Why Does My Dishwasher Smell? What Each Smell Means and How to Fix It
A smelly dishwasher is almost always holding rotting food and grease: in the filter, the spray arms, the door seal or water left in the bottom. To fix it, clean the filter by hand, clear the spray arms, wipe the seal, then run one BLITZ tablet in the empty dishwasher on a normal cycle. A sewage or rotten-egg smell usually means drain water is getting back in (check the garburator and the hose's high loop), and a burning smell means switch it off first.
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In this guide
What does the smell mean?
Each smell points to a different part of the dishwasher, so start with the one that matches.
Rotten food, sour or fishy
The most common one: food and grease rotting in the filter or at the bottom of the tub. Bosch blames food particles trapped in the filter, and KitchenAid links a fish or rotten-food smell to a dirty filter or a clogged drain. Fix: clean the filter, then run a cleaning cycle (steps below).
Sewage or rotten eggs
Dirty water from the sink or garburator is getting back into the dishwasher. KitchenAid names a clogged, kinked or sagging drain hose, or a hose with no high loop or air gap. Samsung adds that the smell may come from the sink drain or garbage disposal, not the dishwasher. Fix: run the garburator, then check the drain hose (see the drain section).
If every hot tap in the house smells of rotten eggs, the dishwasher isn't the problem: the Government of Alberta explains that hydrogen sulphide can appear in hot water only, from a reaction with the water heater's magnesium rod. Call a plumber.
Musty or mildew
Moisture that can't dry out. Whirlpool says mould and mildew can grow in the crevices of the door gasket, and Maytag points to the inside of the gasket lips. Fix: wipe the seal with a damp cloth and dish soap, and leave the door ajar after each cycle.
Burning plastic
Usually a lid or utensil fell onto the heating element. Whirlpool: let the element cool at least 30 minutes, scrape the plastic off with a wooden spoon; traces burn off within a few cycles. On a new install, GE adds packing material left on the element. If nothing fell, or it smells electrical, stop using it and call a technician.
"New dishwasher" plastic smell
Normal at first. Whirlpool says a new plastic-tub smell fades in about two weeks; LG says new-unit odours should go away after 10 to 20 full cycles. GE says a smell that lasts is not normal.
Where the smell comes from
A dishwasher is warm, damp and catches food scraps just before the drain. Here are the five spots to check, on a real, heavily soiled floor:
The filter is the usual culprit: LG warns that a neglected filter "may generate an offensive odor." Then come clogged spray arms, the door seal and standing water: KitchenAid says an inch or more left after a finished cycle can mean a clog, and Frigidaire says standing water leads to odours.
How to get rid of dishwasher smell, step by step
Time: about 25 minutes (our estimate), plus one normal cycle. You need: dish soap, a soft brush (an old toothbrush works), a toothpick, a cloth and one dishwasher cleaner tablet.
- Clear the bottom of the tub (2 minutes). Pull out the bottom rack and pick out food, labels and broken glass. GE says to check around the pump inlet, at the back right of the tub floor.
- Clean the filter (10 minutes). Twist it counterclockwise and lift it out (on Whirlpool, KitchenAid and Maytag, a quarter turn frees the upper filter, then the lower one lifts out). Wash it in warm, soapy water with a soft brush; Whirlpool says no wire brush or scouring pad. Turn it back until it locks.
- Clear the spray arms (5 minutes). Spin each arm by hand: it should turn freely. Push debris out of blocked holes with a toothpick, as Bosch and LG suggest.
- Wipe the door seal and the bottom of the door (5 minutes). A damp cloth and dishwashing liquid, as Bosch recommends. Get into the folds and under the lower edge of the door.
- Run the garburator and the hot tap (1 minute). If the dishwasher drains into a garburator, run it: Whirlpool and Maytag list this as an odour fix. Then run the sink's hot water until it's hot, as Whirlpool and KitchenAid advise, so the cycle starts hot.
- Run one cleaning cycle in the empty dishwasher. Put one BLITZ Dishwasher Cleaner tablet in the detergent compartment and run a normal cycle, with no dishes and no detergent. It breaks down the grease, grime and limescale on the walls, racks and spray arms that a brush can't reach. Afterwards, leave the door ajar for a few hours (KitchenAid's advice), keeping an eye on small children.
Tip: Still smells after all six steps? At that point it's almost never the tub. Look for water left in the bottom after a cycle, then check the drain connection (below).
Careful: Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia or another cleaner: Health Canada warns it can release toxic gases. Bosch and Samsung (stainless tubs) also say no bleach in the dishwasher. One product per cycle.
Brand by brand: filter and cleaning cycle
Every maker puts the filter at the bottom of the tub, but they don't agree on how often to clean it. Here is what each one says.
| Brand | Filter: how often | Cleaning cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Bosch | Turn the knob left, lift. Every few months (Bosch Canada); the manual says check it after each cycle | Cleaner in the dispenser, then Machine Care or the hottest, longest cycle, every 1 to 2 months |
| Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag | Upper part a quarter turn counterclockwise, lower part lifts out. At least once a month; every two weeks for large families | A cleaner tablet in the dispenser of the empty dishwasher, monthly |
| GE | Removable filter. Monthly or every other month, depending on the model and use | Empty hot cycle with a dishwasher cleaner |
| Samsung | Handle counterclockwise, rinse under the tap. Whenever debris builds up | Self Clean or Normal, empty, with a cleaning agent |
| LG | Twist counterclockwise, lift, soft brush. Per the chart in your manual | Machine Clean (on many models, hold Heavy 3 seconds) with a cleaner, no dishes |
| Frigidaire | Glass trap monthly (quick guide for glass trap models); filter and glass trap every 2 to 3 months (Frigidaire Canada support page) | Clean the whole unit every 3 months |
| Any brand, with BLITZ | Clean it by hand first | One tablet in the detergent compartment, empty, normal cycle24 tablets, $23.95 |
Some Maytag models with Dual Power Filtration have no filter to clean: Maytag says there is "no need for routine maintenance," so the cleaning cycle does the work.
And on vinegar, take care: Whirlpool, KitchenAid and Maytag say using it too often could damage the dishwasher, and LG warns that excessive use may cause damage. Our guide to dishwasher cleaner tablets vs liquids compares the options.
Sewage smell: check the drain hose, air gap and garburator
Filter clean and it still smells like a sewer? Look under the sink, where the drain hose joins the sink drain or the garburator. If dirty water can flow back down that hose, it sits in your dishwasher between loads.
- The high loop. The hose should rise up under the counter before it drops to the drain. Whirlpool, KitchenAid and Maytag ask for a loop at least 20 inches (50.8 cm) above the floor, and an air gap if it's lower. GE's installation instructions require an air gap or a high loop. If the connection has to be redone in Québec, the plumber follows the Code de construction, chapitre III, Plomberie: the National Plumbing Code of Canada 2020 with Québec modifications, in force since July 11, 2024.
- The air gap, if you have one, is the small cap behind the sink. Maytag says to check it for clogs, and Frigidaire says to keep it clean.
- A new garburator. Its dishwasher inlet is sealed with a knockout plug. InSinkErator says that if the dishwasher is connected without removing it, the dishwasher may overflow, and Whirlpool says a plug left in blocks draining completely. Smell started right after a garburator install? Check this first.
- A dirty garburator. InSinkErator says a disposer smell usually means food buildup. Run it before the dishwasher and clean it on its own schedule (see how to clean a garburator safely). A BLITZ Disposal Cleaner tablet twice a month foams through the grinding chamber, and it's septic-safe.
When to call a technician or a plumber
Cleaning removes residue. It doesn't fix a fault. Call for help when:
- It smells burnt or electrical and nothing fell on the element, or you see damaged wiring (KitchenAid lists both).
- Water stays in the bottom after a clean filter and a full cycle. Whirlpool says a drain hose clog should be diagnosed and repaired by a professional.
- The sewer smell comes back after checking the loop, air gap and garburator: call a plumber.
- It leaks, or a new dishwasher still smells after its break-in period.
How to keep your dishwasher from smelling again
Smells come back when food and moisture get time to sit. Three habits and one tablet every two weeks stop them early.
- Scrape plates first. GE reminds owners that a dishwasher is not a food disposer. Loading matters too: see how to load a dishwasher for better cleaning.
- Run it at least once a week. GE says this alone can usually prevent odour from dirty dishes waiting in the tub.
- Leave the door ajar after the cycle so the tub dries. Samsung's AutoRelease models do it on their own.
A cloudy film on glasses is a different problem (usually hard water or rinse aid): see white film on dishes.
Why BLITZ for the cleaning cycle
Every maker above cleans the same way: a cleaner in the dispenser of an empty dishwasher, one cycle. BLITZ does exactly that, one tablet per cycle.
- One tablet, one normal cycle, in the detergent compartment of the empty dishwasher. For all household dishwashers, with a light lemon scent.
- A year in one box. 24 tablets for $23.95, about $1.00 a clean. One every two weeks lasts a year; at the monthly pace Whirlpool suggests, two years.
- Septic-safe, like every BLITZ product, and rated 5.0 out of 5 (15 reviews) on goblitzclean.com.
- A Québec company based in Laval, with service in French and English. Free shipping in Canada from $40 ($7.95 below), most orders in 2 to 3 business days, 10% back in store credit and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Also on Amazon.ca.
- Black spots on the door seal that won't wipe off? A tablet won't reach them. BLITZ Mold Stain Remover is a gel for dishwasher and fridge seals: apply on the dry seal, leave 3 to 5 hours, wipe off. Gloves, eye protection and ventilation; never with another cleaner.
Comparing brands first? Our best dishwasher cleaner in Canada roundup lists prices and cost per clean.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my dishwasher smell even after I clean it?
Usually because the filter or the drain was skipped: a cleaning cycle doesn't empty a clogged filter or fix a hose that lets sink water back in. Clean the filter by hand, then check for standing water and the hose loop.
Why does my dishwasher smell like rotten eggs or sewage?
Drain water is getting back in, or water is sitting in the bottom. Run the garburator, check the hose's high loop or air gap, and clean the filter. If every hot tap smells, it's the water heater.
How often should I clean my dishwasher filter?
Whirlpool says at least once a month, or every two weeks for large families. GE says monthly to every other month, Bosch Canada every few months, and Frigidaire monthly for the glass trap in its quick guide but every 2 to 3 months on its Canadian support page. If it smells, clean it now.
Is a burning smell from my dishwasher dangerous?
Stop the cycle. Melted plastic on the element: let it cool 30 minutes and scrape it off (Whirlpool). Nothing there, or an electrical smell: don't use it until a technician checks it.
Will vinegar get rid of the smell?
Not if the filter is clogged, which is where most smells start, and Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag and LG warn that using vinegar too often can damage the dishwasher. Never combine it with bleach. Clean the filter, then run one BLITZ tablet in the empty dishwasher.
Sources: Bosch, Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, GE Appliances, Samsung, LG and Frigidaire support pages and manuals, the InSinkErator installation manual, the National Plumbing Code of Canada 2020 (NRC) and the Régie du bâtiment du Québec, Health Canada and the Government of Alberta, checked October 19, 2026. Brand names are trademarks of their owners; BLITZ is not affiliated with them.
ONE TABLET, ONE NORMAL CYCLE
BLITZ Dishwasher Cleaner & Deodorizer
One tablet in the detergent compartment of the empty dishwasher breaks down grease, grime and limescale buildup, with a light lemon scent. 24 tablets for $23.95, a year at one clean every two weeks. Rated 5.0 out of 5 (15 reviews).
Free shipping across Canada on orders of $40 or more, 10% back in store credit, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Cleaning the washer too? The Essentials Kit (24 washer + 24 dishwasher tablets) is $43.95, $4.95 less than buying both.
