Our household appliances are intended to make our lives easier. However, we sometimes tend to forget to maintain and clean them! This is the case for the vacuum cleaner, but also for the washing machine to give just these examples. However, due to lack of cleaning, these various small and large household appliances end up developing bad odors that are sometimes very unpleasant and stubborn. This can also harm their durability, as malfunctions are never far away. And of course, when a device intended for home hygiene is dirty, this does not bode well for hygiene in the home. And apparently, the dishwasher (and more particularly its filter) is one of those appliances with which you need to be particularly careful!
Cleaning often neglected for a disgusting result
On the social network TikTok, many Internet users took part in the experiment. After removing the bottom rack of their dishwasher, they unscrewed and removed the filter from their appliance. To their great surprise, they discovered a black filter of dirt, smelly and covered in residue slimy and disgusting foods.
@inspectormurphAre you cleaning your dishwashers filter regularly? ##inspectormurph ##homeowner ##homeinspector ##realtor ##covid_19♬ original sound – InspectorMurph
We tend to maintain the dishwasher by often using baking soda and white vinegar. And although these household products are very effective, they do not allow you to reach hidden components such as this filter. The latter therefore ends up becoming heavily clogged. However, this small oversight can unfortunately favor the development of unpleasant odors and mold. In addition, this can eventually clog the water drain pipe, which could cause problems later. This therefore shows the importance of ensuring that the filtration system is cleaned in addition to the rest of your dishwasher.
How to clean the dishwasher filter?
Ideally, carry out cleaning on a turned off device and if possible unplugged for safety reasons. If necessary, also turn off the water supply to prevent water from flowing out. To access the filter, remove the lower basket. This will give you access to the bottom of the dishwasher. If you can’t do it, refer to the instructions for use of the device (you can find it on the Internet by typing the model number and name into a search engine if you threw it away).
Then you can remove the largest residues and wipe away some of the dirt. Throw them in the trash to avoid clogging your sink. Rinse your filter with hot water, even if it means adding a little dishwashing detergent to take advantage of its degreasing power or letting it soak for two or three minutes if it is very greasy. A brush or sponge can be useful at this stage for more stubborn stains. Finally, rinse thoroughly and return the filter to its original location.
If it is very old or in poor condition, also consider replacing it!