Did something die in the dishwasher? It happened. Your built-in dishwasher finally started smelling and now you don’t know what to do. It makes sense that it would start creating a strong odour. So many pieces of food, germs, and bacteria get swirled around during a dishwasher cycle, so it’s only normal that an odour would materialize. If your dishwasher ever starts to smell, here’s what needs to be done to fix the problem:
Step 1: Check the Drain Filter
This is probably the culprit. If the drain filter isn’t cleaned out regularly or even every couple of months, things can start to get pretty hairy. Mouldy particles of food may be hanging around the drain and causing the odour, so it’s best to check here first. All it needs is a little soap and water to do the trick.
Step 2: Clean the Walls
Over time, the interior walls may have picked up scum and other sorts of germs which should be washed off from time to time. Remove the racks from inside your dishwasher and scrub away!
Step 3: Wipe Off the Door Gasket
It may seem excessive, but clean it anyways. There is a slight chance the door gasket of your stainless steel dishwasher picked up food particles so it’s always a good idea to just give them a quick wipe down. Just to be safe.
Step 4: If All Else Fails…
Use vinegar as your last Hail Mary to get the stink out of your kitchen appliance. All you need is 1 cup of distilled white vinegar placed on the top dishwasher drawer rack before running a full cycle. The vinegar will be tossed around inside the dishwasher allowing the acidity of the vinegar to help break down any residue. It’s also an odour neutralizer and will help get rid of any unwanted smells.
Don’t let a smell from your dishwasher prevent you from using it! A little cleaning should do the trick! If it turns out that you’re actually in need of a new one, get in contact with us, your local appliance store, to discover our selection of new GE dishwashers!
Amanda, Your Appliance Expert