How often should I have my home professionally cleaned?

For 1–2 person households: monthly. For families with children or pets: bi-weekly. For heavy-use households: weekly. First-time professional cleans should always be a deep clean.

What should I do before a professional cleaner arrives?

Declutter surfaces so cleaners can access everything. Clear the kitchen counters and move any items from the floor. You don't need to pre-clean — that's what your cleaner is there for.

What is the difference between a deep clean and a standard clean?

A standard clean covers bathrooms, kitchen surfaces, floors, and dusting. A deep clean adds inside appliances, inside cabinets, baseboards, window tracks, and all the areas that accumulate over time. Always start with a deep clean for a first booking.

How do I keep my home clean between professional cleanings?

A 10-minute daily reset — dishes away, kitchen counter wiped, bathroom sink wiped, entry swept — prevents accumulation between visits. Squeegee the shower after each use to eliminate 90% of soap scum buildup.

Cleaning Tips4 min read

How to Clean a Smelly Dishwasher — Toronto Guide 2026

How to clean and deodorize a smelly dishwasher in your Toronto home. The filter, spray arms, and gasket are the three places every dishwasher smell starts.

Maidless

November 24, 2026

How to Clean a Smelly Dishwasher

Dishwasher odour almost always has the same three sources: a clogged or dirty filter, mineral and food buildup in the spray arms, and mould or mildew growing in the door gasket. Addressing all three clears the smell and improves wash performance.

Step 1: Clean the Filter (Most Important)

Most modern dishwashers have a manually-cleanable filter at the base of the tub. Many people never clean it — it fills with food particles and becomes the primary odour source.

Remove the bottom rack
Locate the filter assembly at the base of the dishwasher — it typically twists out (refer to your manual for your model)
Remove the filter and rinse under hot water
Scrub with a soft brush and dish soap to remove any grease or food buildup
Rinse and reinstall

Step 2: Clean the Door Gasket

Inspect the rubber gasket around the door frame — this area traps food debris and develops mould
Wipe the gasket with a cloth dampened with white vinegar, paying attention to the fold at the bottom
Use a toothbrush or cotton swabs to get into the fold of the gasket
Wipe dry

Step 3: Clear the Spray Arms

Remove the spray arms (usually unscrew or pull off — check your manual)
Hold the spray arm under a tap and run water through it — look for blockage in the spray holes
Use a toothpick to clear any blocked spray holes
Rinse and reinstall

Step 4: Run a Cleaning Cycle

Vinegar cycle: Place a cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe bowl on the top rack. Run a hot water cycle. The vinegar cuts mineral deposits and neutralizes odour.
Baking soda cycle: After the vinegar cycle, sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda on the bottom of the tub and run a short hot cycle. The baking soda deodorizes and brightens the interior.
Commercial dishwasher cleaner: Products like Affresh dishwasher cleaner are formulated for the job — use monthly.

Preventing Odour

Rinse dishes before loading to remove large food particles
Run the dishwasher every 2–3 days at minimum — a stagnant dishwasher with food residue develops odour quickly
Leave the door slightly open after a cycle finishes — allows the interior to dry and prevents mildew growth
Clean the filter monthly

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