How to Clean Your Dishwasher When It Smells Bad or Worse

When your dishwasher smells bad, the solution is as simple as white vinegar and scrubbing. We explain how to solve the bad smell in your dishwasher.

Sometimes it's easy to forget that the appliances that clean also need cleaning. That is until they tell you with a bad smell. This article covers how to clean the bad smell out of your dishwasher and will help you pinpoint the causes of the smell.

If you would rather not deal with cleaning your dishwasher yourself, consider booking a professional, affordable cleaner with Homeaglow.

Why does my dishwasher smell bad?

There are various reasons why your dishwasher smells bad. Each smell is peculiar to a particular cause. Here are some common culprits for a smelly dishwasher.

  • The dishwasher smells rancid/rotten.

If your dishwasher smells like rotten eggs, a wet dog, or fish, it signifies food waste build-up. The food trap is the first place to look, as food scraps are most likely stuck there. Also, leaving dirty dishes in the dishwasher can attract bacteria and lead to a rotten smell. 

  • The dishwasher smells moldy. 

Mold and mildew can quickly build up in your dishwasher due to standing water from improper drainage. An obvious sign of an issue with drainage is water on the bottom of your dishwasher tub. A less obvious sign is a clogged hose or filter and moisture getting trapped around the door gasket. 

  • The dishwasher smells like sewage. 

If your dishwasher smells like sewage, the drain line in the wall plumbing is probably clogged. Unlike the above, this smell is not one you can fix yourself. Instead, you will need a plumber to find the blockage and clear the clog.

  • The dishwasher smells like burnt plastic or rubber.

Either smell isn’t good and you should consider calling a repair person or an electrician. 

If your dishwasher smells like burnt plastic, it could mean that plastic may have touched the heating element. Typically, this occurs when a loose lid from a food container or a piece of plastic cutlery falls through the drying rack and onto the heater. 

If your dishwasher smells like burning rubber, it may be an electrical issue. 

Once you smell either burning plastic or rubber, we recommend you unplug your dishwasher and call a repair person or manufacturer as soon as possible. 

How to clean the bad smell out of a dishwasher

Regular cleaning is the best offense against a stinky dishwasher. Using these straightforward cleaning procedures, you can clean the bad smell out of a dishwasher.

What you’ll need

  • Baking soda
  • Distilled white vinegar
  • Soft-bristled scrubbing brush
  • Old toothbrush
  • Flexible wire 
  • Dishwashing liquid
  • Sponge

Step 1: Clean the drain filter

  • Remove the drain filter from the bottom of the dishwasher.
  • Clear out any trash and food waste from the filter.
  • Make a mixture of hot water and dishwashing liquid.
  • Soak the drain filter in the mixture and use a soft-bristled brush to scrub it gently.
  • Rinse with clean water and replace the drain filter.

Step 2: Clean the spray arms and drain hose

  • Remove the upper and lower spray arms.
  • Clear the passages of stray food particles using a toothpick or scour brush.
  • Next, clear all the holes in the spray arm by running hot water through them.
  • Reconnect the spray arms in the dishwasher. 

Step 3: Clean the interior walls 

  • Remove the upper and lower racks.
  • Run the racks under hot water.
  • Scrub the interior walls using a sponge dampened with hot water. 
  • Next, use white vinegar and a sponge to remove stuck-on debris. 
  • Lastly, wipe down the door gasket as it can accumulate dirt. 

Step 4: Run a Cleaning Wash Cycle

Run two cycles—one with vinegar and another with baking soda—to eliminate any foul smell that may still be present.

Vinegar and baking soda have multipurpose cleaning and disinfecting properties. They are handy in every home and help clean the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and other areas of the house.

  • Place one cup of distilled white vinegar into a small bowl. 

If this is your first time washing your dishwasher, use two cups of distilled vinegar. Add a few drops of essential oil to the mixture if you don't like the smell of vinegar.

  • Place the bowl on the top dish rack and run a regular wash cycle.
  • Next, add a cup of baking soda to the bottom of your dishwasher and run a second cycle at the hottest temperature setting. 
  • Leave the dishwasher open for at least 1 hour so it can air-dry. 

Step 5: Clean the exterior

While the dirty exterior of your dishwasher rarely causes odors, you should still clean it. Here's how:

  • Use a brush dipped in white vinegar to scrub around the dials and buttons.
  • Next, wipe away residual vinegar with a sponge.

Tips for keeping your dishwasher free of stinky smells

Now that your dishwasher is clean and smells fresh, here are tips to keep it that way:

  • Scrape off and pre-rinse your dishes before loading them in your dishwasher. 
  • Clean your dishwasher quarterly.
  • Clean your drain filter periodically.
  • Run occasional vinegar and baking soda cycles to kill bacteria and keep your dishwasher smelling fresh.
  • Avoid overfilling the racks so water and soap can easily pass through the dishes.
  • If you use cold cycles regularly to save energy, run a hot cycle now and again to kill the bugs.

Keep your dishwasher clean and fresh

Keeping your dishwasher clean is a straightforward effort that can have a big impact on the smell of your kitchen. Anyone can use the cleaning steps and tips in this article to clean the bad smell out of a dishwasher.

If you need any professional help keeping your home clean, you can always use Homeaglow to find an experienced, affordable cleaner near you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to clean a smelly KitchenAid dishwasher

  • Pour two cups of white vinegar into a dishwasher-safe cup or bowl. 
  • Place the bowl on the bottom rack of your dishwasher.
  • Run the dishwasher through a washing cycle.
  • Run the dishwasher through another washing cycle using detergent.

How to clean a smelly LG dishwasher

  • Pour two cups of white vinegar into a bowl and place in the upper rack.
  • Run an auto cycle.
  • Restart your dishwasher.

How to clean a smelly Maytag dishwasher

  • Pour two cups of white vinegar into a dishwasher-safe bowl or cup.
  • Place the bowl or cup on the bottom rack of your empty dishwasher.
  • Run a normal cycle. 

How to clean a smelly Samsung dishwasher

  • Pour two cups of white vinegar into a bowl and place it upright in the lower basket.
  • Run a “sanitize” cycle.
  • Soak the nozzles and filters overnight in white vinegar for a deep clean.

How to clean a smelly Thermador dishwasher

  • Pour two cups of white vinegar into a bowl and place it on the top rack. 
  • Run a wash cycle on the hottest setting.
  • Remove the bowl.
  • Run another wash cycle with hot water.

How to clean a smelly Bosch dishwasher

  • Add one box of Bosch dishwasher cleaner to the bottom of your dishwasher. Or pour two cups of white vinegar into a bowl and place it on the top rack. 
  • Run the hottest, longest wash cycle.
  • If there is any limescale buildup, use the Bosh descaler. Add one box of Bosch descaler to the bottom of your dishwasher.
  • Run the hottest, longest wash cycle.
  • When that cycle ends, run another wash cycle.

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