How to Remove Smells From a Dishwasher

A foul smell coming from the dishwasher can effect the atmosphere of the entire kitchen. It detracts from the cleanliness of the room and can be hard to deal with. You wouldn't expect that what cleans your dishes could be the cause of such a smelly problem, but it may need to be cleaned itself every now and then. Cleaning the dishwasher is the first step to eliminating foul odors. Fortunately, it's a very simple process.

Things You'll Need

• Vinegar
• Toothbrush
• Dish soap
• Baking soda
• Unsweetened lemonade
• Soft clean cloth
• Bleach

Instructions

Cleaning the Dishwasher

1. Remove all dishes from the dishwasher so that all of the racks are empty.

2. Run the dishwasher on a normal cycle. However, add a cup of vinegar instead of dishwasher detergent.

3. Open up the dishwasher when the cycle is complete. See if the smell is still there.

4. Use an old toothbrush dipped in warm soapy water to clean the seals around the dishwasher. Dirt and debris can hide in there and cause unpleasant smells.

5. Use a soft to medium bristle brush to clean the racks inside the dishwasher. Dip a soft clean cloth into warm soapy water. Scrub the inside of the dishwasher completely, before running the dishwasher again with a cup of vinegar.

More Suggestions for Eliminating the Odor

1. Run the dishwasher with a cup of baking soda. The mild abrasiveness of the baking soda will help to loosen any debris and neutralize any smells.

2. Pour baking soda down the drain in the kitchen sink. Follow it down with vinegar to clean anything out of the drains that may be causing the smell. The vinegar and baking soda will cause a bubbling reaction that can help to dislodge anything that shouldn't be there.

3. Run the dishwasher with a cup of unsweetened lemonade on the top rack. Let it complete the cycle before removing the cup.

4. Wash the entire inside of the dishwasher with a solution of equal parts bleach and water. Use a clean cloth to scrub every inch of it before running the rinse cycle to clean it out.

5. Open up the dishwasher. Allow it to air out for awhile. It may help to keep the door open when not in use to keep it from being a warm dark place for bacteria to accumulate.

Tips & Warnings

• Pre-wash dishes before putting them in the dishwasher to avoid bits of food debris from accumulating and causing odors.

• Be sure to ventilate the area well. Wear gloves when cleaning the dishwasher with bleach.

References

• Dishwasher Cleaning Tips