Running the dishwasher every day or so helps prevent odors from building.
Dishwashers are meant to clean dishes and get rid of all the food, debris and residue on dishes and silverware, so it may come as a surprise when the interior of a dishwasher starts to smell. While it may not make sense since the dishwasher is filled with water and detergent regularly, there are several causes of dishwasher odor that require attention.
Food Particles
It is not uncommon for food debris to slide off of dishes when they are placed in the dishwasher and fall to the dishwasher bottom. While some of this debris may get rinsed away or ground up by the dishwasher filtration system, sometimes the food just sits on the bottom of the dishwasher, gets wet and decays slightly. This can create a bad odor that will not be resolved until the food is wiped away with a clean, damp cloth.
Pump Inlet
Find the pump inlet in the bottom of the dishwasher tub and look for wet paper wrappers, plastic items that have fallen, or any food debris that may have gotten jammed against the pump inlet. This will reduce water spray and will eventually cause odor to occur. Remove any items covering or resting on or near the pump inlet.
Spray Jets
Over time, minerals or chemicals in the water may clog the spray arm jets and prevent water from exiting the jets properly. This filmy substance may also begin to smell. Use a small paper clip to carefully clean out any debris from the jets and wipe the jets clean with a cloth dipped in vinegar to remove any mineral scale.
Burning Smell
If there is a burning smell in a dishwasher that was recently installed, check for any packaging material that may have gotten left in the dishwasher and remove. Look in the bottom of the dishwasher for anything that may have fallen against the heating element, which is black and located in the rear, which may melt and smell bad. Clean off the heating element but only after the dishwasher is cool to the touch.
Cleaning the Dishwasher
Most food odors can be removed from the dishwasher by removing all plates, utensils or other items from the dishwasher and running a normal wash cycle with automatic dishwasher detergent. An alternative is to set a glass measuring cup with 2 cups of white vinegar into the bottom rack and run the dishwasher with no detergent. Follow with a regular cycle with detergent but no dishes. If this does not resolve the odor, contact the dishwasher manufacturer, as there may be a problem with the drain hose, which causes waste water to flow back into the dishwasher and can cause a bad odor.
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