Short answer
Most dishwasher smells come from old food trapped in the filter. Pull out the bottom rack, twist out the filter and rinse it under hot water. Wipe the rubber seal and the bottom edge of the door. Then set a cup of white vinegar upright on the top rack and run the hottest cycle empty. Finish with a cup of baking soda on the bottom and a short hot cycle.
Safety first
Let the dishwasher cool before you reach in, and watch for broken glass in the filter. Never add bleach to a vinegar cycle: together they release chlorine gas.
How to clean a smelly dishwasher
1A bad smell when you open the door
Food bits, grease and standing water collect in the filter and along the seal. Warm and damp, they start to smell within days.
Read all the steps
- A bad smell when you open the door. Food bits, grease and standing water collect in the filter and along the seal. Warm and damp, they start to smell within days.
- Twist out the filter and rinse it. Pull out the bottom rack. Turn the filter counterclockwise, lift it out and scrub it under hot water with a soft brush, then lock it back in.
- Wipe the seal and the door edge. Gunk hides in the rubber seal and along the bottom of the door. Wipe them with warm soapy water and an old toothbrush.
- Cup of vinegar, hottest cycle. Set a dishwasher-safe cup of white vinegar upright on the top rack. Run the hottest cycle with nothing else inside.
- Baking soda, then a short hot cycle. Sprinkle a cup of baking soda on the bottom and run a short hot cycle. The inside comes out clean and fresh.
- Still not fixed? Call a plumber Especially if: it still smells like sewage after you clean the filter and run both cycles.
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What not to do
- Do not add bleach, and never in the same cycle as vinegar. Bleach can also stain a stainless steel tub.
- Do not use steel wool or scouring powder inside: scratches hold more grime.
- Do not use vinegar and a dishwasher cleaner tablet in the same cycle. Pick one.
Keep it from smelling again
- Scrape plates into the trash before loading. They do not need to be rinsed spotless.
- Clean the filter about once a month.
- Run hot water at the sink before you start, and run the garbage disposal if the dishwasher drains into it.
- Leave the door cracked open after a cycle so the inside dries.
If it smells like sewage
A sewer smell that comes back after a good cleaning usually points to the drain, not the dishwasher. The dishwasher drain hose may sag without a high loop, so dirty sink water flows back in, or the air gap or the disposal is clogged. A plumber can fix the hose loop and clear the drain.
When to call a plumber
- It still smells like sewage after you clean the filter and run both cycles.
- Dirty water stays in the bottom after a cycle.
- Water from the sink backs up into the dishwasher.
- You see water on the floor or under the dishwasher.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my dishwasher smell like rotten eggs?
Usually food rotting in the filter or the drain. Clean the filter, wipe the seal and run a hot vinegar cycle. If the smell comes back fast, the drain hose or the disposal may be sending dirty water back in.
Can I put vinegar in my dishwasher?
Yes, a cup of white vinegar on the top rack in an empty hot cycle is a common way to clean it. Some manufacturers prefer their own cleaner tablets, so check your manual. Never use vinegar in the same cycle as bleach.
How often should I clean my dishwasher filter?
About once a month, more often if you load plates without scraping them. Most newer dishwashers have a filter you clean by hand.
Can I use baking soda and vinegar together in a dishwasher?
Use them in separate cycles: vinegar first in a hot cycle, then baking soda in a short one. Mixed together they just fizz and cancel each other out.
Why does my dishwasher smell after a cycle?
Often the door stays shut and the inside never dries. Crack the door open after each cycle and keep the filter and seal clean. A smell right after a cycle can also mean dirty water flowing back from the sink drain.
Is a dishwasher cleaner tablet better than vinegar?
Both work for routine cleaning. Tablets are made for the job and some manufacturers recommend them, while vinegar is cheap and fine for most models. Use one or the other per cycle.