Unpleasant odors coming off your dishwasher? Discover the likely causes and how to remedy them

Bart Everson/Wikimedia Commons

The dishwasher is an appliance that has revolutionized how we wash our cutlery and crockery after mealtimes, significantly easing the burden of clean-up chores in the kitchen. That said, when was the last time you washed and cleaned the dishwasher itself?

Over time and with frequent use, a dishwasher can start to give off an unpleasant smell that can seem challenging to  neutralize.

In reality, however, the causes of this odor can be identified relatively easily and effectively dealt with.

Keep reading to find out what these causes are and how to resolve the problem of a "smelly" dishwasher:

Cause #1 - poor maintenance

Poor maintenance of a dishwasher is the main cause for the development of unpleasant odors emanating from it. Like all other objects, tools and appliances in our homes, the dishwasher needs to be properly maintained and cleaned to continue to work efficiently.

Regularly put on an empty wash at high temperature, adding two tablespoons of citric acid to keep your dishwasher clean and functioning properly.

Cause #2 - food residue

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Food residue is another common cause of unpleasant odors emanating from your dishwasher. Fortunately, there are several ways you can prevent this from happening:

• Ensure dishes and utensils are free of food residue before putting them in the dishwasher to prevent any build-up of food particles inside the appliance;
• Avoid leaving dirty dishes in your dishwasher for too long: if you don't have enough dishes to fill the appliance during the day, don't just leave them "fermenting" in the appliance overnight (or longer) - wash them by hand instead;
• Regular cleaning of the dishwasher will help prevent food, drink and condiment residue from being present in the washing compartment for too long: do a regular, hot, empty wash using vinegar or baking soda to eliminate any unpleasant odors you detect coming off your appliance.

Cause #3 - Limescale

Water can deposit limescale inside your washing machine and this, in turn, can lead to odors developing inside of the appliance. Not only is limescale unpleasant to look at, it provides a breeding ground for mold, germs and bacteria that give off unpleasant odors.

This problem is more common in areas where the water is classified as being "hard" (ie. water with high levels of dissolved minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium).

Again, the solution to this problem is to do a regular, empty wash at high temperatures, adding two tablespoons of citric acid.

Cause #4 - Water stagnation and blockages

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Food residue and limescale build-up can cause blockages in the filter or pipes of a dishwasher. This, in turn, stops the appliance from draining properly, eventually giving off unpleasant odors as mold and bacterial proliferate in the stagnant water.

Stagnant water and blockages can also reduce the efficiency of your appliance and/or damage it. Prevent this from happening by following the foregoing tips (summarized below):

• avoid putting plates and dishes in the dishwasher that have a lot of food residue still on them;
• do not leave dirty dishes inside the appliance for extended periods;
• open the dishwasher at the end of each wash to allow the water to evaporate away more quickly, preventing limescale build-up;
• put on a regular, empty wash at a high temperature, adding 2 tablespoons of citric acid, vinegar or baking soda.

Now that you know the possible causes of the unpleasant smells emanating from your dishwasher, you now also know how to remedy this problem!