Fridge, Dishwasher, Sink: Maintenance to Prevent Odours

Three appliances are responsible for almost all kitchen odours in a furnished rental: the fridge, the dishwasher, and the sink. They have one thing in common: they stay closed and damp between stays, sometimes for several days. If a smell takes hold in any of the three, it’s noticeable as soon as you open the front door, and no air freshener will cover it. This guide gives you the right treatment for each, with the frequency that prevents it ever getting that far.

What to do, and when

The fridge: appliance by appliance

A rental fridge faces a challenge that a private fridge never does: it’s emptied and refilled by strangers every three days, with leftovers abandoned at departure.

Every clean, the minimum: remove everything the guest has left, no exceptions or judgement. An opened jar, a half-full bottle of milk, a plate of leftovers under cling film. Nothing is kept from one guest to the next, even if sealed. Then wipe down the visible shelves and the inside of the door.

Every four cleans, a full clean:

1. Empty completelyTaking out shelves and drawers.
2. Wash with warm water and bicarbonate of sodaRather than perfumed detergent: fridge plastic absorbs cleaning product smells, which then transfer to food.
3. Don’t forget the door sealsWhere mould grows unnoticed. An old toothbrush and vinegar water are enough.
4. Check and clear the drain holeAt the back of the fridge, often blocked by a crumb. This is the classic cause of water pooling under the vegetable drawer.
5. Dry everythingBefore reassembling.

Two small details make a big difference: a small pot of bicarbonate left at the back absorbs odours between stays, and leaving the door ajar if the property will be empty for more than a few days, with the appliance switched off.

The dishwasher: the filter first, then the rest

That eggy or musty smell blamed on the dishwasher is nine times out of ten from the filter at the bottom of the machine, not the appliance itself.

Every clean: take out the filter, rinse it under hot water, scrub if needed, put it back. Thirty seconds. Wipe the door seal while you’re there.

Monthly: run an empty cycle on the hottest programme, with a glass of white vinegar on the top rack or a dedicated cleaning product. Also clean the spray arms: their holes get blocked with limescale, and poorly washed dishes are almost always down to this.

Finally, check the levels of dishwasher salt and rinse aid. If glasses come out with a white film, they’re not dirty, just lacking rinse aid, but guests won’t know the difference.

And the finishing touch, just like with the washing machine: leave the door ajar between stays.

The sink and the trap

The sink gets cleaned every time, but the smell doesn’t come from the bowl: it comes from the plughole and the trap.

Routine treatment, every clean:

• Clean the bowl with a mild product, then rinse and dry thoroughly. With stainless steel, it’s drying that gives the shine, not the product.
• Remove and rinse the plug basket, where food scraps collect.
• Pour half a litre of water down every plughole in the property at the end of the clean, including those rarely used. If a trap dries out, air from the pipes comes up, and this is the most common cause of unexplained drain smells in a property left empty.

Once a month, a deeper treatment: bicarbonate of soda then white vinegar down the plughole, leave for ten minutes, then pour a litre of very hot water. Avoid chemical unblockers as a routine, as they damage seals over time.

On a resin or composite sink, never use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads: the surface will dull and then trap dirt. On stainless steel, wipe in the direction of the grain.

Sponges: replace, don’t wash

A kitchen sponge is the most contaminated item in a property, more so than a trap or even a toilet handle. It’s damp, warm, porous, and full of organic matter.

The only rule that works in a rental: a new sponge at every departure, thrown away without discussion. The cost is negligible, and leaving the next guest the previous guest’s sponge is exactly the kind of detail that ends up in a review.

The same logic applies to the worktop cloth, which goes in the wash with the tea towels, never with bath linen, as detailed in Tablecloths, napkins, tea towels: table linen in holiday lets.

What to check before you leave

Three points, one minute:

• No food left in the fridge, freezer, or cupboards, including opened dry goods.
• Both doors left ajar, dishwasher and washing machine.
• A final sniff test in front of the sink and closed fridge, the two places where a new smell is easiest to catch.