How to Get Rid of a Bad Smell in Your Dishwasher
Short answer
Dishwasher smell comes from food trapped in the filter, gunk on the door seal and the bottom edge of the door, or dirty water draining back from the sink. Take out the filter and wash it, wipe the seal, clear the spray arms, then run a dishwasher cleaner on the hottest cycle. If it smells like sewage when it runs, the drain hose or the kitchen sink drain is the cause.
Quick steps
- Take out the bottom rack and remove the filter. Rinse and scrub it in the sink.
- Wipe the rubber door seal and the bottom edge of the door, where food gets trapped.
- Clear any blocked holes in the spray arms with a toothpick.
- Run a dishwasher cleaner tablet on the hottest cycle with the dishwasher empty.
- Leave the door open a crack between loads so the inside dries.
Need supplies? Jump to what to buy
1. Clean the filter
The filter catches the food that comes off your dishes, and most dishwashers made in the last 15 years have one you’re supposed to clean by hand. It is the most common cause of the smell.
Pull out the bottom rack. The filter sits in the floor of the tub, usually under the lower spray arm. GE’s advice is to check your manual for how yours comes out. Most twist a quarter turn and lift. Rinse it under warm water and scrub the mesh with a soft brush and dish soap until you can see through it.
Photo: Allyn Auck, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Wipe out the hole the filter sits in, too. Bits of food, glass, and labels collect there.
2. Wipe the door seal and the door edge
Run a damp cloth with dish soap along the rubber seal around the tub. Then open the door fully and wipe its bottom edge. Water and food drip there and never get washed, because the spray doesn’t reach them. An old toothbrush gets into the corners.
3. Clear the spray arms
Lift off the spray arms if they unclip, and look through the holes. Push out any food or scale with a toothpick, then rinse them.
4. Run a cleaning cycle
Put the filter back. With the dishwasher empty, run a dishwasher cleaner on the hottest cycle. It dissolves the grease and limescale film in places you can’t reach, like the hoses and the underside of the tub.
5. If it smells like sewage
A sewer smell while the dishwasher is running means water from the sink drain is getting back in. Look under the sink:
- The drain hose should loop up to the underside of the counter before it connects to the drain or disposal, or run through an air gap on the sink. Without that, dirty sink water can flow back into the dishwasher.
- The sink drain and disposal should be clear. A slow or smelly kitchen drain sends its smell straight into the dishwasher. See our smelly drain guide and garbage disposal guide.
If the hose already loops and the drain is clear, call a plumber or appliance repair service.
Keep it from coming back
- Scrape plates into the trash. You don’t need to rinse them, but big scraps clog the filter.
- Run the hot water at the sink until it’s hot before you start the dishwasher, so the cycle starts with hot water.
- Clean the filter about once a month, more often if you run it daily.
- Leave the door open a crack after a cycle so the inside dries.
What to buy
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Dishwasher cleaner tablets
Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner, 6 tablets
A monthly cleaning cycle that dissolves the grease and limescale film inside the tub, spray arms, and hoses where odor-causing residue builds up.
Good to know: Clean the filter by hand first. A tablet can't clear food that is stuck in the filter or drain.
Check price on Amazon
Garbage disposal cleaner
Glisten Garbage Disposer Cleaner (16 packets)
A foaming cleaner that scrubs the grinding chamber and the underside of the rubber splash guard, where rotting food film hides.
Good to know: Ice and citrus peels do a similar job for free. It won't clear a clog or a blocked dishwasher drain line.
Check price on AmazonCommon questions
Why does my dishwasher smell like sewage when it runs?
Dirty water from the sink drain or garbage disposal is flowing back into the dishwasher. Check that the drain hose rises in a high loop under the counter or goes through an air gap, and that the sink drain and disposal are clear. A plumber can fix the hose routing if it is wrong.
Can I put bleach in my dishwasher to get rid of the smell?
Check your manual first. Many manufacturers say not to use bleach in dishwashers with a stainless steel tub. Never mix bleach with vinegar or dishwasher cleaner, because the combination makes toxic gas.
Why does my dishwasher smell when I don't use it?
Food and water sitting in the filter and the bottom of the tub start to rot after a day or two. Scrape plates before loading, run it at least every few days, and leave the door slightly open so it dries.
What happens if you put vinegar and baking soda in the dishwasher together?
They fizz and mostly cancel each other out. If you want to use them, use one at a time. A dishwasher cleaner made for the job does more against grease and limescale.
How long does a new dishwasher smell last?
A plastic or chemical smell from a new dishwasher usually fades after a few cycles. Run it empty once or twice. If it smells like burning or electrical, stop using it and call the installer.