Why Your Dishwasher Smells
Food residue is left behind after use. Food particles can clog up the filter and the spray arms after multiple cycles. Food gets trapped inside crevices and can be the primary cause of a bad odor coming from your dishwasher. Food residue can occur when you might forget to rinse the dishes and utensils before putting them into the dishwasher.
Mold or mildew grows after prolonged dishwasher use. The older a dishwasher is, the more likely that mold or mildew can form, which causes a foul odor due to the overly moist environment.
Your filter is clogged or dirty. Dishwasher filters can catch small bits of food when necessary during the cleaning cycle. When food particles build up, the filter’s ability to drain water is greatly reduced. A blockage in your filter can damage your pump and cost you in dishwasher repairs, which you can avoid by cleaning your filter regularly. House cleaning professional Ashley Matuska says, "It's a good idea to clean your filter every 2 to 3 months or so. Just removing the filter and running it under hot water helps."
Your dishwasher has hard water or mineral deposits. As with food and grease residue, hard water or mineral deposits can build up on the dishwasher’s interior walls, on the filter, or on the spray arms. It can lead to bacteria and mold, which you’ll notice as spots and film on your dishware, glasses, and utensils after the cleaning cycle.
Your drain hose is damaged or clogged. If water can’t flow through smoothly, you end up with standing water at the bottom of the dishwasher or in the drainpipes. This can lead to the presence of bacteria or microorganisms, which prevent your dishes from getting sanitized during the cleaning cycle.
How to Clean a Smelly Dishwasher
Wash the main areas of the dishwasher. Clean your dishwasher by first removing the two dish racks and the silverware basket. Wash them both with soap and hot water in the sink and set them aside to air dry. Use dish soap or white vinegar and a cloth to wipe down the outside door, the inner door, including the soap dispenser, and both rotating spray arms. Wash the remaining surfaces of the empty dishwasher, including the top, bottom, and walls. Then, place the dish racks and silverware basket back into the dishwasher.
Clean the dishwasher’s gasket seals. Use a disinfecting dish soap and toothbrush to scrub beneath the gasket seal at the bottom of the door. Repeat this process along both sides of the dishwasher door, where food and liquid often spill. Finish by wiping all three gasket seals with a clean, dry cloth. Gasket seals run around the entire 3-sided perimeter of the door (and inner frame) to form a seal when the dishwasher is running. Food and residue can get caught underneath the bottom and side seals when you load the dishwasher with dirty dishes.
Remove and clean the dishwasher filter. Turn the filter counter-clockwise to remove it, along with the bottom tray that surrounds the filter. Rinse them both off and let them soak in warm water with 1 cup (240 mL) of white vinegar and a squeeze of dish soap for 20 minutes. Rinse them off again and replace them in the dishwasher. To replace it, lay the tray back down and put the filter back in place while tuning clockwise to tighten it. EXPERT TIP Chris Willatt Chris Willatt House Cleaning Professional Chris Willatt is a House Cleaning Professional based in Denver, Colorado. Chris is the owner of Alpine Maids, a cleaning agency that he founded in 2015. Chris is on a mission to elevate what it means to be a cleaning professional and has built up Alpine Maids with that goal in mind. Chris has been featured in USA Today, Forbes, and Readers Digest. Alpine Maids received Angie's List Super Service Award for three years in a row from 2016-2018. They were also awarded Colorado's "Top Rated Local House Cleaning" Award in 2018 and were featured on the Inc. 5000 Company List. Chris Willatt Chris Willatt House Cleaning Professional Filters can get dirty from more than just food debris. Make sure that you're cleaning the filter out regularly, especially in an area with hard water. You want to be cleaning that out about once a month and then if you're actually going in and deep cleaning the dishwasher itself, probably every six months. The filter is cylinder-shaped and located at the bottom of the dishwasher tub, where it grabs food particles and sends them to the drain hose. The filter sits next to or near the circular-shaped heating element, a coil that heats the water for washing and the air for drying.
Run a normal cleaning cycle using a dishwasher cleaner. You can also place the filter and the tray on the top rack of the dishwasher for further cleaning. After the cleaning cycle is complete, ensure the entire dishwasher is clean by wiping down the circular coil on the bottom of the tub with a cleaning solution and a clean, dry cloth if you notice any rust has accumulated on it.
Substitute white vinegar and baking soda during the cleaning cycle. As an alternative to dishwasher cleaner, place 1 cup (240 mL) of distilled white vinegar (or cleaning vinegar) in the center of the top rack. Run the dishwasher on a high temperature or heavy cycle. After you remove the vinegar cup from the dishwasher, sprinkle 1 cup (240 mL) of baking soda into the bottom of the dishwasher and run a second hot cycle. Willett also notes, "If you have hard water, you have calcium deposits in the filter that eventually start blocking it. If it’s easily accessible, you can also just hit the filter with a scrub brush and dish soap."
How to Avoid a Smelly Dishwasher
Clean the filter once a month. Regularly cleaning your filter helps avoid excess buildup of food particles. This is especially true if you use your dishwasher more often.
Run an empty cycle using dishwasher cleaner once a month. Regular dishwasher cleaning cycles help prevent odor-causing residues from building up in the dishwasher. You can always use the distilled white vinegar method by placing a cup of vinegar on the top rack before running the empty dishwasher on a heavy cycle.
Don’t crowd your dish racks while cleaning. Overstuffed dish racks make it more difficult for hot water and detergent to reach the dishes for proper cleaning.
Use lemon juice to clean an empty dishwasher. Place 1 cup (240 mL) of lemon juice on the top rack and run the dishwasher on a normal hot cycle for a natural deep clean. Add a sliced lemon half to your dishwasher before running a regular cycle. Place the lemon slice anywhere on the top rack, even if the dishwasher is full. You can also run a cleaning cycle using citric acid. Like lemons crystallized citric acid helps disinfect your dishwasher. Add 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of citric acid to the detergent cup and run an empty dishwasher on a normal cycle. EXPERT TIP James Sears James Sears House Cleaning Professional James Sears leads the customer happiness team at Neatly, a group of cleaning gurus based in Los Angeles and Orange County, California. James and the team have nine years of experience and offer green cleaning, interior and exterior window washing, and general apartment cleaning services. He provides transformative cleaning experiences by reducing clutter and renewing your home environment. James is a Trustee Scholar at the University of Southern California. James Sears James Sears House Cleaning Professional A lemon can make all the difference during the dishwasher cycle. You can cut a lemon in half and scrub the dishwasher with it. Like vinegar, a lemon is acidic and can work as a home remedy cleaner."
Dishwasher FAQs
Why does my dishwasher smell like sewage? A dishwasher that smells like sewage is likely due to a clogged drain line in the wall plumbing, especially if it connects to the kitchen sink pipes. A plumber can snake the line, clear out the clog, and advise you on preventing any further clogs.
Why does my dishwasher smell like rotten eggs? A dishwasher smells like rotten eggs due to decaying food particles, mold and mildew growth, and a blocked drain. Get rid of food particles by cleaning the filter. Clean the interior to remove mold or mildew. Add vinegar and baking soda to the bottom of the dishwasher and run a high-heat rinse cycle for blocked drain.
Why does my dishwasher smell musty? The reasons for a musty smell in your dishwasher can include mold and mildew that form in the dark, warm, and moist interior. Accumulated grease and food, along with stagnant water and a dirty drainage hose, also contribute to bacteria and microorganisms that form, which lead to a musty smell.
Why does my dishwasher smell like fish? Trapped food particles are the main cause for a dishwasher that gives off a fishy smell. The best ways to free any trapped food residue is by cleaning the filter, using a dishwasher cleaner, and running a cycle with a vinegar solution.
Why does my dishwasher smell like wet dog? The many reasons why a dishwasher smells like wet dog include food residue build up, a blocked drainage causing stagnant water, worn seals and gaskets, or poor ventilation. Running cleaning cycles, inspecting the drain pipe, wiping down the dishwasher, and leaving the door open after a cycle can help with this odor.
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