Why Do Whirlpool Dishwashers Smell? The Best Fixes

Got a smelly dishwasher? Are you looking for a way to eliminate offensive dishwasher odor? A dirty dishwasher is never desirable. If a dishwasher doesn’t smell good, it is not only unpleasant but also unhygienic. 

You don’t want a dirty dishwasher for an after-meal cleanup. Whether it’s a new dishwasher or an old one, it is always a good idea to pay attention to your dishwasher when it smells bad.

Read on to learn why your dishwasher smells and how to fix it, easily and efficiently:

Common Causes of Whirlpool Dishwasher Odor

Does a bad smell from your Whirlpool dishwasher worry you? Is the strange smell becoming unbearable? Don’t let the dishwasher smell ruin your peace of mind. Your dishwasher may smell bad due to various reasons. The common causes of undesirable dishwasher odor include:

Clogged Spray Arms

Spray arms turn around to clean your dishes. Bits of food can get stuck in the upper or lower spray arms and this can lead to stains and smells. Over time chalk can also build up around them. For this reason, you have to check these. They are often located under the baskets.

Dirty Drain Filter

An odor-free and well-maintained dishwasher is a delightful asset to your kitchen. However, a dirty drain filter may cause a nasty dishwasher odor. Leftover food particles can clog the drain and can cause a foul odor. 

Most people don’t think about cleaning their filters. These are essential though as they keep dirt out of your drains. A severely clogged drain may need a thorough cleaning or expert help.

Food and Grease Buildup

Small leftover food particles can accumulate in the crevices or filter of the dishwasher and emit a bad odor. While trapped food particles are hugely responsible for dishwasher odor, trapped grease makes the matter worse. 

Why? It is difficult to remove stubborn grease that has remained in your dishwasher for a long while. Food or grease remnants can transfer onto clog filters, hoses, spray arms, and other areas of your dishwasher.

Grimy Interiors

If the interior walls of the dishwasher accumulate grime, it may result in an offensive dishwasher odor. A grimy environment also facilitates the growth of bacteria that are harmful to your dishwasher. 

An unclean dishwasher means unsafe dishes. A healthy dining experience demands a dishwasher that stays clean and smells amazing! 

Kinked Drain Hose

A lingering dishwasher odor may be due to a bent drain hose that limits water flow and leads to standing water in the dishwasher. Pull the dishwasher out to inspect for a bent or damaged drain hose. You may need to schedule dishwasher repair for a hose in poor condition.

Standing Water

Your dishwasher has a seal that prevents water from leaking over the floor. However, residual water can lead to a bad smell. Standing water after a wash cycle is a sign of poor dishwasher performance. Fix a leaky dishwasher seal right away.

Not running the Whirlpool dishwasher often enough

If you have a big Whirlpool dishwasher, you might wait too long to let it run. There are special short programs that clean and rinse the dishes and this can be great to do from time to time. Let it rinse and clean the dirt from it. This can remove some smells already.

Dishwasher Cleaning Tips

Does your dishwasher have a weird smell like a fishy odor or sewage smell? If you get a burning smell from your dishwasher, it’s definitely a red flag that demands a thorough inspection. 

If an odor-free dishwasher is on your to-do cleaning list, here are some go-to tips to fix a foul-smelling dishwasher:

Clean the Dishwasher Filter, Seal, and Spray Arms

Take the bottom dishwasher rack away and remove the drain filter from the floor of the dishwasher. This is often done by turning or pulling it out. Use a brush to take out food debris or residual gunk. Wash the filter with hot water and soap. Reinsert the clean drain filter in the dishwasher.

Clean the Dishwasher Interior

Sticky or oily residue can stay on your cutlery, crockery, or cookware. Wouldn’t it be nice to tackle this problem with timely assistance? Make sure to check the interior walls frequently for stubborn grime. 

Have a weekly or monthly dishwasher maintenance checklist in place to keep your dishwasher running smoothly without any smelly issues.

Do Away with Limescale Deposits and Undissolved Detergent

Limescale is a hard, chalky deposit that has a major impact on water that runs in your dishwasher. If you live in a hard water area, this could become a bigger challenge to deal with over time. 

Hard water stains, limescale buildup, or undissolved detergent are unhealthy. Use a high-quality dishwasher descaler for trouble-free results. Vinegar might work as well.

Choose a Gentle Cleaning Routine

Save time and money with a simple dishwasher cleaning regime. You can clean a stinky dishwasher using vinegar and baking soda. While baking soda is an odor neutralizer, vinegar is a powerful odor-fighting agent. 

Empty your dishwasher and fill a bowl with one cup of white vinegar. Place the bowl on the top rack of the dishwasher. Run the dishwasher at the hottest temperature setting. Alternatively, sprinkle a cup of baking soda on the floor of the dishwasher. 

Run a short cycle at the same temperature setting to eliminate unwanted odor.

Maintain a Deep Cleaning Schedule

Regular deep cleaning goes a long way in keeping your dishwasher smelling fresh and ready for use. Get the dishwasher regularly serviced for long-lasting performance. You can use your company-approved dishwasher smell remover to make the dishwasher smell good again. 

Food remnants, mildew buildup, and other residual deposits can spoil the appearance and shorten the life span of your dishwasher. Dishwasher maintenance is a necessity, not an option.

Get in Touch with Experts

If you’ve done everything to get rid of the repulsive smell but don’t feel good about your dishwasher performance, it’s time to contact a service technician or an appliance repair specialist. 

Check your product manual for the nearest authorized service center or book an in-home repair service for your dishwasher. With expert attention, it won’t be long before you get to enjoy a dishwasher in top condition and that smells good, too.

When it comes to doing the dishes, nothing is more satisfying than having a clean and fresh-smelling dishwasher to do the job. It requires an absolutely reliable dishwasher to keep your dishes looking and smelling good. 

In addition to cleaning a dishwasher inside, it is good to clean the front and back as well. Don’t forget to clean the sides to keep dust and foul odor away. Smelly dishwasher? Not anymore. Follow our tips to keep your dishwasher smelling great!

Whirlpool is a great brand. Their dishwashers can last anywhere from 10-15 years. As with any dishwasher, it is important that you clean it often.

This can involve adding cleaning products to the device or using a towel to get it cleaned.

Dishwashers shouldn’t smell as they have to clean plates and cups. If you notice that a foul smell is coming out of your dishwasher, you have to check what is going on.

In this post, we have outlined the most common problems. Your plumber can also help you with this. The drains can leak or there might be a problem with the connection with your sink or garbage disposal.

A small leak can already lead to a bad odor. You can check under the sink to make sure that there are no problems in this part of your kitchen as well.

https://www.whirlpool.com/content/dam/global/documents/201701/owners-manual-W10903644-RevA.pdf