By Benjamin Fox
Does your washing machine smell strange? Is there an inexplicable odour coming from your fridge? There are several reasons why a kitchen appliance can start to smell so if you have a problem with one of your white goods read on to find out how to stop embarrassing scents in your kitchen.
Washing machines - There are two common causes for malodorous washing machines; improper drainage and bacteria build up.
If your machine is at its worst first thing in the morning and whiffs like an outside drain then you probably have an incorrectly installed U-bend and should consider getting a plumber to have a look. Alternatively if the wastewater pipe drains into the same source as your kitchen sink then you should make sure there is a rise of at least four inches after the join to stop dirty dishwater flowing into the drum.
The more common cause of washing machine odour is a build up of grease or slime within the machine. You are especially vulnerable to this if you use liquid detergents and low temperature washes. The simple fact of the matter is that to keep your washing machine clean you need to heat it up which is why all washing machine manufacturers recommend running a service wash at least once a month. A service wash is a high temperature cycle that runs without any clothes in order to boil away bacteria.
Some people recommend including bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) in with a service wash. This helps break down slime but if any of the internal components of your washing machine are made from aluminium it will damage them.
Dishwashers - Because they come into contact with large quantities of food, dishwashers can develop quite a stink. Fortunately if you have read this far you will already know how to fix the most common problems. Just like washing machines, dishwashers need a regular service run and when they are incorrectly plumbed in they can draw water in through their waste pipe. If you think a smell might be caused by a deposit of food the first place to check should be the water drainage system as this is, quite literally, where bacteria and detritus gravitate to.
Fridge freezers - If you have a smelly fridge or freezer you probably have not cleaned it properly. Most fridges have a small hole on their base which drains away the water that naturally condenses in the cool air. If this becomes blocked or filled by a spillage it can act as a breeding ground for bacteria and it is this bacteria which creates odours.
Other places which often get overlooked when cleaning fridge freezers are around the interior light, along the door seal and underneath the salad crisper.
Ben is a copywriter for the UK's largest online retailer of fridge freezers and other kitchen appliances.
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