Why Does My Dishwasher Smell? It Could Be These 4 Culprits
If your dishwasher smells after running a load of dishes, there are four things could be the reason: the filter is clogged with bits of rotting food, there's a piece of plastic container or fork trapped near the heating element, the walls are covered with greasy residue, or you have a drain line problem.
Here's how to discover and remedy each problem and get rid of smells in your dishwasher.
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Why Does My Dishwasher Smell?
A dishwasher full of dirty dishes is going to have an odor but once you run a wash cycle, the odor should be gone. If the bad smell lingers, you need to do some detective work, find the problem, and solve the issue.
Clogged Filter
Every dishwasher has a filter to trap particles of food and greasy residue and prevent them from being redeposited onto the dishes. Some filters are self-cleaning others require you to perform regular cleaning at least once a month.
Trapped Melting Plastic
A burnt plastic odor could be a sign of problems with the dishwasher's wiring but it is most likely a piece of non-dishwasher-safe plastic trapped near the heating element.
Greasy Residue
If you never clean your dishwasher, the interior can become coated with greasy residue that smells and traps mold spores, bacteria, and food particles. You can clean a dishwasher with the help of a dishwasher cleaner.
Clogged Drain
A dirty dishwasher filter can cause slow draining that produces a bad smell coming from the dishwasher drain. There are two reasons a clog happens. Larger pieces of food may become trapped in the drain if the dishes are not scraped before loading them into the machine. Or, sludge and food buildup from smaller residue on dishes accumulate in the drain over time leading to a smelly clog.
How to Get Rid of Smells in Your Dishwasher
Empty the interior. Remove any dishes, the racks, and the silverware basket.
Inspect the interior. This is the time to look for any pieces of trapped plastic near the heating elements. If you see a problem, make sure the heating element is completely cool, and then use a non-metallic item, such as a wooden spoon, to scrape any plastic from the heating element. After a few cycles, any remaining bits of plastic will burn off.
Locate and remove the filter. The filter is usually recessed in the bottom interior floor of the dishwasher. Remove it and wash it well in hot, soapy water using a soft-bristled brush to get rid of food particles and bits of paper labels. Rinse and reinstall.
Freshen the drain. While the filter is out, if the dishwasher still smells, you can freshen the drain. Add 1/4 cup of baking soda to the drain and then add 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar. Allow the mixture to fizz and work for 10 to 15 minutes.
Inspect the drain. If you see standing water in the drain, you may have a large clog. Unplug the dishwasher or turn off the breaker before attempting to unclog the drain or call a plumber.
Run a cleaning cycle. With all of the components replaced in the dishwasher, fill a glass or plastic container with one cup of distilled white vinegar. Place the open container on the top rack of the dishwasher and run a regular wash cycle without the drying cycle. Sprinkle one cup of baking soda on the inside floor of the damp dishwasher. Run a short hot water rinse cycle again skipping the drying cycle. When the cycle is complete, open the dishwasher door to allow the interior to air dry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does it smell when I run my dishwasher?
There is trapped grease, food particles, bacteria, or melting plastic coating the interior surface and dishwasher filter.
Why does my dishwasher smell like it's burning?
A burnt plastic smell it is most likely a piece of non-dishwasher-safe plastic trapped near the heating element. If the smell remains after removing the plastic, it is time to consult a repair technician about issues with the dishwasher's wiring.
How do you fix a burnt plastic smell in a dishwasher?
Wait until the dishwasher interior is completely cool, then use a non-metallic item, such as a wooden spoon, to scrape any plastic from the heating element. Run a cleaning cycle with vinegar and baking soda and after a few cycles, any remaining bits of plastic will burn off.
Read the original article on The Spruce.
