Why Does My Dishwasher Smell?

After running your dishwasher, you understandably expect to enjoy a clean scent when you open the dishwasher door.

However, this isn’t always the case. Dishwasher smells are often described as pungent, metallic, rotten or sulfuric. The smells can permeate throughout your kitchen and beyond. They make you question the cleanliness of your dishes, and rightfully so.

Why do dishwashers develop a funky smell, and what can you do about it?

Reasons Your Dishwasher Smells Bad

Dishwasher smells are unfortunately common, and they have numerous causes. What are some of the reasons why a dishwasher smells bad?

Poor Drainage

At the end of each cycle, the dishwasher water should completely drain away. However, food debris can get lodged in the drain filter. When this happens, water drainage is impaired. As bacteria grows in the standing water, an unpleasant smell develops and intensifies until you clean the dishwasher.

Hard Water Deposits

Hard water contains minerals like magnesium, calcium and others. As the minerals build up inside the dishwasher, they emit a smell. You may also notice hard water deposits on your dishes if you don’t have a water softener.

Food Remnants

Often, food remnants clog the dishwasher drain filter and create smelly, standing water. However, food remnants can also find their way into the spray arms or get trapped in the utensils tray. As the remnants decompose, your dishwasher may smell like rotting trash or sewage waste.

Grease

When you wash the dishes, the grease residue from your pots, pans, utensils and dishes is not fully washed away and can line the dishwasher basin. As the grease residue builds with each load, the dishwasher will begin to smell horrible.

Mildew and Mold

Mold and mildew thrive in warm, moist areas like a dishwasher. You may spot growth inside the dishwasher or along the door. In some cases, you may not be able to see it in small crevices, but you will notice a telltale, musty aroma.

How Do You Get Rid of Bad Smell in the Dishwasher?

Several dishwasher cleaning products are available online and at local stores. These are effective at cutting through grease, residue, hard water buildup and more. If you notice food remnants in the dishwasher, however, you should remove these by hand. There are also common home remedies for deodorizing your dishwasher.

Vinegar

Vinegar cuts through grease and hard water. It also fights mold and mildew. To clean your dishwasher with vinegar, fill a small bowl or saucer with vinegar. In an empty dishwasher, place the container upright on the top rack. If necessary, add a clean dish or two to ensure that the container remains upright. Then, run a normal cycle with hot water. The hot water will cause the vinegar to steam and coat the inside of the dishwasher.

Lemons

Like vinegar, lemon juice is a natural acid. Because of this, lemon has comparable capabilities when it comes to fighting bad smells. To clean your dishwasher with lemons, slice a couple of lemons into wedges. Place the wedges in a bowl. As with the vinegar cleaning process, place the bowl upright on the top rack, and run a normal cycle.

Baking Soda

Another way to tackle a smelly dishwasher is with baking soda. Sprinkle a layer of baking soda across the bottom of the dishwasher. After letting the baking soda sit for about 15 minutes, run an empty load using hot water.

How to Clean Smelly Dishwasher

While these methods will eliminate bad dishwasher odors, your dishwasher also needs to be cleaned thoroughly from time to time. Follow these steps to clean your dishwasher:

1. Pull out the bottom rack. Inspect the drain for debris, and remove any remnants you find. Also, remove food remnants from the sprayer arms and the utensils tray.
2. Remove the filter at the bottom of the dishwasher. Wash the filter by hand using soap and water. If a bad smell lingers, you may need to clean it with baking soda or vinegar.
3. Make a cleaning paste out of baking soda and water. Apply the paste to all surfaces on the interior of the dishwasher with a sponge or clean cloth. Then, use a toothbrush or soft scrubber to strip away the grime.
4. Run a short cycle to remove the baking soda paste.
5. If the interior of the dishwasher has hard water buildup, use a descaling product to remove the minerals. If this is necessary, run another short cycle to rinse the mess away.
6. To clean the gasket, use a homemade cleaner made out of vinegar, water and a small amount of mild bleach. Dampen a cloth with the solution, and wipe the gasket down. Then, wipe it again with a clean, damp cloth.

Tips to Keep Your Dishwasher Smelling Fresh

• Don’t overload the dishwasher.
• Inspect the dishwasher for food remnants after each load.
• Clean the filter monthly.
• Use Rinse Aid or a similar product.
• Use a dishwasher cleaning product monthly

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