MoneyHousehold & BillsCleaningIf your dishwasher is starting to smell, there's one natural item from your fridge that can help restore the appliance's freshness12:03, 08 Jul 2026Appliances can be overlooked when it comes to cleaning the house, but if they’re left to their own devices, it can impact their ability to function. Dishwashers, despite washing cutlery, crockery and glasses, also need to be spruced up every now and again.‌If they’re not cleaned regularly, you may notice unpleasant smells seeping out of the appliance. However, cleaning guru and TikTok creator Chantel Mila, more popularly known as Mama Mila, believes she has a simple answer to the problem.‌In a video from May, Chantel shared a number of home and cleaning hacks that everyone should know about. When it comes to getting rid of smells emanating from dishwashers, Chantel opts for a natural solution.‌Dishwashers can turn musty when they’re not thoroughly cleaned. A build-up of food residue, grease, build-up of soap scum, and the growth of bacteria and mould inside the appliance can lead to unpleasant smells.Other contributing factors could be a clogged filter or drain, or even the dishwasher seals hiding leftover residue. To get rid of the lingering smells, Chantel suggested using lemons to soak them up.‌Simply cut up a lemon and place the fruit into the top dishwasher rack. Set the dishwasher on a normal cycle alongside your dishes and your dishwasher detergent of choice for a proper detox.The lemon’s citric acid naturally cuts through grease, dissolves limescale, deodorises the machine, and adds a fresh, clean scent.Content cannot be displayed without consentArticle continues belowHowever, Ideal Home pointed out that the lemon won’t get rid of any leftover food scraps.Nicki Rodriguez, of Essex House Dolly, told Ideal Home: “Adding lemon will help to cut grease and limescale naturally. It’ll also leave the dishwasher smelling fresh.”However, the cleaning expert warned that if you are going to use a lemon to help get rid of dishwasher smells, you need to make sure to remove the seeds. Keeping the seeds in the lemons could clog up the dishwasher’s filter.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Ideal HomeCleaningLife hacksTikTokHome Appliances