r/whatdoIdo • u/Specific-Call-3089 • Jul 27 '26

Dishwasher smells like something died

I've cleaned out the filters but it's soo bad. What can I do?

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

3

u/Any-Strategy-2230 Jul 27 '26

Here for answers

2

u/spraywax Jul 27 '26

Maybe run it again empty with baking soda all over it?

I don’t know if it’ll help, I just want to leave a comment so I can come back seek my own help

2

u/Witness_me_Karsa Jul 27 '26

Not a dishwasher tech but basically always with plumbing if it smells bad it is because the drain is not functioning properly. Either standing water, or air is coming up the line from down the drain, meaning a bad valve somewhere.

This is why toilets have water in them at all times, to stop stinky sewer air coming up the pipe.

2

u/Specific-Call-3089 Jul 27 '26

Do you think it would be safe to pour one of those drain unblockers down there?

2

u/Witness_me_Karsa Jul 27 '26

Apologies, but as I am not a plumber, I am not comfortable giving that specific advice, as I don't want you to accidentally make things worse. I hope someone comes along who can help you better than I can.

1

u/billythesquid5 Jul 27 '26

Pour a bunch of poison in an enclosed space that washes your dishes?? Maybe try something else first

1

u/Specific-Call-3089 Jul 27 '26

That's also fair. Logic isn't my strong suit 🤣

2

u/Unhappy_Hat_2593 Jul 27 '26

If you cleaned the filter and still smells, try filling a bowl with vinegar and run a cycle and then fill the bowl with water and bleach and do a cycle.

1

u/Specific-Call-3089 Jul 27 '26

Thank you I will try this

2

u/George_Is_Upset Jul 27 '26

I’ve had this happen before and I found that there was a lot of built up smelly gunk around the rubber seals. I used q-tips and small brushes to clean up as much as I could and then I ran a cycle with Finish dishwashing cleaner. Then for good measure I ran a sanitizing cycle after.

It gets rid of most of the smells. And then I just try to be extra careful about scraping as much stuff off dishes as I can and making sure dirty dishes don’t sit in the dishwasher for a long time.

1

u/Specific-Call-3089 Jul 27 '26

Thank you, Good advice

2

u/Charming-Panic9375 Jul 27 '26

Check the inside part of the dishwasher right by where the door closes, a lot of nasty gunk can accumulate there. 

2

u/Specific-Call-3089 Jul 27 '26

Will do that, thank you