Sustainable Tips to Eliminate Dishwasher Odor

Hardly anyone would want to do without their dishwasher, does a great job and at most ask for a shot of salt or a sip of rinse aid from time to time. But those who work a lot also want to be treated with care.

If not properly maintained, the dishwasher can start to smell. Unpleasant odors in the dishwasher They are almost always due to deposits of food remains in the drain filter, in hoses or pipes, on the floor, in corners or in crevices of the machine.

These organic deposits are a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Their metabolism in turn produces digestive gases, which are responsible for the unpleasant odors in the kitchen.

What to do when the dishwasher smells bad

If the dishwasher smells badthe easiest solution is to clean it thoroughly. If you track down and remove all deposits and dirt and then treat your appliance with a regular cleaning regimen, bad odors should be a thing of the past.

How to proceed step by step:

Unscrew the filter or strainer insert from the dishwasher, located above the drain at the bottom of the machine. This is where most of the organic deposits are likely to have accumulated. Thoroughly clean the strainer with dishwashing liquid and a brush. If it is visibly calcified, you should also decalcify it, otherwise it will quickly clog again. To do this, submerge the filter in a container with concentrated cleaning vinegar for a couple of hours and then use the brush.Pipes and hoses can be cleaned with pipe brushes flexible hoses that are available at hardware stores.Rotating spray arms that distribute the water in the machine may also be clogged with limescale deposits or contaminated with food remains inside. This not only causes a bad smell, but also affects the cleaning performance of the machine. Depending on the model of the dishwasher, the wash arms can be removed or opened and cleaned more or less easily.

How to continue cleaning

Remove the upper and lower rolling baskets from the machine and work the grid with a brush, sponge or cloth. Ecological home remedies such as baking soda, vinegar or citric acid are recommended as cleaning agents. If used correctly, they are enough to remove limescale, grease, bacteria and mold from the dishwasher.Cleans rubber gaskets and door gaskets of the machine from possible deposits. Don’t do it with vinegar because it can make the rubber porous.After cleaning, treat your machine with a cleaning cycle with baking soda and vinegar. To do this, put two tablespoons of baking soda in the salt compartment and fill the detergent compartment with vinegar essence. The detergent compartment is only opened when the baking soda has already been able to work in the washing space. Then, let the machine run empty and at the highest possible temperature. Be careful when opening as the hot vinegar vapor can be irritating.To prevent the unpleasant odor from returning to the dishwasher, You must get used to removing the thickest dirt with a paper before putting them on the plates. So the residues do not even enter the machine, therefore they cannot accumulate or cause a bad smell.

Wash instead of deodorize

In drugstores and supermarkets you will find special deodorants for the dishwasher, but They serve more to cover than to eliminate bad odors. In addition, these products are made of single-use plastic and contribute more to generating garbage than to addressing the root problem.

Even special dishwasher cleaners, sold as tablets, for example, aren’t really necessary and pollute the environment. Manual cleaning is more effective in removing deposits such as grease, lime, etc., than a preparation that the machine only distributes inside.

The decalogue of good dishwasher care

These tips will help you to ensure that your dishwasher works well for a long time and remains free of odors. They will also help you cause as little damage to the environment as possible.

Choose dishwasher tablets with a water-soluble PVA (polyvinyl acetate) film to save plastic packaging.Dishwasher Powder it is easier to dose. If you buy a bulk pack you will save additional packaging waste.Add dishwasher salt (regeneration salt, special salt) regularly to protect your machine from limescale, especially when the water is hard. This not only prevents stains on dishes and cutlery, but also prevents pipes and hoses from clogging and the cleaning ability of the machine from deteriorating.The ecological program of the dishwasher it takes longer, but it is even more environmentally friendly because it requires less water and electricity. fully charged your dishwasher before you start it, you reduce the burden on the environment and your wallet.For normal soil, a wash cycle at a low temperature or half is enough to clean the dishes. You must run your machine at the highest temperature once a month. This prevents deposits that cannot be removed with normal wash cycles. Rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher only serves to spend more water and energy. It is appropriate to remove coarse dirt with a fork or paper. If a dish does not look good, you can always wash it later. If you are considering buying a new dishwasher, find out about the most efficient and long-lasting models. The energy rating must be B (it is the highest possible right now, in 2021) and the reviews in online stores and forums can guide you on the quality of the device.