How to remove the smell from the dishwasher using improvised means, or eliminate the unpleasant aroma from the dishwasher using household chemicals?

The dishwasher is designed to make life easier and relieve a person of work in the kitchen. However, sometimes the device itself becomes a cause for concern. This happens when an unpleasant odor appears from it.
It cannot be ignored; measures must be taken. Read the article about how to remove odors from your dishwasher using improvised and special means.

Causes of unpleasant odor

If the machine is working properly and is used according to the instructions, there will be no smell coming from it. It occurs for a number of reasons, including:

Mold growth . The favorite habitats of fungi are: drain filter, hoses, door seal, tubular electric heater. Their appearance is promoted by high humidity and insufficient ventilation.
Incorrect operation . Do not load plastic dishes into the machine. Failure to comply with this condition will result in a burning smell.
Using low-quality detergents . There are special gels and capsules for the dishwasher that cannot harm the device or cause an unpleasant odor.
Formation of blockage . Most often it is represented by food waste, which can accumulate in the mesh filter area, inside the drain hose, under the cuff.
Water stagnation . It may accumulate under the cuff and at the bottom of the device. Its rotting will lead to the appearance of an unpleasant odor.

Causes of foul odor

Specific odors in electrical devices appear after several cycles.

The first reason is the low quality plastic in the machine. In such cases, the scent disappears seven to ten days after purchase.

It's much more difficult when the car smells like a sewer, putrid odor.

The reasons for this phenomenon may lie in:

food leftovers. If you do not thoroughly clean the dishes from food debris immediately before washing, then you should not be surprised that after some time an unpleasant aroma will appear from the dishwasher. Food waste can accumulate in the filter, drain hose, gaskets and lower parts of the door, and raised protrusions inside the appliance;
stagnant water. Another common factor in the appearance of putrefactive odor is water. Moisture may accumulate under the seals or on the bottom of the appliance. You should also pay attention to how the drain hose is installed. It must be completely empty of water;
improper use. A plastic odor can also occur if you do not follow the instructions for using the dishwasher. It is also prohibited to wash dishes made of plastic.

If there is a smell of burning or melted wires, this is a sign of serious damage. It is necessary to stop further use and call a professional to your home.

Dishwasher troubleshooting

If the cause of the unpleasant odor is a clog, then you need to clean the mesh filter located under the lower stand of the machine. It is removed and washed under running hot water. To better remove dirt, you can use a brush and soap. When the filter is clean, it is returned to its place.

Sometimes food residues get clogged under the cuff, accumulate at the bottom of the device, begin to rot and emit an unpleasant odor. Therefore, these places must be checked for accumulation of dirt. Its detection requires a general cleaning of the device.

Procedure:

remove all racks from the dishwasher;
dilute dishwashing detergent in warm water;
Using a sponge or soft cloth, wash the walls and bottom of the device;
process and dry the seals;
wash the grates and put them in place.

The smell may appear due to improper connection of the device to the drain pipe. In this case, the machine will smell like sewage. To get rid of an unpleasant odor, you need to connect the hose correctly. It should be located at a height of 40 to 100 cm above the sink.

A burning smell indicates a serious breakdown , which requires stopping the operation of the device and calling a specialist.

Why does the dishwasher smell?

The dishwasher requires special attention and care. A prerequisite is compliance with the operating instructions. There can be several reasons why your dishwasher smells bad: stuck food waste, mold, unsuitable detergents, or stagnant water.

Leftover food

Food blockages are one of the common problems. Particles can settle in the filter, at the bottom of the dishwasher, or remain on the walls or surface of the door. You can observe the remains of unwashed food on the bottom bar of the machine, near the place where the door is attached. Also, if installed incorrectly, products settle on the drain pipe or the hose itself. If food waste remains in the unit, an unpleasant odor will certainly appear after a certain time.

Stagnation of water

Water may accumulate in a small amount in the pan of the machine. This is enough for the waste liquid to stagnate and a musty smell to appear. There may be several reasons for this phenomenon, but most often the drain hose was positioned incorrectly during installation. It is necessary to remove the liquid and run the dishwasher on the “Self-Cleaning” function. You can remove the water manually and wash the tray.

Failure to follow operating instructions

Not every kitchen utensil can be cleaned in the dishwasher. The instructions describe materials that cannot withstand high temperatures; plastic is prohibited. When heated, it begins to melt, causing a burning smell in the dishwasher. It is not recommended to place wooden cutting boards into the unit if they are glued together from several layers. When heated, the presence of glue will be felt, which will be problematic to get rid of.

Mold

Offensive odors in your dishwasher can be caused by mold. The fungus develops in hard-to-reach places: in water supply or drain hoses, near the heater, in the filter, in the door cuff. Visually determining where exactly the mold concentration is located is quite difficult.

Fungus can get into the car if the room is damp or the ventilation is poor

In this case, it is easier to prevent the appearance of odor than to fight it.

Advice! The dishwasher should be ventilated more often and should not be left with damp dishes in it with the door hermetically closed.

Unsuitable detergents

Special salt must be added to the kitchen unit to soften the water. The product also affects the quality of operation of household appliances and eliminates unpleasant odors. A liquid rinse (with or without fragrance) is also recommended.

If you use cheap detergent or do not follow the dosage, an unpleasant chemical smell may remain in the dishwasher, and a greasy film may remain on the walls.

Why does a new dishwasher smell while it's running?

When a new dishwasher is running, it may smell foul for several reasons:

Household appliances are made of low-quality material, which when heated begins to emit an unpleasant odor. As a rule, the problem resolves itself after a few cycles.
A more serious situation is accompanied by burning. The problem is that the contacts on the instrument panel of the car begin to melt. The cause may be voltage fluctuations in the network or manufacturer errors. In this case, you need to turn off the dishwasher and use the service.
Burning wiring or a heating element is difficult to miss. The machine may still work for some time, the breakdown will appear later, but the smell will be present.

Important! At the first sign of burning, the equipment must be turned off and not used until the cause is identified and eliminated.

Why does my dishwasher smell like sewer?

A musty, sewer-like odor indicates a serious problem. It cannot be eliminated by cleaning the parts. If installation is carried out incorrectly, the unit will smell like sewage. The drain hose should be at an angle of approximately 40–100 cm above the floor, and not immediately mounted into the pipe. A siphon is required.

Correct installation of the drain hose will help eliminate sewer odor in the dishwasher.

How to eliminate it using improvised means?

You can get rid of an unpleasant odor using improvised means that are found in every home. To treat the device, you can use table vinegar.

How to use it:

Pour 9% vinegar into a glass or plate with high sides. 50 ml of acid is enough for treatment.
Place the dishes on the upper rack of the appliance.
Turn on normal dishwashing mode.

Vinegar neutralizes unpleasant odors and disinfects the machine.

You can get rid of the smell using baking soda. Mode of application:

remove dishes from the machine;
fill the tray of the device with soda;
turn on the washing mode at the highest temperature.

Once the cycle is complete, the smell should disappear. If this method turns out to be ineffective, then it needs to be improved.

Procedure:

Pour ½ pack of baking soda into a plate with high sides.
Add 10 ml of hydrogen peroxide and 20 drops of your favorite essential oil to it.
The resulting mixture is placed in the freezer for 20 minutes.
A lump is formed from the frozen mass and placed in a basket for dishes.
Turn on the dishwasher, setting the water temperature to the highest possible temperature. Waiting for the cycle to complete.

This method allows you to get rid of even the most persistent odor.

You can disinfect the surface of the dishwasher and eliminate unpleasant odors using laundry soap.

Procedure:

A quarter of the bar is grated and diluted in 0.5 liters of warm water.
Soak a sponge in the solution and treat all the walls and components of the dishwasher with it.
Thoroughly wash hard-to-reach places, including seals, drain hole, pan.
Lattice baskets are washed separately.
Wash off the soap solution with clean water.

After general cleaning, ventilate the device by leaving the door open overnight.

A budget-friendly odor remover is borax. It neutralizes the odor remaining in the device from rotting food waste and sewage.

Use it as follows:

remove dishes and racks from the machine;
one package of powdered borax is opened and the entire surface of the washing machine is covered with it;
turn on the device for a full cycle with additional rinsing;
wait until the wash is completed, open the door and ventilate the machine for an hour.

What to do if there is a bad smell due to faults

If you are sure that the smell of the dishwasher is the cause of technical problems, then follow the instructions.

Cleaning the filter

No element of a dishwasher causes an unpleasant odor as much as the drain filter. This is a real breeding ground for microbes. The drain collects food debris and foam, which rot and stick to the surface. They also provoke a not very pleasant smell.

Instructions:

The cylindrical removable filter is an important component of the dishwasher, as it drains waste liquid. Remove the bottom screen, then remove the filter.
Next, rinse the filter thoroughly with warm water and soap. Use a brush to more easily reach remote areas of the device.

It is recommended to use protective gloves and wash the filter in the sink.

Checking the door gasket

A bad smell in the dishwasher is caused by excess grease deposited on the door gasket. If your car smells bad, try to pay attention not only to the door itself, but also to its components.

Instructions:

Open the door and remove the racks from the dishwasher. This will make it easier for you to clean the gasket of the device.
Rinse the door gasket with warm water or scrub with a brush. The rag must be soaped and soaked in hot water.
In case of large grease accumulation, use kitchen detergents.

Drain off any remaining water and food

After thoroughly checking your dishwasher, be sure to drain any excess water and liquid. The bottom of the dishwasher should be clean. Organic residues inside the device can not only cause an unpleasant odor, but also shorten the life of the machine.

Cleaning the drain hose

To begin this step, remove any garbage or food scraps that have accumulated in the dishwasher. Remove the hose and check it for any stuck build-up.

Instructions:

Remove the drain hose. To avoid damage to your dishwasher, refer to your owner's manual. To get to the hose, remove the lower grille.
Clean the hose. Rinse it with plain water in the sink and remove any remaining grease and food.
Reinstall the drain hose following the instructions that came with your unit.

If you do not clean the hose completely, the machine will not operate properly. The dishes will remain dirty and the smell will worsen.

Special preparations

There are many products on sale to rid your dishwasher of unpleasant odors. Top 3 best lineups:

Finish

Dishwasher cleaner is placed in the appliance along with the bottle and the cycle is started . The water temperature should not be less than 65 degrees. The product helps get rid of unpleasant odors, remove scale and fat deposits. The price of a 250 ml bottle is 300 rubles.

Somat Machine cleaner

The dishwasher cleaner is available in tablet form. You can load them into the machine along with the dishes. They eliminate unpleasant odors and help clean all hard-to-reach places in the device. Their use allows you to eliminate minor blockages, remove scale and fat deposits. The price for a package with 3 tablets is 600 rubles.

Paclan

A dishwasher cleaner is available in the form of a gel; its use can effectively get rid of unpleasant odors and grease deposits. In one cycle, the entire package will be used up; it will not be possible to divide it into several parts. The bottle with the cleaning product is placed in the machine without unscrewing the cap (it will dissolve on its own while the device is operating). The price of a 250 ml bottle is 200 rubles.

Household chemicals to get rid of bad odors

It is very important to choose the right product that will not harm your dishwasher. If you are a beginner, start with the following:

HG Odor Eliminator is a high-quality and economical option that helps not only get rid of odors, but also remove the causes of their occurrence.
ELECTROLUX dishwasher cleaner E6DMH106 will clean the machine from grease particles and food residues, and eliminate unpleasant odors.
Finish Dishwasher Cleaner is an economical yet high-quality option.
Smarty Dish Dishwasher Tablets are compact and effective tablets that you put into your appliance and see instant results.

These products do not differ in the method of use. Before using the drug, remove the source of the unpleasant odor. For the desired result, place the tablet in the designated pocket or spray the selected liquid product onto the internal parts of the machine.

Due to the varying degrees of surface porosity, the unpleasant odor may disappear within 20 minutes to an hour. Wait until completely dry.

Prevention

Preventing unpleasant odors from your dishwasher:

To prevent mold from forming in the machine, it must be ventilated regularly. To do this, after use, you can leave the door ajar for 1-2 hours.
It is advisable to remove washed dishes from the appliance immediately after the cycle has completed.
Only special products can be used in the dishwasher. A prerequisite is their correct dosage. It is unacceptable to put washing powder, bleach or abrasive compounds into the device.
Periodically you need to remove the drain hose and wash it of dirt.
Before loading dishes into the appliance, they must be cleaned of food residues.
The dishwasher must be thoroughly cleaned at least 2 times a month.
It is recommended to run an additional rinse every 2-3 cycles.

How to get rid of odor in your dishwasher

Before removing odor from your dishwasher, you need to determine its source. If there is no specific opinion on where it is coming from, you will have to check all the problem areas in the dishwasher.

Filter check

Each household appliance comes with instructions that clearly describe the sequence of a particular job. Basically, in all models the filter is located in easy accessibility - at the bottom. To remove odor from your dishwasher:

The filter is unscrewed and removed. It consists of parts: a plastic part in the form of a rack of threaded cells and an internal mesh base.
The devices are disassembled and food remains are removed.
Wash under running water. You can use any dishwashing detergent.

The mesh part is cleaned with a brush. To avoid damage, no force is needed.

The filter is assembled and installed in place, tightened until a characteristic click is heard.

Drain hose

If the unpleasant odor from the dishwasher persists after washing, and the source is not visually observed, it is recommended to clean the drain hose. They do this as follows:

If water is found in the pan, it is removed.
The dishwasher is turned on to the “Drain” function. This will remove any remaining liquid.
The hose is unscrewed from the unit and disconnected from the drain point.
Rinse well with hot water. To remove residual fat, you can use any alkali-based product.
If the problem cannot be solved without additional equipment, use special brushes or wire wrapped in fabric.

After the procedure, the hose is returned to its place.

Checking the door gasket

Dishwashers may be equipped with rubber bands on the door. Food residue stuck in the seal may smell. To eliminate the smell from the dishwasher, you must first remove the grates, coat them with detergent and leave for a few minutes. Further actions:

Using hot water and some cleaning agent, wash all the interior walls and door.
Lifting the rubber gasket, wash with a sponge under it, then on top.
If there is no rubber band, you can clean the joint with a toothbrush.

Replace the grilles and start the “Rinse” mode.

Pipes

It is recommended to check and clean the pipes from contamination at least once every 1.5-2 months. They do this as follows:

It is necessary to stop the water supply to the dishwasher and close the tap.
Disconnect the water supply hose from the tap and unit.
Unscrew the filter and clean it well.
Disconnect the pipes. Rinse well and rinse them with hot water and detergent.
Under the pressure of water, also clean the hose itself.

Wipe the parts with a clean cloth, reinstall and screw the hose into the dishwasher, and resume the water supply.

Spray nozzles

Spray elements are located at the top and bottom of the dishwasher, attached to the bottom and top grid. They look like an oblong plank equipped with holes on which food debris or lime deposits accumulate. Bacteria begin to multiply and the machine smells unpleasant. To prevent this:

The nozzles are removed and the surface is cleaned.
Soak in water at a temperature of +50 0C.
Leave for 20 minutes.
Rinse under the tap. If necessary, remove food residues with a brush.

Helpful information

Tips for caring for your dishwasher to prevent unpleasant odors:

after using any cleaning product, you need to ventilate the device - the longer it remains open, the better;
Do not scrub the surface of the dishwasher with a hard metal brush;
Do not violate the rules for operating the device specified in the instructions;
to get rid of a slight odor, before the next wash you need to put 2-3 slices of lemon in the basket and run the standard program;
If the dishes are loaded into the machine, but there is no time to run a full washing cycle, you need to turn on the rinse - this will wash away food residues and prevent them from rotting.

You will find a lot of useful and important information about removing various unpleasant odors from objects and surfaces in this section.

Causes

If the reason for the appearance is unknown, we start from the very beginning. First of all, we check the drain filter. Food waste, accumulating on its walls, produces an unpleasant odor, because in a humid environment, bacteria develop and multiply, which are the main source of this problem.

The filter is usually removable, so it is easy to clean. For this:

unscrew the filter, as a rule, it is located at the bottom of the unit;
wash it with your usual detergent;
carefully place it in place.

Tip: there are hard-to-reach places in the filter that are not easy to clean from dirt. Use a regular brush, which you first moisten with cleaning gel.

Fat is another reason for the appearance of “flavor”. It accumulates on the interior surfaces of the dishwasher. You should clean not only the walls and bottom, but also process all the grates and containers that need to be removed first. The cleaning procedure should be carried out with anti-grease detergents.
To completely eliminate the cause of its accumulation, you need to wash the rubber seal on the door. Moisture and greasy residues also accumulate on it.
An unpleasant odor can be caused by the drain hose if it:

deformed or cracked during long-term use;
twisted or bent due to strong pressure against the wall;
was originally installed incorrectly (leaky).

This affects both the drainage of dirty water, it accumulates in the hose and gives an unpleasant musty smell, and the accumulation of moisture around the leaking hose.

To get rid of this, you need to carefully inspect the integrity of the hose, then remove any remaining food waste and water from it using a thin wire, straighten it, avoiding kinks, and correctly attach it to the dishwasher.

One of the most common causes of unpleasant odors is improper use of the dishwasher. Many housewives, without waiting for the end of the washing program, turn off their “assistant” and take out the dishes. A small amount of water that did not have time to drain due to premature shutdown remains at the bottom, and after a few days it begins to smell like mold.