We load our dishwashers with dirty dishes, expecting them to come out sparkling clean. But did you know that the cleanliness of our dishes often reflects the level of care and maintenance we give to our dishwashers?
Whether your dishwasher is smelly or you want to get into a regular cleaning routine to benefit your dishwasher’s longevity, you can learn how to clean your prized appliance below.
How Do You Clean a Smelly Dishwasher?
Despite leaving our dishes smelling fresh and clean, our dishwashers can smell anything but! If you’re dealing with a smelly appliance, you might be asking: How do you clean the inside of a dishwasher?’ There are actions you can take to remedy the situation:
- Run a rinse-and-hold cycle: A rinse-and-hold cycle is a short cycle to rinse dishes before you perform a full wash. It’s preferred for people who don’t have a full load to run but don’t want to smell old food on their dishes.
- Clean the filter: Dishwasher filters are a common cause of foul odors. Refer to your dishwasher manual for instructions on removing and cleaning it with hot water and soap.
- Inspect the gasket and walls: Inspect anywhere food could be hiding, including the dishwasher walls and gasket. If you notice mold, there could be a leak, and you should contact a service professional for repair services.
- Thoroughly scrub everything: Smells could be hiding anywhere! Clean the racks and other parts you can remove or clean while still in the dishwasher.
How Do You Clean a Dishwasher with Vinegar?
After thoroughly scrubbing your dishwasher, you may notice that it still doesn’t smell ‘fresh’. How do you clean a smelly dishwasher that you’ve already thoroughly cleaned? To freshen up your appliance, pour one cup of distilled white vinegar into a bowl, place it on the top rack of your dishwasher, and run a full cycle. The light acid in the vinegar can be helpful for cleaning off any remaining food residue.
How Do You Clean the Drain in a Dishwasher?
Some dishwashers still smell bad even after cleaning the filter, running a rinse cycle, and scrubbing all visible components! It might be time to check your drain hose. The drain hose connected to your drain and dishwasher may have food stuck in it, leading to a foul smell.
The good news is that cleaning the drain in a dishwasher can be straightforward. If you don’t feel confident, you can contact a trusted plumber for help.
- Unplug the dishwasher from its power source
- Turn off the water supply
- Find the drain hose under the sink and disconnect it from the dishwasher and sink drain fitting
- Put a bowl or towel underneath the fitting to catch any water
- Look for clogs, debris, blockages, or kinks that might be contributing to your bad-smelling dishwasher
- Flush the dishwasher hose with hot water to dislodge any loose debris
- Use a pipe cleaner or flexible brush to remove any leftover debris
- Pour baking soda and vinegar in equal parts into the hose and let it sit before flushing with hot water
- Once your dishwasher drain hose is clean, reconnect it to the sink fitting and dishwasher and run an empty cycle to ensure it drains properly
How Often Should You Clean Your Dishwasher?
Many of us are guilty of not prioritizing dishwasher maintenance as much as we should. However, it can be important for your dishwasher’s longevity so you can enjoy many years of faithful cleaning service!
How frequently and how you clean your dishwasher can depend on how often you use it. As a general rule, you should prioritize daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance tasks.
Daily Dishwasher Cleaning Tasks
Remove any food you see inside the dishwasher daily or after every load. This can include in the bottom of the dishwasher and inside the filter.
Weekly Dishwasher Cleaning Tasks
Get into the habit of wiping down the door edges and gasket at least once per month. Get rid of any food debris you find. You should also remove and clean the dishwasher filter monthly.
Monthly Dishwasher Cleaning Tasks
With daily use, it’s not uncommon for the insides of dishwashers to become grimy. Prevent smells and unsightly food waste from building up by performing a deep clean of the interior with a cleaning cycle.
You can purchase special dishwasher cleaning products or follow the advice above for using distilled white vinegar.
Signs You Need to Clean Your Dishwasher
If you haven’t performed regular dishwasher cleaning in the past, some signs can indicate that you need to prioritize it sooner rather than later!
- You notice an unpleasant smell
- There’s food build-up in the filter
- Dishes come out with food or grease on them
- There’s water pooling in the bottom
- You notice visible rust
- There is food in the sprayer arm
- The dishwasher is getting clogged
- You hear strange noises
Get Help With Your Dishwasher from Mr. Rooter Plumbing®
Whether you need help cleaning your dishwasher or suspect a problem, reach out to the friendly service professionals at Mr. Rooter Plumbing® - experts in dishwasher repair, maintenance, installation, and replacement. You can request a job estimate online or call us.
