Where does the unpleasant smell from the dishwasher come from and how to remove it?
The dishwasher is designed to make life easier and relieve a person of work in the kitchen. However, sometimes the device itself becomes a cause for concern. This happens when an unpleasant odor appears from it.
It cannot be ignored; measures must be taken. Read the article about how to remove odors from your dishwasher using improvised and special means.
Content
Causes of unpleasant odor
If the machine is working properly and is used according to the instructions, there will be no smell coming from it. It occurs for a number of reasons, including:
Mold growth. The favorite habitats of fungi are: drain filter, hoses, door seal, tubular electric heater. Their appearance is promoted by high humidity and insufficient ventilation.
- Incorrect operation. Do not load plastic dishes into the machine. Failure to comply with this condition will result in a burning smell.
- Using low-quality detergents. There are special gels and capsules for the dishwasher that cannot harm the device or cause an unpleasant odor.
- Clogging. Most often it is represented by food waste, which can accumulate in the mesh filter area, inside the drain hose, under the cuff.
- Stagnation of water. It may accumulate under the cuff and at the bottom of the device. Its rotting will lead to the appearance of an unpleasant odor.
Dishwasher troubleshooting
If the cause of the unpleasant odor is a clog, then you need to clean the mesh filter located under the lower stand of the machine. It is removed and washed under running hot water. To better remove dirt, you can use a brush and soap. When the filter is clean, it is returned to its place.
Procedure:
- remove all racks from the dishwasher;
- dilute dishwashing detergent in warm water;
- Using a sponge or soft cloth, wash the walls and bottom of the device;
- process and dry the seals;
- wash the grates and put them in place.
The smell may appear due to improper connection of the device to the drain pipe. In this case, the machine will smell like sewage. To get rid of an unpleasant odor, you need to connect the hose correctly. It should be located at a height of 40 to 100 cm above the sink.
A burning smell indicates a serious breakdown., which requires stopping the operation of the device and calling a specialist.
How to eliminate it using improvised means?
You can get rid of an unpleasant odor using improvised means that are found in every home. To treat the device, you can use table vinegar.
How to use it:
- Pour 9% vinegar into a glass or plate with high sides. 50 ml of acid is enough for treatment.
- Place the dishes on the upper rack of the appliance.
- Turn on normal dishwashing mode.
Vinegar neutralizes unpleasant odors and disinfects the machine.
You can get rid of the smell using baking soda. Mode of application:
- remove dishes from the machine;
- fill the tray of the device with soda;
- turn on the washing mode at the highest temperature.
Once the cycle is complete, the smell should disappear. If this method turns out to be ineffective, then it needs to be improved.
Procedure:
- Pour ? into a plate with high sides? packs of baking soda.
- Add 10 ml of hydrogen peroxide and 20 drops of your favorite essential oil to it.
- The resulting mixture is placed in the freezer for 20 minutes.
- A lump is formed from the frozen mass and placed in a basket for dishes.
- Turn on the dishwasher, setting the water temperature to the highest possible temperature. Waiting for the cycle to complete.
This method allows you to get rid of even the most persistent odor.
You can disinfect the surface of the dishwasher and eliminate unpleasant odors using laundry soap.
Procedure:
A quarter of the bar is grated and diluted in 0.5 liters of warm water.
- Soak a sponge in the solution and treat all the walls and components of the dishwasher with it.
- Thoroughly wash hard-to-reach places, including seals, drain hole, pan.
- Lattice baskets are washed separately.
- Wash off the soap solution with clean water.
After general cleaning, ventilate the device by leaving the door open overnight.
Use it as follows:
- remove dishes and racks from the machine;
- one package of powdered borax is opened and the entire surface of the washing machine is covered with it;
- turn on the device for a full cycle with additional rinsing;
- wait until the wash is completed, open the door and ventilate the machine for an hour.
Special preparations
There are many products on sale to rid your dishwasher of unpleasant odors. Top 3 best lineups:
Finish
Dishwasher Cleaner placed in the device along with the bottle and start the cycle. The water temperature should not be less than 65 degrees. The product helps get rid of unpleasant odors, remove scale and fat deposits. The price of a 250 ml bottle is 300 rubles.
Somat Machine cleaner
The dishwasher cleaner is available in tablet form. You can load them into the machine along with the dishes. They eliminate unpleasant odors and help clean all hard-to-reach placesavailable in the device. Their use allows you to eliminate minor blockages, remove scale and fat deposits. The price for a package with 3 tablets is 600 rubles.
Paclan
A dishwasher cleaner is available in the form of a gel; its use can effectively get rid of unpleasant odors and grease deposits. In one cycle, the entire package will be used up; it will not be possible to divide it into several parts. The bottle of cleaning product is placed in the machine without unscrewing the cap. (it will dissolve on its own during operation of the device). The price of a 250 ml bottle is 200 rubles.
Prevention
Preventing unpleasant odors from your dishwasher:
- To prevent mold from forming in the machine, it must be ventilated regularly. To do this, after use, you can leave the door ajar for 1-2 hours.
- It is advisable to remove washed dishes from the appliance immediately after the cycle has completed.
- Only special products can be used in the dishwasher.A prerequisite is their correct dosage. It is unacceptable to put washing powder, bleach or abrasive compounds into the device.
- Periodically you need to remove the drain hose and wash it of dirt.
- Before loading dishes into the appliance, they must be cleaned of food residues.
- The dishwasher must be thoroughly cleaned at least 2 times a month.
- It is recommended to run an additional rinse every 2-3 cycles.
Helpful information
Tips for caring for your dishwasherto prevent the appearance of unpleasant odors:
- after using any cleaning product, you need to ventilate the device - the longer it remains open, the better;
- Do not scrub the surface of the dishwasher with a hard metal brush;
- Do not violate the rules for operating the device specified in the instructions;
- to get rid of a slight odor, before the next wash you need to put 2-3 slices of lemon in the basket and run the standard program;
- If the dishes are loaded into the machine, but there is no time to run a full washing cycle, you need to turn on the rinse - this will wash away food residues and prevent them from rotting.
You will find a lot of useful and important information about removing various unpleasant odors from objects and surfaces in this section.
Video on the topic of the article
The reasons for the appearance and ways to eliminate the smell from the dishwasher are in the video:
Conclusion
The dishwasher is designed to clean kitchen utensils, so it should stay clean. The appearance of an odor most often indicates poor care of the device. Correcting the situation is not difficult, you just need to choose the right remedy and put in a little effort.