You open your dishwasher expecting clean dishes, but instead get hit with a nasty smell that makes you step back. That foul odour coming from your dishwasher isn’t just unpleasant, it’s a sign that something isn’t right.
Don’t worry. Smelly dishwashers are a common household issue that you can resolve without needing to call a repair service. This guide will walk you through the six most frequent causes and show you exactly how to eliminate those odours for good.
Left untreated, that smell won’t stay contained. It creeps into your kitchen, clings to your “clean” dishes, and can even affect how food tastes. Each time you open the door, those odours remind everyone that something isn’t clean in your kitchen. The longer you wait, the worse it gets and the harder it becomes to solve.
Reasons Your Dishwasher Smells Bad
That unpleasant odour wafting from your dishwasher can quickly turn your kitchen from inviting to off-putting. Understanding what’s causing those foul smells is the first step toward eliminating them and restoring your appliance to its fresh-smelling state. Let’s explore the typical culprits behind dishwasher odours.
A smelly dishwasher can make your whole kitchen feel less clean. The bad smell often comes from leftover food, standing water, or clogged parts. Let’s walk through the most common causes and show you how to fix each one.
1. Clogged Dishwasher Filter
Dishwasher filters trap food particles so they don’t end up back on your dishes. But over time, those trapped bits can rot and cause a sour or musty smell. If the filter hasn’t been cleaned in a while, the odour often spreads through the whole kitchen. This problem is common after large family meals or when you have back-to-back loads. The smell usually builds slowly, so it’s easy to miss until it gets worse.
Most people clean their filters only when something smells off. One European study found that just 19% clean their filters regularly, while 11.5% never do at all. That same report showed the microfilter is often the dirtiest part, directly affecting both performance and odour.
2. Grease Build-Up
Grease doesn’t always rinse away clean. It can coat the inside of the tub, cling to the filter, or clog up the drain area. As it thickens, it begins to cling to food particles, creating a sticky mess that has a bad odour. You might notice a strong, oily odour after running a whole load of pans or casserole dishes. If this layer builds up, it can also dull the inside of the appliance.
3. Drain Hose Broken or Leaking
A damaged or leaking drain hose can cause dirty water to be trapped inside the dishwasher. Even minor leaks can cause pooling water beneath the unit, which often brings a mildew or sewage-like smell. This issue sometimes appears alongside slow draining or wet spots under the appliance. It may go unnoticed until the odour becomes strong enough to spread beyond the kitchen.
4. Leftover Food
Small food bits often fall into hidden parts of the dishwasher. These particles break down over time, especially if the appliance sits unused for a day or two. As bacteria feed on the waste, they release a bad smell that can cling to clean dishes. The odour might remind you of spoiled milk or sour leftovers, especially near the lower spray arm or filter area.
5. Standing Water
Water that sits at the bottom of the tub can give off a damp, sour scent. This often indicates a drainage issue, such as a clogged air gap or a slow-draining disposal. You might notice puddles left behind after a cycle or hear water sloshing when you open the door. Standing water is a clear sign that something is slowing the system down.
In the commercial sector, such issues are even more disruptive regularly. A survey of UK restaurant workers revealed that half experienced dishwasher breakdowns at least once every three months, with 26% reporting more than 20 hours of downtime per quarter. Poor drainage is often a contributing factor.
6. Mildew
Mildew grows in moist, dark spaces, and dishwashers are the perfect environment, especially if the door stays closed between uses. One of the first places mildew shows up is around the rubber door gasket. The smell is earthy, damp, and unpleasant. You may catch a whiff of it when you open the door, even if the dishes inside look clean.
Simple Ways to Keep Your Dishwasher Smelling Fresh
Fixing the source of bad odours is just the first step. Keeping your dishwasher clean and odour-free in the long run comes down to routine care. Small habits, such as scraping off food, running hot cycles, and wiping the door seal, can make a big difference.
If you’re looking to stop the smell before it starts, there are easy steps you can follow. Regular maintenance prevents grease and grime from accumulating again. For a complete guide on daily, weekly, and monthly habits, visit our post on how to stop your dishwasher from smelling.
Say Goodbye to Dishwasher Odours with Beach2Bay Appliance Service
A smelly dishwasher shouldn’t ruin the comfort of your kitchen. If the problem keeps coming back or you’re unsure what’s causing it, Beach2Bay Appliance Service in Niceville, FL is here to help. Our team knows how to handle clogged filters, faulty hoses, and everything in between. Call 850-830-8306 to schedule your service today.
