We’ve all opened up the dishwasher to find smelly, dirty dishes. Sometimes it seems like no matter how much you scrub and scrape the plates before you put them in the dishwasher, they still don’t come out clean. Why? What’s going on here? Is it your fault?
The good news is that there are some common causes of smelly dishes, and most of them can be easily fixed with a few changes to your dishwashing routine. We’ll break down seven of the most common reasons why your dishes are coming out smelling bad, and give you some tips on what you can do to prevent it from happening in the future.
7 Common Causes Of Stinky Dishes
1. Not scraping food off the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.**
2. Piling up dirty dishes for too long before washing them.**
3. Using too much detergent or using detergent that isn’t meant for hard water conditions (more on this later).**
4. Not rinsing off the dishes after scraping food off of them.**
5. Using too little detergent – or none at all!**
6. Overloading the dishwasher – you’re not using enough space between dishes so they don’t
7 Common Causes Of Stinky Dishes
1. That smell is coming from what’s lurking on your dishes, not the dishwasher itself. They say that everything in moderation is okay. But if you have lingering odors in your kitchen, then it might be time to reevaluate your habits.
Dishes that aren’t rinsed before they go into the dishwasher can smell bad once they are finished. It’s also important to make sure that you scrape off any large food scraps before you load them into the dishwasher to prevent them from clogging the spray arm jets and affecting the way it cleans.
If you have hard water, it can also cause a film to form on your dishes. Try using a water softener and rinse aid together for best results.
2. Food scraps and grease can trap other debris and food particles, causing smells to build up over time in your dishwasher filter. If you notice a foul odor after running a cycle, then it might be time to clean out your filter screen with a toothbrush and warm soapy water.
3. Sometimes, the very thing that is supposed to get rid of odors causes more foul smells instead! If you notice that your dishwasher has an odor
A dishwasher may seem like a magical appliance, but it is still a machine that can be prone to problems. If your dishwasher leaves bad smells in its wake, there are several potential causes.
Here are the 7 most common causes of stinky dishes:
Rinsing Dishes Before You Wash Them
Poor Drainage
Overtime
Dirty Filters and Spray Arms
Food Particles and Grease Buildup on the Door Seal
Not Leaving the Door Open After Cleaning or Washing a Load of Dishes
Not Thoroughly Cleaning the Dishwasher
1. Minuscule Bits of Food
Dishwashers are not garbage disposals. If you want to keep your dishes from smelling bad, don’t put food down the drain before washing the dishes. Some people do this in an attempt to keep their garbage disposals from getting clogged, but it’s still a horrible idea.
The dishwasher could never get every single piece of food off of a plate before washing it if you put food down the drain first. And that means that there will always be bits of food left on plates and in pots and pans after washing them in the dishwasher. Obviously, that’s a recipe for stinky kitchenware.
How To Prevent It: If you have a garbage disposal, use it properly by putting large chunks of food into it while running lots of water. This will help to prevent clogs and generally keep it working well. If you don’t have a garbage disposal, just scrape all the bits of food off into the trashcan before putting dishes into the dishwasher.
Dirty Dishwasher
If your dishwasher itself smells, the culprit may be a dirty dishwasher. Food and other debris can collect on the bottom of the dishwasher, around the drain and filter, and in the door gaskets. If you are noticing a persistent unpleasant odor coming from your dishwasher, try cleaning it with a mixture of baking soda and white vinegar to get rid of odors. First, sprinkle baking soda inside the appliance. Then pour vinegar over it. Let sit for an hour or so, then wipe clean with a sponge.
Dirty Dishes
Dishes that have been left in the sink can quickly begin to smell due to trapped food particles that start to rot. Always make sure to clean dishes immediately after use or load them into your dishwasher right away if you have one. This will keep them smelling fresh and will also prevent bacteria from growing on them, which can be harmful when consumed later on.
Food Particles Trapped in Drain
A smelly drain is not a good thing! Food particles tend to get trapped in drains when you wash dishes and do not rinse them properly before placing them in your sink or dishwasher. To solve this problem, wash dishes thoroughly before putting them away and always make sure that the water
Is your kitchen sink a cesspool of smelly, rotting food? We’ve got the reasons why and how to fix them.
1. Your dishes aren’t getting clean.
If your dishes aren’t getting clean, there are a few things you can check. First, if you have a dishwasher, make sure it’s drying properly. If it is not drying properly, you may want to invest in one of our favorite dishwashers that do a great job at drying. Second, make sure the water temperature is hot enough (at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit). Third, check that you’re loading the machine properly and using the appropriate amount of detergent. Finally, if all else fails, try rinsing your dishes with white vinegar before placing them in the machine to help remove any sticky residue (see below) on them before they enter the dishwasher.
2. You’re using too little or too much soap or rinse aid.
Too little detergent means dishes won’t get cleaned; too much soap can leave a film on them and cause etching (permanent dulling) of glassware over time. If you’re spotting or etching your glasses in the dishwasher, don’t panic! You can try adding vinegar to your rinse cycle or
1. Food particles left behind
2. Improper or old detergent
3. Dirty dishwasher filter
4. Too much or too little detergent
5. Hard water
6. Dirty dishes stacked together
7. Unloading dirty dishes