Why My Dishwasher Smells Like Fish?

The unexpected odor from the dishwasher is a common problem. People often ask, “why my dishwasher smells like fish?”

Detecting the reason behind bad smells is the precondition of removing them from your dishwasher.

So, you must find out which things can be responsible for your fishy smelled dishwasher.

Read the full article to know the answer. You will also know how to get rid of the problem.

Why My Dishwasher Smells Like Fish?

There can be many causes of it. One of the primary causes of a dishwasher’s fishy odor is the accumulation of food particles in the filter. 

Also, if the drain line of your dishwasher is bent or even slightly kinked, wastewater can easily flow back into the dishwasher, generating a fishy odor. 

Again, mold and mildew might begin to grow and produce fishy smells on the inside of your dishwasher’s drain hose and within the dishwasher itself if you use it seldom.

What Should I Do After Getting Fishy Smells From Your Dishwasher?

There is nothing to worry about if you are getting smells like fish while using your dishwasher, just follow the steps we have described below and say goodbye to it.

STEP 1: Make The Dishwasher Empty

Take out all of the dishes and utensils, then use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe down the floor and sides of the dishwasher to get rid of any food or other debris.

 You might want to take off the bottom rack to make things easier.

STEP 2: Use Some Vinegar

Fill a glass cup or bowl with about a cup of distilled white vinegar and place it on the top rack of your dishwasher between the prongs that separate glasses. 

Vinegar is a great way to clean a dishwasher because it cuts through grease, gets rid of old detergent build-up, and gets rid of food smells.

Run the dishwasher on the hottest setting for a single cycle.

 Then, when the cycle is done, leave the door open for about an hour to let all the air out of the dishwasher.

A damp interior could cause mildew to grow, which is another smell you don’t want!

Step 3: Clean The Ports On The Spray Arm Of The Dishwasher.

The next step is to remove any food particles that have become stuck in the ports of the sprayer arm. Remove debris from the sprayer arm that contains holes, such as food. 

The accumulation of food is another potential reason why a dishwasher won’t drain properly.

Step 4: Clean The Lip Of The Dishwasher Door.

After that, wipe off the lower edge of the door of the dishwasher as well as the metal lip area that is located beneath the door.

You will be astounded by the amount of filth that is present.

The door should be tipped down, and a cleanser or degreaser should be sprayed along the bottom edge and lip area. After letting it soak for a while, clean it well by scraping it.

When you see build-ups, do the process again.

STEP 5: Put Some Air Freshener

White vinegar is good for cleaning, but not everyone likes the way it smells. To cover up the smell of the vinegar, add a few drops of a pleasant essential oil.

Putting lavender, orange, lemon, or peppermint oil in your kitchen will make it smell fresh and inviting.

Additionally, essential oils are non-toxic and effective at killing microorganisms.

Step 6: Do It All Over Again.

The vinegar clean-up should be done every few months or as needed to keep your dishwasher smelling fresh. 

No matter how often you run the dishwasher, you can now breathe easy in your kitchen.

Maintain The Safety Precautions

Never mix vinegar and chlorine to clean a smelly dishwasher. This can make toxic fumes.

Even if you don’t plan to use them both at the same time, they could interact if there is still liquid dishwashing detergent in the tray from a previous cycle. 

Check the detergent’s label to see if it has chlorine in it. If so, wipe out the detergent tray with a damp paper towel before you start the machine to make sure nothing bad could happen.

How To Prevent Fishy Smells In Your Dishwasher?

You can take some precautions to ensure that your dishwasher always cleans without leaving an odor. The most effective methods are as follows:

• Always rinse your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Food chunks may clog the filter if this is not done.

• Regularly clean both the inside and outside of your home. This includes sweeping out any food that may have fallen under the machine by accident. Run an empty cycle every now and then to keep the drain hose and the machine clean.

• Regularly clean your dishwasher’s filter. Remove the filter from the dishwasher and thoroughly clean it with a stiff scrub brush, soap, and hot water. The instructions for removing the dishwasher filter vary by make and model, so consult your dishwasher’s manual to ensure you’re removing and replacing the filter correctly.

• Keep an eye on the drain hose to ensure it is not kinked or bent, that it is not too low, that it is mold and mildew free, and that the air gap is not clogged.

• When too little water is used during the wash cycle, food debris has a better chance of becoming trapped in machine gaps. To avoid diverting water resources from the washing machine as it fills, avoid using the kitchen faucet while it is filling.

• Check the salt levels, try cycling the salt, or change the salt in your water softener to a certain kind; iron-removing salt can help in this case.

• It’s important not to put too many dishes on the racks of the dishwasher so that water and soap can get to each dish and break down any food particles that may be there.

FAQs about fishy smells in dishwasher

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, now you have got a satisfactory answer to the question, “ why my dishwasher smells like fish?”

The gathering of food particles and other malfunction of your dishwasher cause fishy smells which you can easily eradicate.

Be regular to clean your dishwasher. Also, check the fitness of the major parts of your dishwasher along with the plumbing system. You will not get any irritating smell from your dishwasher.