If your dishwasher smells bad even when it is empty, the filter is almost always the cause. Food scraps, grease and soap residue collect in it, and every hot cycle warms that trapped mess back up. The fix is simple, free, and takes about 10 minutes — and once you have done it once, keeping it clean is a 5-minute monthly job.
Quick overview
- What it is: removing and cleaning the filter at the bottom of your dishwasher so trapped food and grease stop causing smells.
- Time needed: 10 minutes the first time; 5 minutes a month after that.
- What you need: a towel, warm soapy water, an old toothbrush, white vinegar (optional).
Why your dishwasher smells
Every load leaves a little food behind — crumbs, coffee grounds, grease. The filter catches it so it does not clog the drain or spray back onto your plates. But food sitting in warm, damp darkness rots. That is the smell. A dishwasher that smells when you open it, glasses that come out cloudy, or water pooling at the bottom are all signs the filter is overdue for a clean.
Where the filter is
Open the dishwasher and pull out the bottom rack. Look at the floor of the tub, usually at the back or in a corner: you will see a round or oval mesh cylinder, sometimes with a flat mesh panel around it. Most filters twist out by hand — turn anti-clockwise a quarter turn and lift. If yours does not turn, check the manual: a few models have a clip or a screw. Never force it.
How to clean the filter, step by step
- Remove the bottom rack and set it aside so you can reach the filter.
- Twist and lift the filter out. If the filter has two parts — a cylinder and a flat mesh panel — separate them.
- Tap off the loose food over the bin. Do not rinse it down the sink yet — catch the big bits first.
- Soak for 10 minutes in a bowl of hot water with a squirt of dish soap. This loosens the grease.
- Scrub gently with an old toothbrush, inside and out, including the mesh. Rinse under warm running water until the water runs clear.
- For stubborn smells, soak the filter in a bowl of equal parts warm water and white vinegar for 15 minutes, then rinse.
- Put it back the way it came out — twist clockwise until it locks. A loose filter lets food straight into the pump, so check it is seated properly.
- Run an empty hot cycle to flush the machine and check the smell is gone.
The 5-minute monthly routine
Once the filter is clean, keeping it that way is quick:
- Every month: take the filter out, rinse it under hot water, and give it a quick brush. No soak needed if you stay on schedule.
- Every week: pull out any visible food from the filter area when you load the machine.
- After greasy loads: run the next cycle on hot — grease that cools in the filter hardens and traps more food.
Wipe the door seal too
While the filter soaks, wipe the rubber seal around the door with a damp cloth. Food and mould collect in the folds, especially at the bottom of the door, and that is the second most common source of dishwasher smell. Dry the seal after wiping — leaving it wet invites mould back.
What never to do
- Do not run the dishwasher without the filter. Food goes straight into the pump and the drain — a repair bill, not a shortcut.
- Do not use bleach to clean the filter or the tub. It damages rubber seals and stainless steel, and it can react with other cleaners.
- Do not put the filter in the dishwasher itself to clean it — that just moves the dirt around.
- Do not pour grease down the drain while rinsing the filter. Wipe grease off with a paper towel and bin it.
When to replace the filter
A filter should last years, but replace it if the mesh is torn, the plastic is cracked, or it no longer locks in place. A damaged filter lets food through and the smell comes back within days. Replacement filters are model-specific — check the model number on the inside edge of the dishwasher door before ordering.
Quick checklist
- Scrape plates before loading — the filter catches less, and stays clean longer.
- Run the hot tap at the sink for 30 seconds before starting a cycle, so the dishwasher fills with hot water from the start.
- Leave the door slightly open after a cycle so the tub dries out instead of staying damp.
- Clean the filter monthly, and the smell never gets a chance to come back.
A smelly dishwasher is rarely broken — it is usually just a dirty filter. Ten minutes, a toothbrush and some hot soapy water, and it smells like a clean machine again.