’re not doing it already)?
