How to Get Rid of Dishwasher Smell | The Complete Fix

For the full breakdown, see our best Dishwasher Cleaner For Smell guide.

A rancid smell wafting out of your dishwasher doesn’t mean it’s broken — it means something inside is rotting. Leftover food caught in the filter, grease on the rubber gasket, or standing water in the drain line are the usual culprits. The cleaning process is straightforward, takes about 30 minutes total, and fixes the problem in nearly every case. Here is exactly where to start and what to do at each step.

What Causes a Smelly Dishwasher?

Food residue and grease accumulate in a few predictable places. The filter traps solid debris and needs manual emptying — if left too long, it begins to smell. The rubber gasket around the door collects bits of food and moisture. The spray arms can get clogged, reducing water circulation so debris stays put. The drain hose or the sink’s garbage disposal can send odors back into the dishwasher through shared plumbing. Standing water anywhere inside the machine (including a kinked drain hose) produces a musty or rotten smell very quickly.

The Fastest Way to Clean It

You can fix most dishwasher odors in one session by hitting every hot spot in order. Start by removing the bottom rack and taking out the filter. Whirlpool’s care guide recommends emptying debris from the filter, then soaking it in warm soapy water and scrubbing gently with a soft-bristled brush before reinstalling it. While the filter soaks, wipe the entire rubber door gasket with warm soapy water — especially inside the folds and crevices where residue hides. Dry the gasket thoroughly afterward. Next, check the bottom of the dishwasher for standing water; if you find any, inspect the drain hose for kinks or blockages.

Once the filter is back in place, run an empty cleaning cycle. Place two cups of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe bowl on the bottom rack, then run a hot cycle with the dry option turned off. This cuts grease, neutralizes odors, and clears minor buildup from spray arms. If your dishwasher has a self-cleaning cycle, use it monthly; otherwise, run the vinegar cycle once a month as preventive maintenance.

When the Smell Comes Back

A recurring odor usually means the source is outside the dishwasher itself. Check the sink’s garbage disposal — if it is dirty, food particles can drift through the shared drain line into the dishwasher. Run the disposal with ice cubes and lemon peels, then flush with hot water. If the drain hose has a low spot where water pools, reposition it so water flows freely. Clogged spray arms can also reduce cleaning performance and leave food behind; remove them according to your owner’s manual and rinse out any blocked holes with a toothpick or small brush.

What NOT to Do

A few common mistakes make the problem worse or waste time. Do not skip reading the filter removal instructions in your owner’s manual; filter designs vary significantly by brand, and prying up the wrong piece can break the mechanism. Do not ignore the gasket folds, since that is where the worst odor builds up. Finally, do not use bleach without checking your appliance manual first (and never mix bleach with any other cleaner). If your dishwasher is connected to a septic tank, stick with vinegar instead.