How Do You Get Rid of a Smelly Dishwasher?

So, how do you get rid of a smelly dishwasher?

For most kitchens, the answer isn't a rinse-aid tablet or a hotter cycle. It's breaking down what's actually causing the smell inside the machine.

Food scraps, grease, and standing water build up in the filter and door seal every time you run a load. Left alone, that buildup rots and the smell drifts out every time you open the door, no matter how clean your dishes come out.

That is exactly what enzymes are built to fix.

Short answer

The fastest way to get rid of a smelly dishwasher is to break down the grease, food residue and bacteria trapped in the filter and door seal, not just run another rinse cycle. An enzyme-based cleaner like Kitchen Rescue digests that organic build-up at the source, so the odour doesn't come back after the next wash.

What actually causes a smelly dishwasher

Dishwasher smells are rarely random. They almost always come from the same handful of culprits:

  • Food scraps and grease trapped in the bottom filter
  • Cooking oil that cools and coats the inside of the drum
  • Standing water left in the sump after the cycle ends
  • Bacteria and mildew feeding on all of the above in the door seal

None of this sits where a rinse cycle can reach it. It sits inside the filter and seal, out of sight, which is why the smell keeps coming back.

Why baking soda and vinegar aren't the fix

A cup of vinegar on the top rack is the most common advice for a smelly dishwasher, mostly because it fizzes and feels like it's doing something.

But the fizzing reaction is mostly water and carbon dioxide. It:

  • Rinses loose debris but doesn't digest grease or organic buildup
  • Offers no lasting effect once the cycle finishes
  • Needs to be repeated every few weeks as the smell returns
  • Does nothing for grease that has already solidified in the filter

It treats the symptom for one wash, not the buildup that's actually causing it.

Why enzyme cleaners get rid of the smell for good

Enzyme cleaners work on the same buildup that baking soda and vinegar can only rinse past.

Enzymes:

  • Digest grease, food residue and organic grime instead of just dissolving the surface
  • Remove the odour at its source, not just for one cycle
  • Keep breaking down build-up after you've walked away
  • Are safe to use around a kitchen appliance without harsh fumes

That's why they hold up in a dishwasher, where the mess is out of sight and impossible to scrub by hand.

A simple routine to clean a smelly dishwasher

  1. Remove the bottom filter and clear out any visible food scraps
  2. Spray Kitchen Rescue directly onto the filter, door seal and interior walls
  3. Let it sit for a few minutes so the enzymes can start breaking down residue
  4. Wipe down the seal and run an empty cycle to flush the loosened buildup through
  5. Repeat every couple of weeks if the machine runs daily

The waiting step matters most. Enzymes need a little time to work through the grease and residue, so you don't have to scrub what you can't even see.

The Cleaning Enzymes Kitchen Rescue

Our Kitchen Rescue was built for exactly this kind of everyday kitchen problem.

It:

  • Helps break down grease and food residue before it reaches the filter
  • Helps eliminate appliance and drain odours instead of masking them
  • Works on benchtops, sinks, tapware and everything around them
  • Is safe for regular use in family kitchens

Used regularly around the dishwasher door and filter, it stops the buildup that causes the smell from forming in the first place.

So, how do you get rid of a smelly dishwasher?

If you want:

  • A dishwasher that stays odour-free for longer
  • No more repeating the same vinegar cycle every few weeks
  • Fewer products under the sink
  • No harsh chemical smell

Then an enzyme-based cleaner is the answer, not another rinse cycle.

It works with biology, not against it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest way to get rid of a smelly dishwasher?
The fastest lasting fix is an enzyme-based cleaner. It breaks down the grease and food residue trapped in the filter and door seal, which is what causes the smell in the first place.

Does vinegar get rid of dishwasher smells?
Only briefly. The rinse cycle clears loose debris but doesn't digest grease or organic buildup, so the smell typically returns within a few weeks.

How often should I clean a smelly dishwasher?
For most households, every two to three weeks is enough. Machines that run a load every day may need it more often.

Do I need to remove the filter to clean a smelly dishwasher?
It helps. Most of the trapped food residue and grease collects in the bottom filter, so pulling it out to spray and rinse gets to the source faster than spraying the interior alone.

Will an enzyme cleaner stop the smell from coming back?
Used regularly, yes. Enzymes keep breaking down the grease and residue that cause smells, rather than just masking them for one cycle.

Back to blog