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Dishwasher Smell Like Fish: Reasons & How to Fix?

The dishwasher is considered one of the most commonly popular types of kitchen appliances that most people tend to have in their house. In today’s article, we will discuss how to fix the dishwasher smelling issue like fish and the reasons behind it. 

Dishwasher smell like fish  

The dishwasher is used to wash daily dishes. Sometimes you may put the dishes in the dishwasher that has a slight bit of leftover food stuck with it. If your dishwasher smells like fish, it may be because the dishwasher has food trapped inside the filter and it needs to be cleaned immediately. 

The dishwasher is considered a commonly popular type of kitchen appliance that most people tend to have in their house. A dishwasher helps to clean all the dirty dishes which not only saves time but also eases the effort. 

That is why nowadays, having a dishwasher in the kitchen has become a necessity. But it requires proper maintenance to have a dishwasher working properly. Without proper maintenance, a dishwasher may start to malfunction and spread a bad smell.

In some cases, the dishwasher may start to spread a fishy smell. When your dishwasher starts to smell like fish, it indicates that something’s not right in the dishwasher. 

Having to deal with such a type of issue can be very frustrating and disturbing. This can cause the other dishes to have an odor. Below is a brief discussion on what is the reason behind the dishwasher smelling like fish:  

After Cleaning:

Trapped food particles: 

If your dishwasher is smelling like fish after you have cleaned all the dishes, it may be because any food particle has been trapped inside the dishwasher. Due to the issue, the food particle can rot and start to smell like fish. 

Take out trapped foods:

In that case, you need to check carefully inside the dishwasher and find out the trapped food. 

Take out the trapped food from inside the dishwasher and clean the dishwasher before starting another cycle of cleaning dishes. After a few washes, the bad smell of fish should go away.

Blocked filter: 

One of the most important parts of a dishwasher is the filter. Sometimes the filters can get blocked due to the accumulation of leftover foods. 

It is very normal for the dishwasher filter to accumulate leftover foods and stains which can lead to clogged filters.

Clean the washer filter:

It is important to maintain the filter and clean it properly after a certain day. If you keep cleaning the dishwasher filter after a certain day frequently, the bad fishy smell should go away. 

When cleaning the filter, you should be very careful. You also need to avoid using a wired brush as it can easily damage the filter and make it unusable. Carefully soak the filter in a soap-water solution and rub it to clean.

Damaged drain hose: 

Sometimes damaged drain holes can prevent a dishwasher to pass away its dirty water. That is why it can start to create a bad fish smell inside it. 

This is very normal when you do not measure the positioning of the hose pipes which will help to pass away the water after every washing cycle.

Check the drain hose:

You need to check the drain hose and make sure it is intact. If you notice any leaks or holes or any positioning that is preventing the dishwasher from passing the dirty water, you need to fix it immediately.

 This will eventually solve the issue of the bad fishy smell of the dishwasher after the cleaning cycle.

When running

Buildup of grease: 

Due to prolonged use of a dishwasher, it can start to build up grease inside the dishwashing compartments. 

As a result, when you start another cleaning cycle inside the dishwasher, the grease can get wet and start to spread a bad smell. 

Remove the grease: 

To avoid such type of issue you need to remove the grease using a vinegar solution that will help you to take off the grease easily. 

Clogged spray arm: 

Sometimes stains can clog the spray arm of your dishwasher, which can lead to a bad smell. That is why you need to check the dishwasher’s spray arm carefully. 

Clean the spray arm:

Once you figure out that the spray arm is clogged, you need to clean the spray arm to get better results and maximum efficiency from the dishwasher. 

Strong smelling foods: 

If you do not soak the dishes properly before you put them into the dishwasher, the strong and stubborn stains can start to read a bad fishy smell. 

That is why experts recommend slightly soaking the plates and dishes in warm water to take off the stubborn stains before you put 

Soak the dishes: 

Before you put the dishes inside the dishwasher, you need to soak them in plain water to take off the stains. This will help you to get rid of the fishy smell from your dishwasher.

Is dishwasher glass smelling like fish a common problem? 

Having issues while using a dishwasher can be very normal as it can trap or get clogged. That is why you should be very careful when using the dishwasher to clean the dishes. 

Generally, the dishwasher can trap food and smell like fish when you put the dishes without soaking them properly. Leftover foods can get stuck in the dishwasher, and damage the dishwasher. 

Below is a brief discussion on whether it is normal for different types of dishwashers to have smelling like fish:

Bosch dishwasher: 

Bosch dishwasher is considered one of the most popular types of dishwashers that is efficient for high-performance cleaning. But due to prolonged use, the dishwasher can trap foods and leftovers and clog the washer.

Samsung dishwasher: 

The Samsung dishwasher can have fishy smell problems if the dishwasher filter is dirty or if the drain hose is not properly working. Considering that, it can have a bad fishy smell inside the dishwasher. 

LG dishwasher:

The LG dishwashers may have a bad smell issue if the dishwasher is not maintained properly. In addition to that, the washer filter needs to be maintained properly. 

How do you clean out a dishwasher drain? 

To sustain the optimum performance of a dishwasher, you need to maintain it frequently. As a part of maintenance, you need to clean the dishwasher and its filters properly. 

If you do not maintain your dishwasher properly, it can trap leftover foods and stains and the filter and cause damage to the dishwasher. In some cases, it can disrupt the normal behavior of the dishwasher. 

There are several types of dishwashers available in the market, and each of them has its own way of operation. However, it is important to clean out the dishwasher drain to keep it functional. 

It is very normal for the debris to get stuck inside the dishwasher drain. You can try cleaning the debris with a solution of equal parts of baking soda and vinegar. 

You can simply pour the baking soda and vinegar into the bottom of the dishwasher and wait for 15 minutes to rinse it with a cycle at the highest heat setting.

How to keep the dishwasher from smelling between washes? 

The dishwasher is considered one of the most important kitchen appliances that most people tend to have in their kitchen. The dishwasher can cause an odor to build up inside of it if you do not maintain it properly. 

One of the main reasons for the dishwasher having orders is caused by the buildup of grease or trapped food particles inside the dishwasher. 

So, it is highly recommended to clean the dishwasher drain holes as well as the filter after a certain time to sustain its condition and performance. Below is a brief discussion on how to keep the dishwasher from smelling like fish between the washes: 

Place a bowl with water and vinegar:

The first thing you need to do to clean the dishwasher is to add distilled water and vinegar to a bowl and put it inside the washer. After that, run the first cycle.

Add Baking soda:

After running the first cycle, you need to add baking soda to the bottom of the dishwasher and Prepare for the next step.

Run a second cycle and check:

Once you are done adding the second layer of cleaning agent inside the dishwasher, you need to run the dishwasher and check if the dishwasher contains any odor or not.  

Final Thoughts 

Generally, due to prolonged use, the dishwasher can trap leftover foods and stains in the spray arm, filter, and drain hose which can lead to a dirty smell. In that case, you need to clean the dishwasher properly to avoid the buildup of grease and a fishy smell inside the dishwasher easily.