The smell of a dishwasher just seems to amplify people’s worst fears. Have you ever had a dishwasher that smells like rotten eggs?
An unpleasant smell is often associated with dishwashers that are not properly cleaned. Here’s what makes your dishwasher smell like rotten eggs and how to fix it.
Dishwasher smell like rotten eggs
You may notice that your dishwasher smells like rotten eggs if there is a lack of hot water, poor drainage, dire buildup, or a blocked spray arm. The accumulation of gunk in the detergent dispenser or on the seals may cause the detergent dispenser to smell like rotten eggs.
Take some simple measures to fix this problem, such as checking for clogged filters and cleaning out the detergent drawer regularly. Other issues might be causing the problem. Now let’s find out what those issues are and how to fix them.
While running
In most cases, food buildup and grease inside the dishwasher unit cause the dishwasher to smell like rotten eggs when it is running. There are several reasons why dishwashers smell like rotten eggs while running.
Spray arm blocked:
Food particles, grease, and food oil will prevent the dishwasher’s spray arm from evenly spraying water onto dishes.
Therefore, fragments of food mixed with dirty water will be onto your dishes. Dishwashers with blocked spray arms emit an unpleasant odor as a result.
Solution:
After each use, clean the spray arm thoroughly with a brush or sponge to remove all food residues and fats. Cleaning your dishwasher regularly will help prevent build-up and keep it from smelling like rotten eggs!
Dire built-up:
The buildup of dried food particles and dishes in a dishwasher creates an ideal environment for mold to grow. Your dishwasher may start to smell like rotten eggs as bacteria feed on food residues.
Solution:
Ensure that the dishwasher’s filters are not clogged by running water through it without loading any dishes. A descaler like vinegar or baking soda should be used if there is no dirt or grime evident after washing dishes.
Poor drainage:
An unpleasant smell like rotten eggs can also be caused by poor drainage in the dishwasher. The reason for this is that water pools and stagnates at the bottom of the dishwasher unit, creating a mold-friendly environment.
Solution:
Using a plunger or vacuum cleaner, remove any debris that has built up inside the dishwasher drain. Ensure that all connections between hoses and drains are properly sealed for optimum water flow.
Lack of hot water:
There could be a problem with the dishwasher not getting hot enough water to clean dishes properly.
You may want to try running the wash cycle at a higher temperature and checking for leaks around the machine. A rotten smell can also be caused by a lack of hot water.
Solution:
Check all the water lines in your dishwasher to ensure that they are connected properly before increasing the heat. The thermostat of your dishwasher needs to be replaced if there are any leaks.
When I start it
You might smell rotten eggs when you start your dishwasher. Additionally, the dishwasher might emit a lot of odors.
It usually goes away after a few cycles. However, if this occurs every day, there might be a problem. These are the issues and how to resolve them.
Still contains food:
There is a possibility that the dishwasher smells like rotten eggs due to the food that is still in it. Check for clogged filters after running the dishwasher with a full load. Your machine might need descaling if there are no blockages.
Solution:
It is recommended that you run water through the dishwasher without washing dishes and see if the bad odor is gotten rid of after doing so.
Problematic air circulation system:
There might be a problem with the air circulation system in your dishwasher. Check the ductwork for obstructions by opening all the doors
Solution:
If there is no sign of blockages, then you can try cleaning out the filters or replacing the air circulator unit.
Heating element issue:
Your dishwasher’s heating element might be malfunctioning if it still smells bad. Make sure the heater is working properly by running a hot water cycle and checking for leaks
Solution:
You might have to replace the Heating Element of your dishwasher if this does not resolve the problem.
Is it common for dishwashers to smell like rotten eggs?
It is not uncommon for dishwashers to smell like rotten eggs. Dishwashers of any brand can experience this problem. Below are a few examples.
GE dishwasher:
There is a very common odor problem with GE dishwashers. A common problem with GE dishwashers is clogged filters. The machine cannot effectively sanitize dishes when this happens, causing a bad odor like rotten eggs.
Bosch dishwasher:
Bad odors are also reported to come from Bosch dishwashers. In most cases, the problem is caused by clogged filters, resulting in an unpleasant rotten egg smell.
As a solution, Bosch has released models that come standard with a built-in air purifier in recent years.
Whirlpool dishwasher:
There is usually no rotten egg smell coming from a Whirlpool dishwasher. The dishwasher uses ozone to sanitize dishes. However, sometimes there can be an issue with the system and the dishwasher will smell bad.
Kitchenaid dishwasher:
There can also be a bad smell coming from Kitchenaid dishwashers. Most often, this is caused by the dishwasher not being able to properly clean the dishes.
This leads to the accumulation of food particles and bacteria over time. A rotten egg smell will eventually develop in the machine as a result of this
Frigidaire dishwasher:
Additionally, Frigidaire dishwashers tend to smell bad. A clogged filter usually causes the machine to smell like rotten eggs. In recent years, Frigidaire has released models that include a built-in air purifier in an attempt to address this problem
Miele dishwasher:
A Miele dishwasher does not typically smell like rotten eggs. They also remove food odors and bacteria very effectively with their filters. When the dishwasher does smell bad, however, it is most likely due to a system problem.
Samsung dishwasher:
Samsung dishwashers do not typically smell like rotten eggs. Their filters are designed to remove food odors and bacteria. The dishwasher may start to smell bad if there is a problem with the system, however.
Maytag dishwasher:
It is common for Maytag dishwashers to smell like rotten eggs. Additionally, the dishwasher filter can clog over time. The machine will emit an unpleasant odor as a result
How do you neutralize the rotten egg smell?
There is nothing more unpleasant than the smell of rotten eggs. You can neutralize the rotten egg smell by using vinegar or baking soda.
Vinegar is effective at trapping airborne bacteria, but it smells foul, so it’s not a good option for neutralizing odors. Additionally, baking soda helps remove odors from surfaces because of its anti-caking properties.
Commercially available products claim to eliminate the smell of rotten eggs if vinegar or baking soda isn’t an option. However, these products usually need to be air-aired out before use, and they may not work in all cases.
Ultimately, you should always consider how you will handle the nasty egg odor.
How do you clean a dishwasher drain line?
You will notice that if there is a bad smell emanating from the dishwasher drain line, it is probably a result of a buildup of debris. To fix the problem, you need to clean the drain pipe. The following is a guideline for you.
Using drain cleaner:
The first thing you need to do is clean the detergent channel with a drain cleaner. By doing this, any obstruction in the pipe will be broken up and dislodged.
Use plunger:
On the suction side of the plunger tube, you will need to use a plunger to lift the plunger. The idea here is to push and pull against any obstruction to dislodge it from below by pushing and pulling.
It is important not to overuse this step as it could damage your drain line if you do so.
Put boiling water:
Last but not least, if all of the methods above have failed to clear the drain line, you can use boiling water to clear it. When this happens, any obstructions in the pipe will melt and eventually fall off as a result of the heat.
Final Thoughts
Consequently, a dishwasher can smell like rotten eggs due to the spray arm of the dishwasher, the build-up of dried dishes and clogged filters. To resolve the issue, it is necessary to carefully clean the entire dishwasher and the drain line. Vinegar may also neutralize rotten egg smells.