Have you ever opened the door to your dishwasher and recoiled when what should smell clean reminds you instead of your old school locker room?
It seems counterintuitive that the fixtures in your home created for the express purpose of cleaning things need to be cleaned themselves. It can be tempting to run straight for the bleach, but first look at the tips below to keep your dishwasher working (and smelling) great.
Time to glove up and get dirty!
• Because dishwashers are designed to clean food residue off your dishes, this residue tends to accumulate in the filter located at the bottom of the unit. Be sure to remove the filter and rinse/scrub any accumulated food residue from the filter until water flows easily through it. This will also ensure your unit drains properly.
• Next remove all the racks from the dishwasher so you can easily access the spinning arm. There are holes located in the underside of this arm to allow clean water to spray into the unit. Over time, hard water residue and other gunk accumulate in these, impeding the flow of water and resulting in less than clean dishes. Using something small and pointy, clear each hole before scrubbing with a toothbrush.
• Using a cloth or Q-tip soaked in vinegar, clean the seal around the dishwasher door, as this is an area ripe for the accumulation of smelly things.
• Finally, give all the racks and sides/bottom of the dishwasher a good wipe down and reinstall.
Your dishwasher should look clean, and smell like new!
For a simple guide to cleaning all your home’s small appliances, check out this article from Better Homes & Gardens.
See more homeownership tips from our team here.
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