Why Does My Dishwasher Smell Like Sewage? How To Get Rid Of It?

Last Updated on December 15, 2022

There are several causes for the sewage-like smell that the dishwasher may be producing. Users should clean their filter, inspect the walls and gasket, scrub everything, and don’t leave dirty dishes in the dishwasher for extended periods before they start poking and prodding about within it.

Causes of Sewage Smell in the Dishwasher 

Here are some causes due to the dishwasher smelling like sewage.

Damaged Drain Hose

The disposal unit under the sink is where the drain pipe empties the unclean water and any tiny food particles. A dishwasher may have an unpleasant smell if the drain hose of the dishwasher is faulty. If at all possible, take the dishwasher away from the wall and inspect it for any bends, kinks, or other issues that can make it difficult for the material to pass easily through the hose.

To ensure that material may flow freely from one end to the other, try straightening the hose.

Clogged Food Trap

There may be rotting food present somewhere inside the dishwasher, which is a typical reason why the appliance smells bad. Check the food trap at the bottom of a tub as soon as you notice a scent coming from the dishwasher and unclog the dishwasher. There is a hole there that collects the cleaning cycle’s runoff.

While the dishwasher is drying, remove the bottom dish rack and check the food trap’s basket to see if it contains any old food. If there isn’t any food visible on the surface, try to remove the basket and look further into the opening.

Dirty Filter

Dishwashing machine may start to smell unpleasant if the filter is unclean. What you notice over time is that the machine starts to smell like food because little food particles have built up in the filter or other gaps. Water will be unable to flow freely.

The dishwater may begin to smell like pond water as a result of a clogged filter channel. Rotten food that got caught or found its way under the dishwasher is another thing that can be the source of the smell. You should find a way to scrub the floor thoroughly under the dishwasher.

Getting Rid of the Sewage Smell from Dishwasher 

 

There are many ways to get rid of the sewage smell from dishwashers but some of them are listed below.

Clean the Racks

Many people only clean the walls, door, floor, and ceiling of their dishwashers. Even while it seems like you are cleaning thoroughly, that is just completing a portion of the task. Don’t forget to clean the top and bottom racks, gaskets, seals, and anything else you might have forgotten to clean when going through this process previously.

If you don’t want the dishes and kitchenware to smell like they took a bath in the septic system, then thoroughly clean every component. We may also use a brush to help us reach those small spaces.

Wash the Dishwasher

There’s a chance that some food fragments either got stuck or were too big to go down the drain. The dishwasher may then emit an unpleasant smell comparable to that of a sewer. You must thoroughly clean the machine to solve this issue. The smell can be removed with baking soda, vinegar, or dishwashing liquid.

For safety, after cleaning the appliance, run a clean cycle. In this way, you may be certain that the smell isn’t coming from the appliance or food debris. Simply continue to the following option if the smell doesn’t go away.

Clean the Filter

The bottom of the dishwasher is typically where the dishwasher filters are placed. The majority of types come with two filters: a coarse mesh filter and a fine cylindrical filter. The dirt on these filters is most likely what is causing the smell if one of the filters is unclean.

Turning the little cylindrical filter counterclockwise and bringing it up straight will allow you to remove it. Remove the coarse filter as well. Put them back in after cleaning them with a sponge and soapy water. Make sure there are no solids in the bottom before reintroducing them by checking it as well.

Cleaning the Drains

Clean those areas if you believe the smell is coming from the drains or the cleaning process didn’t work. Examine the drainage area of the dishwasher first. Use a paper towel that has been dipped in vinegar to remove any visible food or grease stains.

Additionally, a drainage pipe may have been broken, in which case it might have to be replaced to stop additional issues. To unclog the drainage line leading to the kitchen sink, just use a plunger, a drain snake, or a liquid drain unblocker.

FAQs

How to get rid of the sewer smell in a dishwasher? 

One cup of distilled white vinegar should be added to a bowl, which should be placed on the top rack of the dishwasher. Run a whole cycle in the dishwasher without adding anything else. This will thoroughly clean the interior with vinegar, allowing the mild acid to remove any leftover food particles.

Can sewage get into the dishwasher? 

The sewage smell might be brought on by a kinked or twisted dishwasher drain line, which could result in wastewater entering the dishwasher again. If you want to stop sewage from backing up into your dishwasher, there is a need to straighten the drain line.

How to clean out a dishwasher drain?

A homemade solution can be made by mixing equal parts vinegar and baking soda. Fill the bottom basket with the solution. Give it 15 minutes to rest. Finish by running the rinse cycle after adding hot water to the basket.

Can we put bleach down the dishwasher drain? 

If you know for sure that the dishwasher includes plastic parts and a plastic inside liner (which is typically the case with less-priced machines), then go ahead and use bleach. Similar to vinegar, fill a bowl with roughly 1/2 cup of bleach and run the machine on the hottest setting while it is empty.

Conclusion 

The drain may be clogged or the filter may be dirty, causing the dishwasher to smell like sewage. This is a typical problem with old or frequently used dishwashers. Turn off the water supply, remove the bottom rack, switch out the filter, and inspect the drain to begin clearing out extra dirt to solve the issue.