Let’s be honest for a second: nothing messes with your kitchen vibes quite like opening your dishwasher and getting smacked in the face by a smell that’s… not okay.
Like, one minute you’re thinking “Time to grab a clean glass” and the next—bam, it’s Eau de Rotten Mystery Sludge. Not exactly the scent you were going for.
So what’s going on? Why does something that’s supposed to clean end up smelling like it’s hiding a week-old seafood buffet?
Let’s break it down, real talk style, and fix it together. No stress, no tech talk—just a clean, fresh-smelling dishwasher by the end of this.
Okay, But… Why Does My Dishwasher Smell Like That?
Great question. So here’s the thing: dishwashers clean your dishes, sure—but they also trap bits of food, grease, soap scum, and gunk in all these tiny little spaces. And over time? That stuff just sits there. Getting grosser. Fermenting. Brewing up an odor that can only be described as “ew.”
Especially if:
- You don’t rinse off food chunks before loading
- You run short or low-temp cycles often
- You haven’t touched the filter since… ever?
Yeah. All that adds up to dishwasher funk.
Imagine this: you’re wearing gym clothes, sweating all day, and never washing them. That’s your dishwasher’s vibe right now. Yikes.
Step 1: Clean the Filter (AKA the Gross Truth Hiding Below)
Alright, it’s time to face the source.
Pull out the bottom rack and look down near the drain. You’ll probably see a little round filter cap. Twist it. Lift it. Take a deep breath and peek inside. (Maybe don’t do this right after lunch.)
If it’s filled with food bits, slime, or some weird unidentifiable goo—congrats, you just found the smell.
What to do:
- Rinse the filter under hot water
- Use a soft brush (or old toothbrush—thank you, retired dental tools) to scrub out the gunk
- Let it dry, then pop it back in
Honestly? This step alone can fix most dishwasher smells.
Step 2: Scrub the Door Seals and Sides
You know that rubbery gasket around the edge of the door? Yeah, it’s basically the armpit of the dishwasher. All the stuff splashing around during cycles loves to hide there.
Wipe it with:
- A damp cloth + some baking soda paste
- Or a mix of vinegar and water (50/50 works great)
Get into those folds. You might be surprised (read: horrified) at what’s lurking in there.
Also run your cloth along the sides of the interior and around the bottom edges. Crumbs and greasy bits build up there too, hiding out of sight like little stink ninjas.
Step 3: Run the Vinegar Showdown
Okay, time to give the whole thing a reset.
Here’s what you do:
- Grab a cup (literally, like a mug or measuring cup)
- Fill it with white vinegar
- Place it upright on the top rack
- Run a hot water cycle—no dishes, no detergent
The vinegar breaks down grease, kills odors, and leaves everything feeling fresh. It’s like your dishwasher’s spa day. Optional cucumbers not included.
Step 4: Finish with a Baking Soda Rinse
Once the vinegar cycle is done, it’s baking soda’s time to shine.
Sprinkle about 1 cup of baking soda across the bottom of the dishwasher.
Then run a short, hot cycle (again, no dishes).
It’ll deodorize everything, freshen it up, and leave things smelling like… well, nothing. Which is exactly what you want.
Think of this like the Febreze of your dishwasher—only cheaper, and less fake-vanilla.
Step 5: Optional But Fancy—Add Lemon Juice
Want it to smell extra good?
Squeeze some lemon juice into the vinegar before that first rinse. Or toss a couple lemon peels into the bottom of the dishwasher during the next wash.
Fresh, zesty, and totally non-toxic. Plus, it’ll make you feel like a cleaning wizard.
Quick Tips to Keep the Smell Away (So This Doesn’t Become a Monthly Thing)
Alright, you’ve done the hard part. Let’s keep things fresh with these low-effort habits:
- Rinse dishes lightly before loading (don’t go crazy, just remove the chunks)
- Clean the filter once a month. Or at least peek inside it.
- Run a vinegar cycle every few weeks
- Leave the door open a crack after cycles—helps air things out
- Don’t let dirty dishes sit there forever. That leftover spaghetti doesn’t age well.
Final Thoughts: Your Dishwasher Deserves Better (and So Do You)
Look, your dishwasher works hard. Day in, day out, it scrubs your mess so you don’t have to.
But every now and then, it needs a little love back. Some vinegar, a bit of baking soda, and a few minutes of your time? Totally worth it for a fresh-smelling, gunk-free kitchen helper.
So next time you catch a whiff of something weird, don’t panic. You know what to do now.
And if someone else complains about “that smell,” just smile, roll up your sleeves, and say: “I got this.”