The main reason for unpleasant odours in the dishwasher is small dirt and blockages. It seems that the equipment that washes the dishes itself should always be clean because the water washes its inner surface. However, it’s not so simple! There are a few dishwasher parts that can easily trap dirt. Sewage becomes a favourable breeding ground for microorganisms that provoke unpleasant odours. In order for the dishwasher to cleanly wash the dishes and smell only fresh, you need to provide cleaning in time.
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When Regular Cleaning Doesn’t Help
There are two cases when routine or emergency cleaning of the dishwasher will not help you get rid of the unpleasant odour. In any case, if you hesitate, turn your machine off and wait until the repairman from the home appliances repair near me arrives.
1. The machine is brand new and smells like plastic
At first, even a high-quality dishwasher has a specific smell. You just need to wait for a while (1-2 weeks), and it will disappear.
2. There is a burnt smell
The smell of burning is a signal to immediately stop using the dishwasher. Like any other electrical appliance, it can flame up. Due to a short circuit, contacts, internal wiring, and some elements of the machine may burn out. If any of the outer parts have suffered, you can easily understand this by melting.
What and How to Clean in the Dishwasher?
You are more likely to remove dirt and bad odour from the dishwasher if it smells rotten, musty, “greasy”, etc. Cleaning the dishwasher is not too problematic. It all depends on the degree of pollution. The whole process should take no more than an hour of your time.
There are a few possible sources of unpleasant odours:
- Drain filter;
- Sprayer (sprinkler) of water;
- Sealing rubber and bottom of the door;
- Dispenser for detergents;
- Drain hose;
- All protruding parts, walls, and especially the bottom of the inner surface.
All these parts must be carefully examined and cleaned. It is recommended to check and clean the dishwasher in the following order:
- Disconnect the machine from the electricity and turn off the water supply.
- Remove the filter. It has a cylindrical shape and a mesh type. You can find a lot of debris in the filter: food particles, napkins, toothpicks, etc.
- Wash the filter using detergents (you can just use soap) and reinstall it.
- Remove the nozzles. Wash in the same way as the filter, and reinstall them.
- Clean the inner surface of the walls and the door of the unit, paying particular attention to the rubber seal.
- Wash all racks and baskets.
- Rinse the detergent dispenser.
- Disconnect the hose from the machine and the drain. Rinse it, or replace it with a new one.
Remember! Preventive cleaning of the dishwasher is much easier, faster, and less expensive than repair. By cleaning this irreplaceable kitchen appliance in time, you will significantly extend its service life.
