Keep your appliances in top condition

Lemony fresh.

(Credit: Whirlpool)

Not everything we write about here is flashy and shiny. Sometimes, we've got to get down to the nitty-gritty. Sometimes, we've got to figure out just where that icky smell is coming from. The culprit? Most likely your garbage disposal or dishwasher, and the latest offering from Whirlpool can help.

The new Affresh dishwasher and disposal cleaner can help maintain your kitchen appliances and keep your kitchen smelling fresh and clean. Pop a tablet in your main dishwasher detergent tray; place a second in your prewash tray or in the bottom of the dishwasher. Run the machine on the heaviest cycle (but don't put any dishes in it!) and the hottest temperature.

Have a garbage disposal? After you clean the dishwasher, drop one more tablet down the disposal, run hot water for 15 seconds, and then wait thirty minutes before flushing with hot water. This will clean the drain pipe that connects to the washer.

You may remember hearing about Affresh before--there's also a version for cleaning your washing machine. Find the tablets at your grocery store for about $6 for a pack of six.