Smelly dishwasher? Here's how to really clean it (and keep it clean for longer) with natural remedies

We admit it: the dishwasher is one of those appliances that you use every day but almost never clean. Yet, right in there – between gaskets, filters and baskets – a surprisingly rich microbiome is hidden, capable of generating bad odors, stubborn stains and even compromising the hygiene of the dishes. The good news? A few natural gestures, repeated consistently, are enough to keep everything under control.

Those same bacteria happily coexisting within the walls of the appliance are mainly responsible for that smell that occasionally greets us when we open the door. But before we resign ourselves or resort to aggressive chemical products, it is worth knowing that there are effective, green and economical remedies to solve the problem at its root. (Read also: Why do glasses become cloudy in the dishwasher? Tricks to make them shiny again)

Why does the dishwasher get dirty (and smell)?

Numerous studies have documented a rather robust microbiome inside dishwashers, particularly in rubber seals. Microbial diversity depends on factors such as pH, high temperatures, detergents, sodium chloride concentrations, and water pressure during cycles. More recent research has also highlighted how some fungal and bacterial species are able to survive even high temperature cycles, stably colonizing the areas least reached by water.

This doesn’t mean that the dishwasher is a health hazard – on the contrary, if used and cleaned correctly it is a hygienic and efficient tool – but it is a good reason not to neglect its maintenance.

Before starting the cycle in the evening, remember to clean the filter and the interior by rinsing them under running water, and at least once a month do an empty wash with citric acid or bicarbonate. Avoid leaving dirty dishes inside for too long (if you cannot start a complete cycle immediately, use the rinse function) and above all do not insert dishes with large food residues still attached.

How to clean the dishwasher in 4 steps

1. Remove the filter and propellers

Start with the exhaust filter: it is undoubtedly the main cause of bad odors. The food residues that accumulate there acquire an unpleasant odor in the hot and humid environment of the appliance. Remove the filter (in almost all modern dishwashers it is easily removable) and wash it with hot water and neutral soap. Do the same with the propellers, using a dedicated brush — keep it for this use only — to reach every corner.

2. Remove the baskets too

A nice hot shower won’t hurt them either: pass them under running water or leave them to soak with warm water and a little citric acid to deodorize them and remove limescale encrustations.

3. Door and walls: be careful with vinegar

White vinegar is a classic grandmother’s remedy, but it is worth using it wisely: the acetic acid it contains is effective against limescale and bacteria, but it is also quite impactful for the aquatic ecosystem if dispersed in large quantities. It is therefore better to limit yourself to a soaked sponge to clean the internal walls and the door, without exaggerating with the quantities. (Read also: Vinegar: when NOT to use it in cleaning and what to replace it with)

4. The seals: the critical point

Rubber seals are the area most colonized by mold and bacteria — this is confirmed by several European microbiological studies in recent years. Using a sponge soaked in white vinegar or a solution of water and citric acid, delicately clean all the seals, taking care not to damage them. Insist on the creases, where dirt tends to accumulate invisibly.

Vacuum washing: the secret against bad odors

To eliminate odors in depth, nothing beats a monthly vacuum wash with natural ingredients. Forget the chemical “dishwasher cleaners” on the market: nature provides us with equally effective and much cheaper alternatives.