There are some pretty bad smells in the world. A sour smell in your dishwasher ranks pretty high on that list. A bad smell can originate in a number of ways, but once you find the source, it is fairly easy to get rid of the smell. So how exactly do you get rid of a sour smell in a dishwasher? Keep reading to find out.
One source is food residue. Although the food typically goes down the dishwasher’s drain as it is supposed to, small food particles and residue can remain. These can cause a sour odor if left alone too long. To get rid of this, clean the bottom of the unit with vinegar (preferably white vinegar) and rinse it thoroughly with hot water.
Another source of a sour smell can be the dishwasher hose. If the hose is not installed properly or if it is set in a position that does not allow it to drain efficiently, stagnant water can create a bad, sour smell. This hose is probably inside the kitchen cabinet below the sink and brings water to and from the dishwasher. If stagnant water is inside the hose, this foul water may be used to wash your dishes, resulting in bad odors all around.
Dead remains can also be a source of terrible smells coming from your dishwasher. Small pests like mice make their nests in warm places such as insulation and can die inside. Their dead remains create a staunch, rotten smell and the only way to remedy this is to locate the pests and replace the insulation. If possible, pull the dishwasher out and inspect the insulation for any sign of pests or pest remains.
And finally, if none of these solutions seem to work, run an empty cycle after pouring a few cups of vinegar or lemon juice into the bottom of the unit. This should freshen the smell of the dishwasher and get rid of some of the odors.
Following these steps, you should be able to get rid of the sour stench yourself, but if you feel more comfortable having a professional take a look at it, consider using TalkLocal. TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with top-quality, reputable appliance repair companies in your neighborhood within minutes. Just enter in your specific problem, location and availability, and up to three companies will call YOU directly, saving you the time and stress of finding one yourself.
