Dishwasher smells bad

What is actually happening

Almost always food debris and grease sitting somewhere warm and damp rather than a failed part. The filter and sump are the usual home for it, but a drain hose without a high loop lets waste water sit in the pipe, and that produces a genuine drain smell no amount of cleaning inside will fix.

The usual causes

• Food debris in the filter and sump
• Grease build-up in the spray arms and around the door seal
• A drain hose without a high loop, letting waste water stand
• Only ever running short eco cycles, which never get hot enough to clear grease

What you can safely check yourself

Work through these in order. Anything past this point — panels off, testing parts, anything to do with the wiring — is an engineer's job, and not one to attempt with the appliance plugged in.

1. Remove and wash the filter and clean the sump beneath it
2. Wipe right around the door seal and the lip below the door, where debris collects unseen
3. Run a hot cycle with a dishwasher cleaner, or with white vinegar in a bowl on the top rack
4. Check the drain hose rises before it drops to the waste

Common questions

Why is my dishwasher smells bad?

A drain or musty smell from the machine, usually strongest when the door is opened. Almost always food debris and grease sitting somewhere warm and damp rather than a failed part. The filter and sump are the usual home for it, but a drain hose without a high loop lets waste water sit in the pipe, and that produces a genuine drain smell no amount of cleaning inside will fix.

Can I fix a dishwasher smells bad myself?

Remove and wash the filter and clean the sump beneath it. Wipe right around the door seal and the lip below the door, where debris collects unseen. Run a hot cycle with a dishwasher cleaner, or with white vinegar in a bowl on the top rack. Check the drain hose rises before it drops to the waste. This one usually clears with those checks and rarely needs an engineer at all.

How much does it cost to repair a dishwasher smells bad?

£66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Other dishwasher faults

• dishwasher not draining
• dishwasher will not switch on
• dishwasher not cleaning the dishes
• dishwasher not drying the dishes
• dishwasher leaking
• dishwasher not heating the water
• dishwasher lights flashing
• dishwasher beeping mid-cycle

Repairs we cover near you

• Dishwasher Repairs — what we charge and how it works
• Dishwasher Repairs in Nottingham
• Dishwasher Repairs in Arnold
• Dishwasher Repairs in Beeston
• Dishwasher Repairs in West Bridgford
• Dishwasher Repairs in Bulwell

Written by our own engineers from their repair notes. If your appliance is showing a code as well as this fault, our error-code guides cover 708 codes across 24 makes.