This 1-Minute Trick Keeps Your Dishwasher From Smelling (And Ruining Your Dishes)
I think we have all experienced that awful moment of opening the dishwasher and being hit by a wave of swampy air. It is so incredibly frustrating when the machine that is supposed to clean your dishes actually makes them smell like wet dog. I used to just run the cycle again hoping the smell would magically vanish. But I recently learned a few ridiculously simple habits that get rid of the bad smell, and stop it from ever coming back.
It Only Takes A Minute
The absolute best way to stop that musty smell takes literally zero effort. As soon as your dishwasher finishes its final drying cycle just open the door. You do not even need to open it all the way. Just leave it cracked about an inch or two for an hour before you unload the clean plates. It is a tiny adjustment to your routine but it makes a massive difference in how your kitchen smells.
No Trapped Moisture
When a wash cycle ends, the inside of that metal box is incredibly hot and completely soaked. If you leave the door securely latched shut all that steamy moisture has absolutely nowhere to go. It just sits in the dark creating the perfect tropical environment for mold and mildew to thrive. Cracking the door lets the fresh air circulate and allows the dampness to evaporate properly before it can turn into a smelly, musty mess.
Checking The Hidden Filter
If leaving the door open does not fix the smell you probably need to look at the very bottom of the dishwasher. Most modern dishwashers have a removable plastic filter sitting under the lower spinning arm. You may never have noticed it, but it can smell really bad and needs to be cleaned. That little screen catches all the stray noodles and bits of lettuce so they do not clog your pipes. Giving it a quick rinse in the sink every month works absolute wonders.
Wiping The Seal
Another sneaky place where bad smells like to hide is right along the rubber seal of the door. As the soapy water sloshes around it pushes tiny food particles and grease up against the gasket. Over time that sticky grime builds up and starts to smell pretty sour. Taking a damp paper towel and quickly wiping along the rubber folds once a week stops the bacteria from growing right where the door tightly closes.
A Simple Vinegar Clean
Sometimes the machine just needs a really good deep clean for a fresh reset. You do not need to buy any expensive chemical cleaners to do this safely. Just place a glass bowl filled with two cups of plain white vinegar on the top rack of an empty dishwasher. Run a normal hot water cycle. The vinegar steam breaks down the hard water minerals and completely neutralizes any lingering odors hiding deep inside the hidden hoses. It’s the easiest way to clean your dishwasher and takes absolutely zero scrubbing.
Rinse Your Plates
We all debate about how clean a plate should be before it goes into the racks. You definitely do not need to scrub your dishes spotless before loading them. The dish soap actually needs some grease to work properly. However you absolutely must scrape the large chunks of food into the trash can first. A giant piece of broccoli or a thick glob of mashed potatoes will just rot inside the machine and cause terrible smells.
Clearing Out The Connected Sink Drain
If you have tried everything else and the funky smell is still there, the problem might actually be your kitchen sink. Most dishwashers drain directly into the same pipe as your garbage disposal. If your disposal is holding onto rotting food that awful smell can easily back up right into your clean dishwasher. Running a few ice cubes and some lemon peels through your disposal clears the line and keeps both appliances smelling much fresher.
Related Articles
-These Small Habits Are Secretly Destroying Your Dishwasher
-The Right Way To Load Silverware In A Dishwasher, According To Experts
-Why Using the Dishwasher Is Better Than Washing by Hand
It is honestly such a relief to wake up and unload a machine that actually smells like nothing at all. Taking just one second to pop the door open after dinner saves so much headache the next day. It protects your expensive dishes from absorbing weird odors and keeps your kitchen feeling like a truly clean space. Give it a try and see how much better your kitchen will smell.
Bliss Donahue-Power
