One of the worst issues people deal with when using a dishwasher is a pungent odor that settles in when the dishes are washed.
This is an unexplainable odor that is not easy to ignore.
A lot of people state this pungent odor is similar to rotten eggs and it settles into the dishes as soon as the dishwasher completes its cycle.
As a result, you will want to know why the dishes smell after a dishwasher runs.
Dishes can smell after a dishwasher cycle because the water is contaminated and bacteria begin to settle on the surface. When these dishes are dried, the bacteria leave behind an unpleasant egg-like smell. To fix this issue, place a bowl of distilled vinegar on the top rack and run the dishwasher on a normal cycle.
The unpleasant smell is not something you are going to want to deal with when eating food.
Unfortunately, this is common depending on the water going into the dishwasher and how clean the appliance is. This is why maintaining your dishwasher is critical along with using a good dishwasher detergent.
If you do this, you will not have to deal with smelly dishes after using the dishwasher.
This guide will showcase what you have to do when it comes to dishes that smell after running a dishwasher.
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Best Dishwasher Detergent (EDITOR’S CHOICE)
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How To Fix Dish Smell After The Dishwasher Runs
1. Empty The Dishwasher
If your dishes smell like eggs after the dishwasher runs, it’s best to empty the appliance as soon as you can.
Don’t continue to run the dishwasher in its current state.
The smell is only going to get worse until you resolve the issue that is creating this smell.
Until then, the dishwasher should remain empty. When you do empty the appliance, it’s recommended to take a dry cloth and scrub it from top to bottom.
2. Pour Distilled Vinegar Into A Clean Bowl
You are now going to use 100% pure distilled vinegar.
Make sure to pour distilled vinegar into a clean bowl. You are going to want a dishwasher-friendly bowl for this step.
3. Place Bowl Inside The Dishwasher
When the bowl is ready, you are going to place it inside the dishwasher.
The goal is to have it set up on the rack as this will ensure it spreads to all parts of the appliance and helps cleanse the bacteria that is present inside.
Remember, the main root cause of this issue is contaminated water. This water is going to have bacteria in it, which is then spread onto the dishes.
To get rid of the bacteria, you will need something potent and that is what you are going to get with distilled vinegar.
Place the bowl on the rack and make sure the rest of the appliance is empty.
You don’t want anything else in the dishwasher at the same time. This will take away from the process and leave bacteria behind.
4. Run The Dishwasher On The “Normal” Cycle
The last step is going to be to run the dishwasher on the Normal cycle.
This is going to ensure the water rinses through and your distilled vinegar has time to work its magic inside the dishwasher.
The distilled vinegar is going to rinse the sides and the racks one by one. This is what makes it such a potent, useful option for those who want to do things the right way.
A real concern people have is whether or not the distilled vinegar is going to ruin any part of their appliance.
This is untrue.
The distilled vinegar will simply rinse the insides and make sure the water is not contaminated anymore.
If your dishes smell like a wet dog after using the dishwasher then this is one step you are going to want to complete properly.
Final Thoughts
These are the main tips to think about when it comes to handling dishes’ smell after using a dishwasher.
If your dishes smell after using a dishwasher, the best solution is to pour 100% distilled vinegar into a bowl, place the bowl into an empty dishwasher, and run it on the “Normal” cycle. This will get rid of the bacteria causing this rotten egg odor.
It is important to take your time cleaning the dishwasher too.
This includes using a cloth to wipe the sides and making sure your dishwasher doesn’t leave behind a pungent odor every time you use it.
It is the only way you are going to get rid of the rotten egg smell from your dishes after using the dishwasher.
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