So, you’ve popped another load of dishes into your dishwasher. Everything seems to be going as planned, the dishwasher finally beeps, and you go to open the door. In that moment, you are immediately met with a foul, pungent odour. What happened? Why is my dishwasher so smelly and how did it end up this way?
You may be surprised and confused when experiencing this sort of incident, but the good news is that you’re not alone. Smelly dishwashers are quite the common problem, and luckily our team here at Alpha Appliance Services Inc. can help get to the bottom of it. With our helpful advice and our dishwasher repair services, you can rid your machine of that unpleasant smell for good.
Why Does This Happen?
In the majority of cases, dishwasher odours are caused by a buildup of grease/food. These leftover bits of grime and dirt can get lost in the small spaces of a dishwasher, such as the filter, spray arm and drain hose. They can also get stuck in those tight, hard to reach places of your dishwasher. Regardless of where they end up, when these bits get stuck they begin to decompose overtime, leaving behind a funky smell that often comes from mould, mildew and bacteria growth.
How To Fix It
There are a number of different places that this grime can get stuck in, so we would like to discuss all the fixes that can be done to solve it.
Clean the Drain + Filters
The first step to cleaning these parts of your dishwasher is removing the lower rack so you can have full access to the drain that’s built into the bottom of your machine. Be sure to carefully remove the filter (don’t use excessive force) and soak the part in warm water for a minimum of ten minutes. While the filter is soaking in the warm water, you can use this time to clean the inside of the drain with a cloth, rubbing away any of the leftover grime. Once the filter has soaked for the proper amount of time, use a soft-bristled brush and scrub off the leftover residue. You can now place the clean filter back into the clean drain and hopefully, this solves the issue with your smelly appliance.
Clean the Machine Entirely
Notice that your dishwasher is still stinky? Maybe you just want to be certain that the smell is gone for good, and cleaning the filter was not enough for you? The next step to implement if you’re not fully satisfied yet is cleaning the entire dishwasher. To do so, simply remove the upper rack and clean the interior walls with a mix of baking soda, warm water and dish soap. Be sure to scrub off all of the grime, and then use another cloth with just water to rinse afterwards.
Clean the Spray Arms
When you look at your dishwasher, can you spot the long, skinny devices that have holes in them? These are known as the spray arms of your dishwasher, and they distribute the water throughout your machine evenly. They can be located on both the top and bottom of your dishwasher, and require a cleaning if your dishwasher is still stinky after following the steps above. The best way to clean these parts is by removing the arms and using a cotton swab to gently get rid of any grime that may be blocking the holes where the water comes out. Be sure to rinse each part in the sink afterwards, making sure that all of the holes within the spray arms are clear of any gunk.
Give It a Test Run!
Once you’ve followed all of the steps above, your chances of encountering that stinky smell again are very low. Now it’s time to test out the dishwasher to be sure that the smell is completely gone! When it comes down to it, our team recommends that you begin your test run with a cup of white vinegar. Simply place a dishwasher safe cup/container/bowl full of vinegar into the top rack of your empty dishwasher and let it run a short cycle. This should clean any of the final bits you may have not been able to reach/cover, and keep your machine fresh for months to come.
Hire Our Services Today
Have you tried all of the steps above and you’re still being left with a stinky dishwasher smell? This can be quite the cause for concern, but luckily our team at Alpha Appliance Services Inc. can help. When you’re in need of professionals to take care of your dishwasher repair in Richmond Hill, we have got you covered. With our years of experience and skill building, you can be certain that your appliance is working at its best the first time around. To find out more, be sure to call us at (416) 577-5354 today!
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