Having the best dishwashers is convenient for many families. These machines do all the dishwashing work and let you enjoy your leisure time.
However, it can happen to anyone to find a strange smell coming out of it. It is because most homes do not maintain their dishwashing appliances.
They do not know that it cannot clean itself. Therefore, we have this guide to clean the dishwasher drain trap. The odor is the first sign of a clogged drain.
Not everyone knows about servicing a dishwasher. So, read on to find the solution for a clean dishwasher experience.
Table of Contents
Preparation
Before you service the dishwasher drain trap, you need to empty the device. Also, turn the power off. You might need a screwdriver and a toothbrush.
There can be some screws for the drain system. Also, there can be hardened food chunks that might not be set free using a scrub.
So, you can use the toothbrush to take out these deposits. The drain that becomes clogged with food particles causes water to flush slowly.
That is why cleaning the interior of the device is vital to avoid slow drainage. Reach the bottom tray and use the screwdriver to remove the screws for the filter system.
Move the filter counterclockwise and pull out the filter. Some dishwashing machines use two filters.
One is a fine mesh filter, and the other is the Main filter. You can wash the filter under the running faucet. However, do not use a scrub to remove stuck debris.
The scrubs can damage fragile parts. You can use a toothbrush or a soft cleaning brush. Also, you can wash it using a dishwashing liquid.
Leave the filter in a mixture of water and white vinegar overnight for the best results.
How To Clean a Dishwasher Trap
You can use baking soda to clean the drain systems. It is also better for cleaning stainless steel materials. Also, it will not damage steel parts.
Sprinkle some baking soda on the drain with white vinegar. You can also use this tip for toilets and drains. It is the natural way to deodorize drains and toilets.
Let the baking soda rest for a while. Reload the dishwasher with all the racks and trays. Use a cup of white vinegar and place it on the top dish rack.
Run a cleaning cycle for cleaning the dishwasher. When it is completed, take out everything and inspect the interior walls.
There still can be signs of scaling and stains. You can use the scrub and a liquid detergent to clean these.
Cleaning the corners and sides of the sprayer arms is also part of the drill.
It is because these areas require manual cleaning. Inspect for food chunks and dispose of them. The next thing to do is to check the air gaps.
The air gaps also get clogged because people do not rinse plates and throw away food grime. Remove all the food debris from these and clean the exterior of the dishwasher.
You can use a wet cloth to clean the doors, control panel, and the top of the dishwashing appliance.
Flush some water down the dishwasher drain to check if it’s working. If it is still slow to drain, you can again use baking soda with vinegar.
Let the solution rest for twenty or more minutes before flushing again.
Are there any other tips?
Sometimes, the nozzles of the dishwasher can collect tiny food debris. So, these become clogged, and the dishwasher will not clean the dishes.
Also, the mineral deposits from hard water can cause blockages. You can open the nozzle and soak it inside the white vinegar overnight.
Remove the scaling or food chunks using a toothbrush.
After cleaning the nozzles, place them back where they belong. You can read the manual guide on maintenance tips. Most of the appliance guides tell how you can clean a dishwasher drain trap.
Sometimes the drain hose gets clogged and makes the drain slow to flush.
Therefore, disconnect the drain hose and clean it. Turn off the dishwasher. Some dishwashing appliances share a garbage bin. The waste bin may need emptying.
Therefore, you can dispose of the waste for the dishwasher to operate efficiently.
If your dishwasher is mounted inside a counter and you cannot unmount it, call an expert. The professionals can check for other problems to fix.
Is it necessary to clean the dishwasher drain trap?
There is a lot of food waste left on the plates when you leave them on the kitchen counter. Many people do not rinse and throw away leftovers.
Thus, you can dispose of filth and rinse the china before placing it inside the dishwashing device. It will prevent drain and filter clogging.
Also, these appliances perform better when there are no food leftovers on the plates. Another benefit of rinsing plates is that it increases the operational life.
Therefore, the dishwasher will perform without any problems.
Regular maintenance of these appliances is the key to avoiding smell and breakdowns. You can make a schedule for cleaning the dishwasher once a month.
However, if you have time, it is best to maintain it twice a month. Routinely cleaning a dishwasher helps boost its performance.
There will be no smell or drain clogging. So, you can service the filter, nozzles, and its drain at least once a month.
You can learn about how to clean a dishwasher drain trap by reading this guide. When you know what you are doing, it is easy to maintain these automatic dishwashers.
Why does it need servicing?
Every time you run a cleaning cycle, the dishwasher drain trap collects food junk. Families think that this appliance also cleans itself when it cleans.
There are spray arms inside that throw detergent on the dishes. However, the dishwasher cannot clean itself. As time passes, the food leftovers stuck inside cause mold growth.
Another reason for maintaining the drain is the hard water supply.
Most homes get a water supply that contains minerals. The hard water supply causes scaling inside these machines. So, perform routine maintenance whenever you can.
Before you clean the drain, there are a few things that you need. You require a scrub, cloth, toothbrush, vinegar, and baking soda.
These cleaning tools can help you clean the dishwasher.
There is no point in just cleaning the drain of a dishwashing machine. You have to clean the exterior, interior, filter, racks, and nozzles. Also, some corners are not visible.
These can host mildew because the detergent will not reach them. Hence, you have to clean these areas yourself.
Things not to do when cleaning the dishwashers
When servicing the dishwasher drain, you need to be careful about a few things. Most households use tap water for their home appliances.
The tap water contains calcium and magnesium deposits that harm home appliances. If you have a water softener, there is nothing like it.
However, the RO and other expensive water filter systems are not easy to buy.
So, cleaning the appliances can help. You will need a scrub and liquid detergent. Scrub the stubborn scaling marks on the home appliances using detergent.
Another tip for saving stainless steel appliances from damage is avoiding bleach. People use bleach for all sorts of cleaning.
What they do not know is that it damages stainless steel materials. Some of the dishwashers have stainless steel racks and trays.
If you use bleach to clean these racks and trays, it will fade them.
Another thing to avoid is pulling out parts with force. Always take care of pulling out fragile parts of the dishwashers. These are the filters and nozzles.
Read the manual guide that comes with the appliance for instructions.