How to Get Rid of Bad Smells in Your Dishwasher

Open the door and get hit by a sour, stale whiff? You're not alone. A dishwasher smell is one of the most common complaints we hear, and nine times out of ten the culprit is sitting right at the bottom of the machine in the filter. The good news is that you can usually sort it yourself in twenty minutes or so. Here's why it happens and exactly how to fix it.

Why does my dishwasher smell so bad?

The filter's job is to catch food particles and bits of debris that rinse off your plates, stopping them from clogging the spray arms and pump. That's great while it's clean. The trouble starts when the filter fills up and nobody empties it.

Those trapped food scraps sit there, warm and damp, and quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria. Bacteria is what produces that foul, rotten odour you notice when you open the door. Worse, the smell doesn't stay put. It transfers onto your dishes, so they can come out smelling and even tasting unpleasant after what's supposed to be a clean cycle.

If the smell is bad, the filter is almost always where you should look first.

What happens if you ignore a dirty filter

A neglected filter causes more than just an off smell. Leave it long enough and you'll run into a string of problems:

• Poor cleaning performance. A clogged filter restricts water flow inside the machine. Dishes come out badly cleaned or rinsed, with food residue and stains left behind.
• Unpleasant odours. Food trapped in a dirty filter creates a breeding ground for bacteria and foul smells, which then transfer onto your dishes and make them smell and taste unpleasant.
• Damage to the dishwasher. When water can't flow freely, the pump and motor have to work harder to circulate it. Over time that extra strain causes wear and tear on these critical parts, and can lead to expensive damage and repairs.
• Hygiene concerns. Without proper cleaning and rinsing, harmful bacteria and pathogens may not be removed from your dishes during the wash. That's a genuine hygiene issue, not just an inconvenience.
• Higher bills. A clogged filter makes the machine work longer to get dishes clean, wasting both energy and water and pushing up your utility bills.

All of that from one part most people never think to check.

Know your filter type

Most dishwashers use one of these, and some use both:

• A cylindrical filter
• A fine mesh filter

Knowing which you've got makes the cleaning step quicker, and your manual will tell you for certain.

How to deep clean your dishwasher filter

Safety first

Before you touch anything, make sure the dishwasher is unplugged or disconnected from its power source. A few sensible precautions while you work:

• Wear gloves to protect your hands.
• Lay down a towel or mat to catch any water or debris.
• Be careful of dirty water that may be trapped in the filter when you lift it out.

If you're not sure how to isolate the appliance properly, our guide on how to safely isolate an appliance before a DIY repair walks you through it.

Step by step

1. Consult the manual. Check your dishwasher's user manual to find the filter and read any specific instructions or guidelines from the manufacturer.
2. Prepare your workspace. Put down a towel or mat to catch water and debris, and pop on a pair of gloves.
3. Open the dishwasher door. Open it fully to reach the filter, which usually sits at the bottom of the machine near the spray arm.
4. Remove the lower rack. If your machine has one, slide it out so you can get to the filter more easily.
5. Identify the filter. Find the filter assembly. As above, it's typically a cylindrical filter, a fine mesh filter, or both.
6. Remove the filter assembly. Depending on the model, it will either twist or lift out. Follow the manufacturer's instructions, and watch out for dirty water trapped inside.
7. Clean the filter. Take it to the sink and rinse under warm running water. Use a soft brush or an old toothbrush to shift any stubborn debris or residue, and make sure every part is thoroughly clean.
8. Inspect and clean the filter housing. With the filter out, check the housing inside the dishwasher and clear away any food particles or debris that have built up there.
9. Reassemble the filter. Put the clean filter back according to the manufacturer's instructions and make sure it's securely in place. A loose filter won't do its job.
10. Replace the lower rack. Slide it carefully back in if you removed it.
11. Close the dishwasher door. Shut it securely.
12. Run a test cycle. Run a short cycle with the machine empty to check the filter is working properly and the smell has gone.

Keep on top of it

This isn't a one off. Clean the filter at least once a month, and more often if you notice the dishwasher's performance dropping off. Regular maintenance keeps odours away, helps the machine run efficiently and extends its lifespan, so it's well worth the few minutes it takes.

When the smell points to a deeper fault

Sometimes a clean filter doesn't fully solve it. If your dishwasher is still underperforming or smelling after you've cleaned the filter and housing, the problem is likely somewhere else, perhaps the pump, the drainage or another component.

That's where we come in. A local NAC technician can assess what's going on and carry out a dishwasher repair if one's needed. We quote a clear service charge before an engineer attends, which covers all labour, the callout and VAT where it applies. If any parts are required, we'll quote those separately before doing the work, with no extra labour charge on top. Every repair is guaranteed too, with the length depending on the parts fitted and covered under our terms and conditions.

We're a family run business with over 40 years of experience between us, and we repair any make of appliance. To get a persistent dishwasher smell sorted, get in touch with our team or call 0333 016 9622. You can check we cover your area on our service areas page and see the full range of work we do on our services page.

A clean filter once a month will keep most smells at bay. When it doesn't, we're only a phone call away.