How to Get Rid of Dishwasher Smell for Good: A Step by Step Guide
You opened the dishwasher expecting clean dishes and got hit with a wave of something damp, sour, and vaguely rotting. Maybe it smells like wet dog. Maybe it smells like eggs left in a hot car. Either way, you closed the door, backed away, and started Googling.
Good news: that smell almost always has a fixable cause. Better news: once you understand what is actually happening inside that machine, you can eliminate dishwasher odor permanently instead of just masking it every few weeks.
This guide walks through every common source of dishwasher stink, gives you the exact cleaning steps to fix each one, and covers the daily habits that keep the smell from coming back. And for the kitchen itself, we will talk about how to keep the whole room smelling the way you actually want it to, including a few picks from our full beeswax candle collection that were basically made for kitchens and living spaces.
Why Your Dishwasher Smells (It Is Probably the Filter)
Most people assume dishwashers clean themselves. Hot water, detergent, constant rinsing. It makes intuitive sense. But the reality is that food particles, grease, and soap residue collect in places the wash cycle never fully reaches.
The single biggest culprit is the drain filter. Every modern dishwasher has one, usually a cylindrical mesh basket at the bottom of the tub. Its job is to catch food debris before it reaches the drain pump. When you never clean it, that debris sits in warm, wet darkness and does exactly what organic matter does in those conditions: it rots.
Cleaning the filter solves roughly half of all dishwasher odor problems on its own. But it is only one of several potential sources.
The Other Usual Suspects
The door gasket. That rubber seal around the door stays damp after every cycle. Mold and mildew love rubber surfaces with trapped moisture, and the gasket's folds create perfect little pockets for buildup you cannot see without pulling the rubber back.
Clogged spray arms. Hard water mineral deposits and food particles can block the small holes in the spray arms. When water cannot circulate properly, dishes do not get clean, and residue accumulates inside the machine.
The drain hose. If your dishwasher smells specifically like sewage or rotten eggs, the problem might be the drain hose connection under your sink. Without a proper "high loop" in the hose (where it curves up near the countertop before dropping down to the disposal or drain), dirty water can siphon back into the machine. This is a plumbing issue, not a cleaning issue, and it is more common in older installations.
Standing water in the sump. A small amount of water at the bottom of the tub after a cycle is normal. A lot of standing water is a sign of a partial drain clog, and stagnant water breeds bacteria fast.
The Step by Step Deep Clean
You will need about 20 minutes of hands on time, plus two empty machine cycles. Do this once and your dishwasher should smell neutral. Then follow the maintenance schedule below to keep it that way.
Step 1: Clean the Filter (5 Minutes)
Pull the bottom rack out. Locate the filter assembly on the floor of the tub, usually near the base of the bottom spray arm. Most twist and lift out. If yours does not come out easily, check the owner's manual before forcing it.
Rinse the filter under hot running water. Use a soft brush (an old toothbrush works perfectly) to scrub away any stuck on grease or food. If it is really caked, soak it in warm soapy water for ten minutes first. Reassemble and lock it back into place.
Step 2: Wipe Down the Gasket and Door Edges
Dip a cloth in warm, soapy water and run it along the entire rubber door seal. Pull the gasket folds back gently and wipe inside them. Pay special attention to the bottom corners, where water pools. You will probably find a brownish or pinkish residue. That is mold. It wipes away easily but comes back if you skip this step.
While you are at it, wipe the edges of the door itself, the area where the door meets the tub. Detergent residue and food splatter collect here because the wash spray does not reach it directly.
Step 3: Clear the Spray Arms
Remove the spray arms (most pop or unscrew off). Hold them up to the light and look through the small holes. If any are blocked, use a toothpick or thin wire to clear them. Rinse under running water and reattach.
Step 4: Run a Vinegar Cycle
Place a dishwasher safe cup or bowl filled with one to two cups of white distilled vinegar on the top rack. Run an empty cycle on the hottest setting your machine offers (ideally 140°F or higher). The vinegar dissolves grease, loosens mineral deposits, and kills odor causing bacteria.
One important note: vinegar is mildly acidic, and frequent use can degrade rubber gaskets over time. This is fine as an occasional deep clean method (every three to six months), but do not run vinegar through your machine weekly.
Step 5: Follow with a Baking Soda Cycle
After the vinegar cycle finishes, sprinkle about a quarter cup of baking soda across the bottom of the empty tub. Run a short hot cycle. Baking soda neutralizes any remaining acidic odors and leaves the interior smelling clean.
Do not combine vinegar and baking soda in the same cycle. They neutralize each other chemically and you end up with fizzy salt water that does almost nothing.
Step 6: Check the Drain Hose (If the Smell Persists)
If you have done all of the above and the sewage smell persists, look under the sink. The drain hose should loop up high (near the underside of the countertop) before connecting to the garbage disposal or drain pipe. If it runs straight from the dishwasher to the drain without that high loop, water can back siphon. You can fix this yourself with a hose clamp and a few minutes, or call a plumber if you are not comfortable with it.
The Maintenance Schedule That Prevents the Smell from Coming Back
After every cycle: Leave the dishwasher door slightly ajar for an hour or two. This lets moisture evaporate instead of sitting in a warm, sealed box breeding mold. It is the single easiest habit change that makes the biggest difference.
Every two to four weeks: Pull out the filter, scrub it, and wipe down the door gasket. This takes under five minutes and prevents the slow buildup that causes 90% of dishwasher odors.
Every three to six months: Run the full vinegar and baking soda deep clean described above. Check the spray arms while you are at it.
Before every load: Scrape large food scraps off plates, but do not pre rinse. Modern dishwashers have sensors that detect soil levels. If dishes go in too clean, the machine runs a lighter cycle that actually cleans less effectively.
Keeping the Kitchen Smelling Good (Not Just Neutral)
A clean dishwasher solves the bad smell. But the kitchen still has its own ambient reality: cooking residue, trash bins, the fridge opening and closing. Neutral is fine. But your kitchen can actually smell good.
This is where a clean burning candle earns its place on the counter. A lot of people burn candles in the kitchen without thinking about what is in them, and that is a problem. Paraffin candles release soot, benzene, and toluene when they burn. Candles with toxic fragrance oils add phthalates and parabens to the mix. You just spent 20 minutes cleaning your dishwasher for better air quality, and a cheap candle undoes part of that effort.
"I absolutely love these candles! I instantly notice the difference in the air quality, in comparison to the Bath & Body scented candles. I love Bath & Body's candles but I acknowledge that it caused a slight headache and other minor respiratory discomfort. Awesome products. Totally addicted." Jason H.
Beeswax burns cleaner than any other candle wax because it contains no petroleum byproducts and produces virtually no soot. The wooden wick in MBur candles burns evenly and gives off a quiet crackling sound that makes the kitchen feel alive without overpowering it.
For kitchen spaces specifically, Slice of Life is the obvious pick. Its notes of spearmint, eucalyptus, tomato leaf, anise, and mint smell like a kitchen herb garden in full swing, green and bright without being floral or sweet. If your kitchen opens into a living area and you want something warmer, People Watching blends lemon, orange, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and allspice into something that smells like a spice cake cooling on the counter.
Both are 100% beeswax, use non toxic, phthalate free fragrance oils, and burn for up to 80 hours in the largest size. That is weeks of kitchen ambiance from a single candle. Browse the full lineup in our beeswax candle collection.
Common Mistakes That Bring the Smell Back
Overloading the machine. When dishes are crammed in too tightly, water cannot circulate between them. Food residue stays on the dishes and inside the machine. Leave enough space that the spray arms can rotate freely.
Using too much detergent. More soap does not mean cleaner dishes. Excess detergent leaves a film inside the machine that traps odors. Follow the manufacturer's recommended amount, which is usually less than you think.
Ignoring the garbage disposal connection. If your dishwasher drains through the garbage disposal, a clogged disposal can push smells back into the dishwasher. Run the disposal before starting a wash cycle.
Running only cold or eco cycles. Occasional hot cycles are important for dissolving grease buildup. If you normally run eco mode (which uses lower temperatures), throw in a hot cycle once a week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my dishwasher smell like rotten eggs even after cleaning?
A persistent rotten egg or sewage smell usually points to the drain hose, not the interior. Check that the hose has a high loop under the sink. Without it, sewer gas and dirty water can flow back into the tub. If the hose looks fine, the issue might be a failing drain pump. That is a repair call, not a cleaning job.
Is it safe to use bleach to clean my dishwasher?
Generally, no. Bleach can react with dishwasher detergent residue to form irritating fumes, and it damages stainless steel interiors and rubber seals over time. Stick with vinegar for deep cleans and warm soapy water for manual wiping.
How often should I really clean the dishwasher filter?
Every two to four weeks for most households. If you cook a lot or run the machine daily, every two weeks is better. It takes less than five minutes and prevents most odor problems before they start.
Does leaving the dishwasher door open actually help?
Yes. Leaving it slightly ajar after a cycle lets moisture escape instead of sitting inside a warm, sealed environment. Mold and mildew need moisture to grow, so airflow is your best preventive tool. Even cracking the door an inch makes a real difference.
What is the best candle to burn in a kitchen without adding chemicals to the air?
Beeswax is the cleanest burning candle wax available. It produces almost no soot and contains zero petroleum byproducts. MBur's Slice of Life candle was designed with kitchen spaces in mind, with fresh herbal notes that complement cooking aromas instead of clashing with them. The full collection is at mburcandle.co.
The Short Version
Dishwasher smell comes from trapped food, grease, and moisture in places the wash cycle does not reach. Clean the filter every few weeks, wipe the gasket, run an occasional vinegar cycle, and leave the door cracked after each load. That handles the source. For the kitchen air itself, skip the paraffin and burn something that actually improves the room instead of adding to the problem.
MBur candles are 100% beeswax, use non toxic phthalate free fragrance, and burn up to 80 hours. Explore the full collection and find the right scent for your space.
Related reading
Shop our candles
