What to do if the dishwasher smells?

Flap open, stench out? Please don't. If the dishwasher smells, it's not just unpleasant for the nose, it can also become a hygiene problem. Fortunately, we can prevent this with a few tips. Read on to find out five tricks that are guaranteed to keep the stink at bay.

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With a few little tricks, you too can soon enjoy clean and fragrant dishes again.

Temperature

Over time, deposits build up and the dishwasher starts to smell. To prevent bacteria from colonizing, select a wash cycle of 60 degrees or higher once a month. For daily use, 40 degrees is sufficient.

Clean the sieve

Food residues can quickly build up in the machine sieve. Therefore, remove it approximately every three months according to the appliance instructions and clean it by hand. Washing-up liquid dissolves greasy soiling. Also remove the spray arms regularly and rinse them with running water until the nozzles are clear.

Appliance cleaner

Special products are available in drugstores or from specialist retailers that dissolve even very stubborn dirt residues inside the appliance - even in the non-visible, water-bearing parts of the machine. Only ever use when the machine is idle and according to the manufacturer's precise instructions.

Home remedy

Add the peel of half a lemon to the cutlery basket. After one or two cycles with a normal load, the machine will smell nice again. Alternatively, spread half a cup of vinegar on the bottom of the machine and run through a rinse cycle. Dissolves deposits and ensures freshness.

Switch on more often

A family usually runs the dishwasher every day. But single people or pensioners often don't get enough dirty dishes together to make it worthwhile to switch it on. Do it anyway! Even if the machine is not yet completely full, let it run through. The longer the dirty dishes remain in the machine, the more bacteria will multiply and it will start to smell.