How to Clean a Smelly Dishwasher
A smelly dishwasher almost always has the same cause: food debris trapped in the filter, door gasket, and spray arms that sits wet and develops mould and bacteria. The fix is a full manual clean of these components — the dishwasher's cleaning cycle does not clean the dishwasher itself.
Step 1: Clean the Filter
The filter is the primary cause of dishwasher odour in most machines. It's located at the bottom of the dishwasher tub, usually a cylindrical component with a mesh screen around it:
- Remove the bottom rack
- Twist and lift out the cylindrical filter (counterclockwise, usually) — there's often a flat mesh filter underneath it too
- Rinse both under warm running water
- Use a soft brush (a toothbrush works) to scrub away trapped food particles — pay attention to the mesh
- Soak in warm soapy water for 10 minutes if heavily soiled
- Reinstall
Step 2: Wipe the Door Gasket
The rubber gasket around the dishwasher door traps food particles and moisture in its folds — this is often the source of the worst odour. Wipe the entire gasket with a damp cloth or paper towel, getting into the folds. For mould: wipe with a cloth dampened with diluted white vinegar (1 part vinegar, 1 part water).
Step 3: Clear the Spray Arms
The spray arms have small holes that can become clogged with food deposits, but more importantly, standing water in the arms can go stale. Use a toothpick to clear any clogged spray holes. If you can remove the spray arms (they usually unscrew), rinse them out and check for trapped debris.
Step 4: Run a Cleaning Cycle
After manually cleaning the filter, gasket, and spray arms:
- Place a dishwasher-safe cup filled with white vinegar on the top rack
- Run a hot water cycle (heavy wash or sanitize setting)
- When done, sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of the tub and run a short hot cycle — the baking soda neutralizes any remaining odours
Preventing Dishwasher Odour
- Rinse dishes before loading — the more food that enters the dishwasher, the more that bypasses the filter
- Clean the filter monthly — this is the most important maintenance step for odour prevention
- Leave the dishwasher door ajar after a cycle to allow moisture to evaporate — a closed, wet dishwasher is ideal for mould growth
- Use a dishwasher cleaner tablet monthly in addition to regular filter cleaning
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