Why Does My Dishwasher Smell? Causes and How to Fix It

A dishwasher usually smells because food has collected in the filter, drain or door seal. Pull out and scrub the filter, clear the drain area, wipe the gasket, clean the spray arm holes, then run an empty hot cycle with white vinegar. The filter is the first place to check.

A dishwasher is full of hot water and soap, yet it is one of the smelliest appliances in the house. Food bits, grease and standing water in the wrong places turn into odor. The fix is a cleaning routine in the right order.

What does the smell mean?

• Rotten eggs or sewage: old food in the filter or drain, or a problem at the sink drain connection
• Wet dog or musty: mildew in the door gasket or standing water
• Sour milk or sour: greasy buildup and food residue
• Burning: food on the heating element, or something melted. See the warning below
• Fishy: sometimes protein residue, or an electrical issue if it is a hot-plastic type smell

Step by step: clean a smelly dishwasher

1. Empty the dishwasher and pull out the bottom rack.
2. Remove and clean the filter. It sits at the bottom of the tub and usually twists out. Scrub it with warm soapy water and a soft brush. For a very dirty filter, soak it for about 10 minutes first. Clean both sides and put it back firmly.
3. Clear the drain area. Remove any food or debris you see around the drain opening with a brush, toothpick or a wet/dry vacuum.
4. Check the spray arms. Pull them off if they come loose, and poke out any clogged holes with a toothpick.
5. Wipe the door gasket. Mold and mildew grow in the folds of the wet rubber seal. Wipe it with a cloth and hot soapy water. Wipe the inside edge of the door too.
6. Check the drain hose. Make sure it is not kinked and that debris has not built up. The hose runs from the bottom of the dishwasher to your garbage disposal or under-sink drain.
7. Run a vinegar cycle. Put about two cups of white vinegar in a bowl or cup on the bottom rack and run an empty hot cycle.
8. Leave the door slightly open afterward so it can air out.

If it still smells after cleaning

Rotten egg or sewage smell Look at the sink drain connection under the sink, since the dishwasher hose often joins there. If the garbage disposal is dirty or the drain is slow, the smell can back up into the dishwasher. If other drains gurgle, see gurgling kitchen drains and sewage odors elsewhere in the house.

Standing water at the bottom Water that does not drain causes smell fast. See a dishwasher that holds water.

Dishes come out with a film or smell Hard water and detergent residue can leave dishes cloudy or smelly. Read about white residue on dishes.

Burning smell

How to stop dishwasher smells from returning

• Scrape plates, but no need to pre-rinse fully. A little food helps modern detergents work.
• Clean the filter monthly.
• Run a hot cycle with a dishwasher cleaner or vinegar every month or two.
• Don't let dirty dishes sit for days before running a load.
• Leave the door cracked open after the cycle.
• Run the sink hot before you start the dishwasher so it starts with hot water.

When to call a technician

Call for service if the smell persists after a full clean, if water stays in the tub, or if you notice leaks or electrical smells. A worn drain pump or a failed check valve can hold dirty water and cause odor.

Bottom line

Check the filter first, then the drain, spray arms and gasket. A hot vinegar cycle finishes the job. A smell that survives all of that points to a drain problem, not dirty dishes.