# How to Remove Burned Plastic Smells From Dishwashers and Vessels
The heating element in a dishwasher gets hot enough to melt some plastics. If you smell burned plastic in your kitchen during a dishwasher cycle, act quickly to find the source. A minor melting incident shouldn’t cause a long-term problem but extensive damage could lead to a costly repair. Appliance-maker Whirlpool says residual odor after cleaning will fade as you continue to use the dishwasher.
Things You'll Need
- Plastic spatula or scraper
- Baking powder
- Lemon juice
Instructions
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1
Pull the lower rack forward and check the heating element at the bottom of the dishwasher. Remove any plastic items that are cool enough to touch. Let the heating element cool, and then scrape off any plastic using the edge of a plastic spatula or a scraper.
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2
Pour 1 cup of baking soda into the large detergent cup of the dishwasher. Add dish detergent to the other cup, if you have dishes inside the dishwasher that have absorbed the burned plastic smell. Run the dishwasher through a normal wash cycle with the heated drying feature turned off.
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3
Empty the dishwasher after the wash cycle completes. Pour 1 cup of lemon juice in the bottom of the dishwasher. Run the wash cycle a final time without any dishes in the dishwasher.
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1
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