Honestly, I’ve tried those “miracle” dishwasher hacks too, but nothing beats just pulling out the racks and filter and scrubbing them down. If you’re dealing with a funky smell, running a hot cycle with a cup of white vinegar (in a bowl on the top rack) actually helps, but I’d avoid dumping baking soda or lemon juice straight in—learned that the hard way when my gasket started leaking. For insulation, I’ll take itchy fiberglass over that foam stuff any day... at least it stays put.
I had no idea lemon juice could mess up the gasket—guess I dodged a bullet there. I was about to try that trick since my dishwasher’s been smelling like wet dog and old socks. The vinegar-in-a-bowl thing worked for me too, but I always wonder if it’s actually doing anything or if I just *think* it smells better because I want it to.
About the insulation, I get what you mean about fiberglass staying put, but man, that stuff is itchy. I ended up with fiberglass in my shirt and was scratching for days... Next time, I might just leave the panel off and call it “modern industrial chic.”
Anyway, has anyone tried those dishwasher cleaning tablets? Are they just overpriced vinegar tablets or do they actually help with the gunk? I’m all for shortcuts as long as they don’t end in a repair bill.
Those cleaning tablets aren’t just hype, but they’re not magic either. They do a decent job breaking down grease and mineral buildup, especially if you run them on the hottest cycle. I’ve seen some dishwashers that were pretty gunked up inside, and after a couple rounds with the tablets, things looked a lot better. That said, if you’re already using vinegar now and then, you’re probably ahead of the game. Just don’t overdo it—too much acid isn’t great for the seals long-term.
And yeah, fiberglass is brutal... I’ve had days where I’m still itching after a shower. “Industrial chic” might be worth it just to avoid that mess.
Those cleaning tablets aren’t just hype, but they’re not magic either.
That’s been my experience too. I tried those tablets after my dishwasher started smelling like a wet dog that rolled in old soup. Ran two cycles with the hottest water and, honestly, it was a night-and-day difference. Not sparkling new, but at least I didn’t gag every time I opened the door.
I do the vinegar trick every couple months, but I had no idea about the acid messing with the seals. Figures—every time I think I’m being clever, there’s a catch. Guess moderation is key, even with cleaning hacks.
And yeah, fiberglass... I helped my brother tear out some old insulation once and spent the next week feeling like I’d rolled around in poison ivy. “Industrial chic” sounds way more appealing than another round of that misery. Sometimes ugly-but-easy wins over fancy-but-itchy.
If you ever want to go full DIY on the dishwasher funk, I swear by the filter clean-out. Seriously, half the time it’s just gunked up with stuff that looks like it escaped a horror movie prop department. I’ll pop out the bottom rack, unscrew the filter, and rinse it in hot water—sometimes even scrub with an old toothbrush if I’m feeling ambitious.
Tablets help, but nothing beats getting hands-on with the gross bits. Vinegar’s great in small doses, but yeah, too much and suddenly you’re replacing seals instead of just scrubbing them. Learned that one the hard way...
