How to Get Rid of Dishwasher Smells (And What's Causing Them)

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Fix a dishwasher that smells like sewage, fish, wet dog, or rotten eggs
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Have you noticed a foul smell coming from your dishwasher recently? If so, you don’t have to call the repairman just yet. We’ve compiled a clear, comprehensive guide to help you answer the question, “Why does my dishwasher smell?” Discover common reasons for dishwasher odors and a step-by-step guide for cleaning your dishwasher from top to bottom so it smells fresh and clean.

Reasons Your Dishwasher Smells

Leftover food residue, mold or mildew, a dirty or clogged filter or drain, or hard water deposits can cause your dishwasher to smell bad. Thoroughly clean the dishwasher, including the spray arms, gaskets, filter, and drain to get rid of the smell.

Section 1 of 4:

Why Your Dishwasher Smells

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  1. 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. [1]
    • Food residue can build up if you don't rinse the dishes and utensils before putting them into the dishwasher.
  2. The wet environment of a dishwasher creates the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew to form, which causes a foul odor. [2]
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  3. Dishwasher filters catch small bits of food from your dishes. When food particles build up, the filter’s ability to drain water is greatly reduced and the standing water can cause a bad smell. [3]
  4. If water can’t flow through smoothly, you end up with standing water at the bottom of the dishwasher or in the drainpipes. [4]
    • This can lead to the presence of bacteria or microorganisms, which prevent your dishes from getting sanitized during the cleaning cycle.
  5. 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, as well as a stinky odor. [5]
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Clean a Smelly Dishwasher

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  1. 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. [6]
    • 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.
  2. 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 to remove any mold . Finish by wiping all three gasket seals with a clean, dry cloth. [7]
    • Gasket seals run around the entire 3-sided perimeter of the door (and inner frame) to form a seal when the dishwasher is running. [8]
    • Food and residue can get caught underneath the bottom and side seals when you load the dishwasher with dirty dishes. [9]
  3. Remove and clean the dishwasher filter . The filter is cylindrical and located at the bottom of the dishwasher tub next to the heating element. [10] 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. [11]
    • To replace the filter, lay the tray back down and put the filter back in place while turning clockwise to tighten it. [12]
    EXPERT TIP

    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
    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.

  4. Use a commercial dishwasher cleaner , or 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. [13] 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. [14]
    • You can also place the filter and the tray on the top rack of the dishwasher for further cleaning. [15]
    • 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. [16]
    • House Cleaning professional Chris Willett 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."
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Section 3 of 4:

How to Avoid a Smelly Dishwasher

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  1. 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."
  2. Add 1 cup (240 mL) of vinegar or 1 cup (240 mL) of lemon juice on the top rack before running the empty dishwasher on a heavy cycle. [17]
    • 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

    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
    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."

  3. Overstuffed dish racks make it more difficult for hot water and detergent to reach the dishes for proper cleaning. [18]
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Section 4 of 4:

Dishwasher FAQs

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  1. A dishwasher that smells like sewage is likely due to a clogged drain line, especially if it connects to the kitchen sink pipes. Contact a plumber to snake the line, clear out the clog, and advise you on preventing any further clogs. [19]
  2. A dishwasher usually smells like rotten eggs due to decaying food particles, mold and mildew growth, or a blocked drain. Get rid of food particles by cleaning the filter. Clean the inside of the dishwasher to remove mold or mildew. Add vinegar and baking soda to the bottom of the dishwasher and run a high-heat rinse cycle to clear a blocked drain. [20]
  3. 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 drain hose, also contribute to bacteria and microorganisms that form, which lead to a musty smell. [21]
  4. Trapped food particles are the main cause of a dishwasher that gives off a fishy smell. Free trapped food residue by cleaning the filter, using a dishwasher cleaner, and running a cycle with a vinegar solution. [22]
  5. A dishwasher may smell like wet dog because of food residue buildup, 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 clear up this odor. [23]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/why-does-my-dishwasher-smell-7374793
      2. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/why-does-my-dishwasher-smell-7374793
      3. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/why-does-my-dishwasher-smell-7374793
      4. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/why-does-my-dishwasher-smell-7374793
      5. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/g2877/dishwasher-tricks/
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/tajBDbFkDDQ?si=C5B6KgYaAyiRDlQw&t=270
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/Iil2V-AGDGE?si=uGawfWOae8E6KLFP&t=27
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/PzRPP0o-J9c?si=3NlVOML2jRrHvseo&t=6
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/Iil2V-AGDGE?si=uGawfWOae8E6KLFP&t=27
      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzRPP0o-J9c&t=6s
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/tajBDbFkDDQ?si=Q8-54hJs8eVDHrRS&t=3
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/tajBDbFkDDQ?si=H6yidlQUxJeEFwpG&t=305
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/Iil2V-AGDGE?si=edt4j57FgRjOFWui&t=145
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/tGRhezUEonw?si=L1eEQfLSHSRa4XxT&t=122
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/tajBDbFkDDQ?si=blZ9GHDlxSzcnvHb&t=179
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/tajBDbFkDDQ?si=DQdIQDfrt6QLjUp4&t=274
      8. ↑ https://simplybetterliving.sharpusa.com/simply-better-you/how-to-clean-a-dishwasher/
      9. ↑ https://www.treehugger.com/common-dishwasher-loading-mistakes-may-surprise-you-4856635
      10. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/kitchen/dishwasher-smells-bad/
      11. ↑ https://youtu.be/q2NYJBPzcTQ?si=hBNhOgZO-Wz3QEUy&t=15
      12. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4ARQLw2-qo
      13. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laPzQirGPyI
      14. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvUocNDRn8A

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