Even though they help clean your dishes, it’s not uncommon for your dishwasher to become dirty and smelly without the proper upkeep. If you find yourself asking, “why does my dishwasher smell?” you don’t have to worry. There are several different steps that you can take to fix a smelly dishwasher.

Clean the Filter

First and foremost, you should routinely take the time to clean out the filter in your machine. To prevent breaking it, read through your manual to find instructions specific to your dishwasher. Once you remove it, you can get rid of trapped food particles and wash away built-up bacteria with warm water, soap, and a scrub brush.

Wash the Inside of the Dishwasher

Another great step to cleaning smelly dishwasher machines is to make a habit of washing the entire interior. Not only should you wipe away the grime that has accumulated on the sides, but you should also remove the racks and scrub the inside of the door, the seal, and the tracks. If the grime has hardened, soapy water and a brush might not be enough to remove it thoroughly, but a kitchen-safe cleaner can help break it down for a squeaky-clean dishwasher.

Use a Special Cleaner

Lastly, you can go to the store to purchase a special dishwashing machine cleaner. There are several brands of disinfectants, but you can also try alternatives, such as baking soda and vinegar. Regardless of your preference, you can run the dishwasher on a full cycle with the cleanser to reach those areas you might have missed with the scrub brush

Look for an Underlying Problem.

After all of the cleaning, you might find that you can’t get rid of the odor, or it might return quicker than expected. In this case, it might be time to start looking for a culprit other than built-up bacteria. For example, there could be a blockage or other plumbing issue preventing proper drainage, which causes mold and must. While you could certainly check for some problems on your own, you could save yourself a lot of trial and error by hiring professional plumbing technicians.

To find out more about how to improve your dishwasher, we encourage you to contact our technicians at Four Seasons Plumbing and Sewer. You can call to speak with one of our professionals about your dilemma, or we can provide you with a fast project estimate after you take a few seconds to submit our simple online form.