How To Clean A Smelly Dishwasher

young woman covering her nose with her hands because of dishwasher smell

How To Clean A Smelly Dishwasher

By : Mikaela Perrin
A dishwasher is an extremely useful kitchen appliance because it saves your time and keeps the expensive crockery safe during the washing. You can effortlessly remove the grime present on your dishes without causing any damage to them.

However, over time the food particles and grease get stuck inside the nook and cranny of the dishwasher, and it starts to stink. The standing water inside the appliance promotes the growth of mildew, which is also responsible for the bad smell.

Removing this lousy smell from this appliance is not that difficult. All you need is a thorough cleaning with natural products like baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide.

In case you are moving out of the rental property and want to clean all your appliances, take professional help. Contact a company that offers reliable end of lease cleaning in Gold Coast. The professional will thoroughly clean your entire kitchen, and if applicable, they will clean inside out of appliances such as dishwashing machine, microwave, refrigerator, etc.

However, if you want to eliminate the bad smell on your own, you need to follow some methods. Read on to know more about how to clean a smelly dishwasher.

Clean Filter of the Drain

One of the main reasons why your appliance stinks is due to the clogged drain filter. If your dishwashing machine has this filter, then you need to clean it. It is most likely to be located on the bottom side of the machine.

So, the first thing you need to do is to remove the filter and thoroughly clean it with hot soapy water and a bottlebrush. It will help you to remove grime from all the crevices. Before you reinsert the filter, make sure there are no food particles in the drain. If there is any gunk, remove it with a sponge.

Clean the Spray Arm

The grime and food particles can block the holes present in the top or bottom spray arm. If the holes get blocked, it can make a negative impact on the efficiency of the appliance. And it goes without saying that the blockage can also be a major source of unpleasant smells from your dishwasher.

To eliminate the smell, you need to clean the spray arm. To do that, remove the arms and hold them over the sink in your kitchen. Then use a toothpick to remove particles food particles from them and once you have removed all the grime, wash the holes thoroughly. Finally, reinstall the arms in your dishwashing machine.

Scrub Inside of the Dishwasher

After cleaning the drain filter and spray arms, it is time to scrub the inside of the appliance. Over time, the soap scum and grime can stick on the walls as well as the door of the dishwashing appliance. So, it is essential to clean the inside of the appliance properly. Spray hot soapy water inside the surface and then scrub the surface with a scrub brush or a cloth. It can make a huge difference!

Also wipe the racks as well as door gaskets, which allow the mould and mildew to grow. If you want high-quality cleaning or have a busy schedule, contact Professionals who offer various cleaning solutions along with the best end of lease cleaning in Gold Coast. They have expertise in cleaning all kinds of appliances.

Run Empty Dishwasher Cycle?

Scrubbing the inside surface can remove a lot of dirt, but if you want to clean the appliance thoroughly, then you need to run an empty dishwasher cycle with the following ingredients. It will remove the gunk, variety of bacterias and bad smell from every nook and cranny of the appliance.

Baking Soda

Sprinkle ample amount of baking soda at the bottom of the appliance. Then set the water temperature to maximum temperature and run an empty wash cycle. Another way you can use the baking soda is by preparing a paste and applying it inside the dishwasher and wait for around 30 to 40 minutes. Then clean the surface with a damp cloth and run an empty wash cycle.

White Vinegar

Fill a dishwasher-safe cup with specialised cleaning vinegar or distilled white vinegar. Then place it on the top rack of the appliance and run the empty wash cycle. Do not forget to set the water temperature at its maximum. It will remove the bad smell and build-up of dishwasher detergents.

Lemon Juice

The lemon juice is an ideal option to clean the smelly dishwashing machine. Pour about 4 to 5 tablespoons of lemon juice at the bottom of the appliance and run a normal wash cycle on its hottest setting. Before draining the water, stop the cycle and allow it to sit for a few hours. In the end, resume the cycle before draining the water.

Hydrogen Peroxide and Essential Oil

‘Baking soda bombs’ are also very effective to clean your smelly dishwashing machine, and it is also easy to prepare. All you need to do is to combine hydrogen peroxide (3 tablespoons), baking soda (2 cups) and essential oil (a few drops) in a bowl and then prepare a thick paste. Now drop a spoonful of this mixture on a greaseproof paper and leave to get dry. Toss the dried up paste in your the empty machine and then run a hot-water cycle.

The Bottom Line

Cleaning a smelly dishwashing machine is not as difficult as it seems. All you need to do is to find the source of the bad smell. Frequently clean the dishwasher so that you can avoid the build-up of food particle and grease. If you are moving out, then it is advisable to hire trained end of lease cleaners in Gold Coast. They will clean the entire kitchen and the kitchen appliances in the best possible manner.