Banish dishwasher smells forever with this bathroom item!
By
Seia Ibanez
- Replies 1
Dishwashers are a modern convenience many wouldn't want to live without. However, they're not immune to the common household problem of unpleasant odours.
Over time, the build-up of food particles, grease, and soap scum can lead to a less-than-fresh scent emanating from your trusty appliance.
But there's a simple and surprising solution to this smelly situation that you might already have in your bathroom cabinet.
The product? denture tablets! Yes, you read that correctly.
The same tablets you use to keep your dentures clean and fresh can work wonders on your dishwasher.
A social media personality known as @sisterpledgecleans has shared her nifty trick for using denture tablets to deodorise and freshen up the dishwasher between washes.
‘Add a denture tablet where the filters go in the dishwasher to deodorise and freshen between washes,’ the caption on the video read.
‘Denture tablets' active ingredients are citric acid and sodium bicarbonate—the water that sits in the bottom of your dishwasher can get smelly, so add one of these once a week to freshen and disinfect and keep your filters deodorised.’
But the usefulness of denture tablets doesn't stop there.
According to Gayla McCulloch of Gayla's Cleaning Service in the United States, these fizzy cleaners can also be used to give your dishwasher a thorough clean.
‘Throw a denture cleaning tablet like Efferdent into the bottom of the dishwasher and run a hot cycle. It works better than vinegar at removing soap scum,’ she said.
If you're noticing a persistent odour, it's a good idea to check for underlying issues. A smelly dishwasher could indicate a dirty filter, mould, mildew, or a clogged drain.
Regular maintenance is key. Dishwasher filters should be rinsed under hot water and given a good scrub at least once a month or even weekly if you're an avid user of the appliance.
Tackling mould and mildew is straightforward, too; a deep clean with vinegar or hot, soapy water, paying special attention to often-overlooked areas like the door seal, should do the trick.
Afterwards, run an empty cycle with a cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe bowl placed on the top rack to rinse everything away.
To keep your dishwasher smelling fresh post-clean, it's a good habit to leave the door open after a cycle to allow it to dry out fully.
You can watch sisterpledgecleans’ video below:
Credit: @sisterpledgecleans / TikTok
Now that you’ve made a game-changing cleaning method for your dishwasher, it’s time to face the common argument of families: loading the dishwasher.
In a previous story, experts weighed in on how to load the dishwasher, as some said there is an ‘art’ to this task. You can learn more about their answers here.
Have you tried this trick before, or do you have any other unconventional cleaning tips to share? Let us know in the comments below!
Over time, the build-up of food particles, grease, and soap scum can lead to a less-than-fresh scent emanating from your trusty appliance.
But there's a simple and surprising solution to this smelly situation that you might already have in your bathroom cabinet.
The product? denture tablets! Yes, you read that correctly.
The same tablets you use to keep your dentures clean and fresh can work wonders on your dishwasher.
A social media personality known as @sisterpledgecleans has shared her nifty trick for using denture tablets to deodorise and freshen up the dishwasher between washes.
‘Add a denture tablet where the filters go in the dishwasher to deodorise and freshen between washes,’ the caption on the video read.
‘Denture tablets' active ingredients are citric acid and sodium bicarbonate—the water that sits in the bottom of your dishwasher can get smelly, so add one of these once a week to freshen and disinfect and keep your filters deodorised.’
But the usefulness of denture tablets doesn't stop there.
According to Gayla McCulloch of Gayla's Cleaning Service in the United States, these fizzy cleaners can also be used to give your dishwasher a thorough clean.
‘Throw a denture cleaning tablet like Efferdent into the bottom of the dishwasher and run a hot cycle. It works better than vinegar at removing soap scum,’ she said.
If you're noticing a persistent odour, it's a good idea to check for underlying issues. A smelly dishwasher could indicate a dirty filter, mould, mildew, or a clogged drain.
Regular maintenance is key. Dishwasher filters should be rinsed under hot water and given a good scrub at least once a month or even weekly if you're an avid user of the appliance.
Tackling mould and mildew is straightforward, too; a deep clean with vinegar or hot, soapy water, paying special attention to often-overlooked areas like the door seal, should do the trick.
Afterwards, run an empty cycle with a cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe bowl placed on the top rack to rinse everything away.
To keep your dishwasher smelling fresh post-clean, it's a good habit to leave the door open after a cycle to allow it to dry out fully.
You can watch sisterpledgecleans’ video below:
Credit: @sisterpledgecleans / TikTok
Now that you’ve made a game-changing cleaning method for your dishwasher, it’s time to face the common argument of families: loading the dishwasher.
In a previous story, experts weighed in on how to load the dishwasher, as some said there is an ‘art’ to this task. You can learn more about their answers here.
Key Takeaways
- A woman shared her tip for keeping a dishwasher smelling fresh using denture tablets, which can be placed where the filters go.
- Denture tablets contain citric acid and sodium bicarbonate, which can deodorise and disinfect, especially the water in the dishwasher's bottom.
- In addition to freshening, denture tablets can also clean the dishwasher, as they're effective in removing soap scum.
- Apart from using denture tablets, maintaining a dishwasher includes cleaning the filter regularly and using vinegar during a cleaning cycle to tackle mould and mildew.