It’s troubling when you open your dishwasher after a cleaning cycle and a foul odor emerge. You might ask yourself, why does my dishwasher smell so bad? What kind of a scenario is that? You can start tackling the issue as soon as you know the answers to these queries.
The possible causes of your dishwasher’s unpleasant odor are listed below, along with some suggestions for eliminating it. Continue reading.
Why Does My Dishwasher Smell?
Here are the possible reasons.
A Clogged Food Trap
There may be rotting food inside the dishwasher, which is a common reason why the appliance smells bad. The food trap located at the bottom of your tub should be checked first if your dishwasher smells. There is a hole there where the cleaning cycle’s runoff collects. While the dishwasher is dry, pull out the bottom dish rack and look to see if there’s old food inside the food trap’s basket.
If there isn’t any food visible on the surface, try to remove the basket and look deeper into the opening. Be careful when you do this—if you’ve ever had a glass break inside your dishwasher, there could be loose shards in the food trap.
In some circumstances, you might think about inserting a plunger into the food trap opening to clear any accumulated waste. Whatever method you use, taking out the stale food from your dishwasher should help to lessen or completely get rid of a smell.
A Damaged Drain Hose
The way a drain hose functions is by emptying any small food particles and dirty water into the disposal unit under your sink. Your dishwasher may have an unpleasant odor if the drain hose is malfunctioning.
Pull your dishwasher away from the wall if at all possible and inspect it for any bends, kinks, or other issues that might make it difficult for material to pass easily through the hose. If material is having trouble moving from one end to the other of the hose, try straightening it. If your drain hose is too damaged to straighten out, you may want to replace the part yourself or contact a professional to handle it.
Here’s a video on how to clean the dishwasher & disposal:
Dishwasher’s Drain Filter Dirty
A dirty filter is the main culprit behind dishwasher odors. The filter in your dishwasher becomes clogged with food particles, and if it isn’t cleaned frequently, it may begin to smell bad. Clogged filters can also recirculate dirty water, causing your dishwasher to not clean properly. The steps listed below will help you remove, clean, and replace a dishwasher filter.
To clean your dishwasher’s filter:
Step 1: For model-specific filter removal instructions, refer to your product’s manual.
Step 2: To easily access the filter, take out the bottom rack from your dishwasher.
Step 3: Filter removal requires unscrewing.
Step 4: Put hot water on the filter to rinse it.
Step 5: the dishwasher after you’ve used the filter.
A Poorly Placed Drain Hose
Your drain hose may be the source of the odor in your dishwasher even if it is not kinked or otherwise blocked by food scraps. If your drain hose drops from the back of your unit and runs along the floor before moving upward towards the sink, gravity could be working against you.
If you have a drooping drain hose, try to find a way to reposition it. To maximize the use of gravity, your drain hose should run from the dishwasher into the sink disposal. If the dirty water and food waste don’t have to go “uphill” to the disposal, they’re less likely to get stuck and create a bad smell in the hose.
You’re Not Running It Enough
Tiny food particles can cling to your dishes even after you rinse them before loading the dishwasher. If you tend to fill your dishwasher over the course of several days before running it when it’s full, that could be why your dishwasher smells bad. On dishes, bacteria can develop and grow while feeding on the food remnants. When the bacteria breaks down during a cleaning cycle, they could produce the unpleasant odor you’re smelling in your dishwasher.
Perhaps you should think about using your dishwasher more frequently to solve this issue. Even if it isn’t full, run it on the “light” cycle so you don’t use as much energy while washing fewer dishes.
Burnt Plastic Smell in Your Dishwasher?
Most dishwashers have a heating element that is used to heat up water and to speed up moisture removal from your dishes and your appliance’s interior. If you notice a burning plastic smell coming from your dishwasher while it is in use, it could be the case that plastic has come into contact with the heating element. This typically occurs when a loose lid from a food container or a piece of plastic silverware falls through the drying rack and onto the heater. When burning plastic is detected, halt the cycle, let the heating element cool, and then take the plastic item out of the machine.
DIY Method for Cleaning Your Smelly Dishwasher
The best offense is a good defense when it comes to keeping your dishwasher smelling fresh, so try to clean it with a commercial or homemade dishwasher cleaner every few months.
Starting with emptying the racks, rinsing the food trap, and wiping down the surfaces will allow you to restock your dishwasher with supplies you most likely already have at home. After that, put a bowl or cup full of distilled white vinegar on the top rack of the dishwasher and run the appliance at its highest temperature. After the cycle is finished, leave the door open to let the dishwasher air dry completely before going back inside with a microfiber rag to thoroughly clean and dry the interior.
Suggested reading: How long do dishwashers last? This guide will tell you how to prolong the life of your dishwasher and keep it in good working condition.
When to Call a Pro
Call a plumber or appliance specialist for assistance if you’ve tried all the dishwasher deodorizing suggestions listed above and still can’t get rid of the foul smell. Some situations necessitate the use of professional equipment, such as when a drain line is severely clogged. It’s also possible that the dishwasher itself isn’t at fault and is merely covering up another issue, such as mold on the wall or in the cabinets nearby.
FAQs
Why Does a Dishwasher Smell Like Rotten Eggs?
A dishwasher that smells like rotten eggs (sulfur) may have a clogged garbage disposal hose in addition to the common clogged filter problem. To see what’s inside your machine, you would need to unplug it.
Additionally, occasionally the smell of rotten eggs is actually coming from the door gasket, the black rubber seal that keeps the dishwasher door hermetically sealed while the dishes are being washed. Over time, food particles can build up on the gasket and produce a bad odor. Sears(opens in new tab) recommends wiping down the gasket ‘with warm water periodically.’
Why Do My Dishes Smell Bad After a Dishwasher Cycle?
This is a very unpleasant issue that typically results from poor drainage and/or a partial clog. A dishwasher not draining properly will have standing water in it that is recycled by the dishwasher while you run it, imparting a stale odor that many people describe as a wet-dog smell. The smell can be eliminated by clearing the dishwasher’s clog and running it through a maintenance cycle while adding some vinegar or bleach.
How Can I Tell If There is Food Stuck in My Dishwasher?
Another indication that food residues are clogging up your dishwasher, in addition to a rotten smell, is if the dishwasher doesn’t seem to be cleaning as well as it used to. The dishwasher can’t spray dirty plates and bowls with as much force if the jets or hose are clogged with food. Clean out the food trap and also inspect the jets and hose to see if they need to be wiped down.
When Should I Get a New Dishwasher?
Dishwashers ought to generally last for at least ten years. A bad smell is rarely a sufficient justification for purchasing a brand-new dishwasher, especially if it is the only issue you are having. If your dishwasher doesn’t smell fresh after using DIY deodorizing methods, there may be a bigger issue, such as mold or mildew on the surfaces behind or under your dishwasher.
How to Avoid a Smelly Dishwasher?
In most cases, you can help save your kitchen from a smelly dishwasher by following these simple maintenance tips:
- At least once per month, clean the filter to prevent accumulation of food particles.
- Try not to overcrowd the racks so that water and soap can easily pass through the dishes and break down debris.
- Use dishwasher cleaners, like this option from affresh®1, once a month to reduce odor-causing residues.
Summary: Why Does My Dishwasher Smell?
Why Does My Dishwasher Smell? A clogged food trap, a damaged drain hose, a dishwasher’s drain filter dirty, a poorly placed drain hose, you’re not running it enough, the burnt plastic smell in your dishwasher.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment. My Prime Home tries to give you the best home improvement information. Don’t forget to share the post. Thank you for reading.
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