How To Get Rid Of Egg Smell In Dishwasher? Few Easy Steps

Last Updated on May 19, 2023 by River Tree Farms

Does your sink smell like rotten eggs when the dishwasher runs? There’s no need to endure odor anymore. Learn here how to get rid of egg smell in dishwasher. 

Food residues on your dishwasher’s filter and drain hose cause a bad smell. Your kitchen will smell like sewage. Unless you pay extra attention, you may not know the source of the smell. The odor is choking and spreads all over your kitchen.

The good news is you can clear the egg smell. You can also prevent the odor by following several tips from this guide. Take a look!

Why Does My Dishwasher Smell Of Egg?

As said earlier, your dishwasher smells bad because of dirt. Be keen on the distinct smells coming out of your appliance. Sometimes, the smell is rotten eggs, food, or fish. That signals your drain hose has a clog or the filter is greasy. A sewage smell indicates a more extensive drainage issue. That will call for a professional examination. 

If your sink has a rotten egg smell when the dishwasher runs, you need to check the following;

1. Trapped Food Particles

Your dishwasher will experience builds of food particles over time. The food scraps from different foods get glued together. It is difficult for tour dishwasher to rinse off the build-up. With time, the accumulation rots, causing a foul smell. That shouldn’t call for a professional.

Cleaning your dishwasher off the build-up is easy. The machine will need a cycle of white vinegar to strip the dirt. It will also neutralize odors and leave your appliance smelling fresh.

Follow these steps;

• You will need white vinegar to wash your dishwasher:

• Ensure the dishwasher is empty.

• There is no need for detergent.

Step 1

• Measure white vinegar and pour it into a dishwasher-safe container. (You can use a dishwasher-safe bowl)

Step 2

• Position the bowl on the bottom rack. 

Step 3

• Operate your empty dishwasher with the bowl on the rack on a normal/regular cycle.

Step 4

• Once the cycle is complete, run an air-dry cycle.

Tip: Use the same steps to clean up scum build-up in your appliance.

2. Dirty Filter

You will need to locate your dishwasher’s filter position at the base. Some dishwashers have filters at the back corner but are still beneath the racks and spray arms. The positioning is strategic to sift particles and small items. That may choke your drain pipe. So, when your dishwasher smells like rotten eggs, the first culprit to get hold of is the filter.

The dishwasher filter holds dirt and other particles to prevent drain pipe blockage. Often, you should remove the residues and throw them in the garbage disposal bag. But still, miniature particles will remain trapped. Those cause your filter to smell foul.

Follow the guide below to remove your filter and clean it. We will also teach you how to replace the feature.

Step 1

• You will need a screwdriver and cleaning aids like hot water, a soft brush, and detergent.

• Read your model’s manual to understand the removal procedure. That avoids mishaps, but cleaning your filter should not be rocket science. If you cannot get hold of your manual, continue to step two below.

Step 2

• Pull out the bottom rack so you can access your dishwasher’s filter.

Step 3

• This step is the longest, as removing the filter will depend on your model. The older models have a single filter. Get hold of the screw that keeps the filter in place. Unbolt it using a screwdriver.

Newer dishwasher models have extra enhancements. They have two filters, so you have to sweat a little bit. The two parts include the lower filter and the upper filter. You can identify the two filters as the lower filter is flat-shaped and sits below the upper one.

The upper filter is cylindrical and sits above the lower one. Your dishwasher may also come with an upper filter. So, learn your machine before removing the filter. The bottom line is that both filters get clogged, so you’ll need to remove them. 

Here are the removal steps for the newer models;

• Upper filter: You should remove this filter first. Turn it clockwise until it comes out.

• Lower filter: It does not need unscrewing. Pluck the filter out.

Step 4

• Whichever your model, you are in the final step! You have the filters on your countertop. Check if they are intact! If so, get a replacement.

Otherwise, continue with the cleaning exercise. Dip your filter/filters in hot water to rip it off of grease. If the stains are stubborn, use soapy water and brush the filter to prevent damage. An old toothbrush will do the trick!

Step 5

• Clean the spray arms before returning the filters to place. But you have an extra step below.

Step 6

• You will need to test the filters to determine if it’s clean before returning them. Run some water through. If the water flows clean and clear, then the filters are good.

• Clean the calcium deposits and other residues from the dishwasher. Use the aids to clean your appliance interiors (hot soapy water and a soft brush). Once you insert the filter, you can run the vinegar cycle.  

Step 7

• For the newer models, you need to begin by inserting the lower filter.

• Push it in place with the hole facing the drain hole.

• Cork upper filter counterclockwise to fix it in place. Ensure a sturdy feeling so that the filter doesn’t turn or wobble.

Operating your dishwasher with a loose filter can be disastrous to your appliance.

Step 8

• Run a normal cycle with a bowl of vinegar to freshen up your dishwasher.

Congratulations! You are an expert in cleaning your dishwasher filter, but one more thing. Keep a good practice of cleaning your filters monthly. An excellent scrub removes your filter’s rotting food particles and other objects. The exercise will take away the rotten smell from your dishwasher.

3. Choked Drain Hose

Third on our list is a choked drain hose. The blockage causes awful smells from your dishwasher. Any build-up is messy, leading back up and slowing down the draining process.

While checking out for a choked drain hose, inspect your garbage disposal. That, too, can cause a sewage smell. A clogged drain line will also cause an egg smell in your dishwasher. After ensuring your dishwasher and the filter are clean, you have to clean the drains. The odor will go away.

You don’t need to poke your hand into the pipes to cleanse the odor! Use a solution to remove the pipe’s build-up, bacteria, and debris.

The first strategy for cleaning your drains is investing in good cleaning solutions. Do not rely on dishwashing soap as it is mild. The suds from the soap cannot reap off drain dirt. It bids the debris and causes more clogging.

There are many drain cleaning aids in the stores. Some are costly, but you do not have to go for those. Cheap home cleaning agents for your dishwasher include;

• White Vinegar

• Baking soda

• Hot water

Using the above agents is super easy.

Steps:

• Remove the filter and the bottom rack from the tub.

• Pour a cup of baking soda and white vinegar through the bottom basket.

• Hold the solution for about 15 minutes.

• Pour hot water into the tub’s drain to loosen the grime. You can run the hottest water setting instead of pouring hot water. The water will flush any blockages in the drain.

• Repeat the process to remove stubborn build-up.

4. Dirty Garbage Disposal

The dishwasher waste water drains from a unit known as the garbage disposal. And water should pass through the unit. If not, your disposal has tons of debris from your dishware. It is full and is causing water backup and a slow drain. The molds and bacterial breeding in the bag cause the stench that is choking you.

Loosen the blockage to unclog the unit and kill the odor. The same unclogging exercise will also resolve your smelly kitchen sink. Luckily, the cleaning agents are available in your home;

• Baking soda

• White vinegar

• Ice

• Table salt

• Lemon peels

Steps:

• Disconnect the units from the power

• You need to have the power off when cleaning the dishwasher and the garbage disposal. When you need a hot water setting, reconnect.  

• Clean the gasket

• The gasket is the rubber splash guard that comes with grooves and crevices. It hides a lot of food debris and slime. Remove the rubber guard from the drain and scrub it with a brush. Shove the brush underside to get rid of the accumulated slime.

• Get rid of food debris from the disposal.

• With the help of a spotlight, examine the disposal of food debris. Remove ten with tongs to be sure the unit is clean. Do not insert your finger, as you can get severe cuts. 

• Use the baking soda and vinegar solution.

A cup of white vinegar and baking soda does a perfect cleansing job. First, pour baking soda into the garbage disposal and leave it for half an hour. It will freshen and deodorize your drain.

 After an hour, pour in the white vinegar. It will foam up and bubble. Leave the solution for about 3 minutes. It will react and get rid of the remaining dirt and bacteria.

• Rinse the disposal with boiling water

• After the hot water rinse, you need to grind up salt and ice. These act as a scrub for your garbage disposal.

• Reinstall the gasket and reconnect the power.

• Pour the ice and a cup of salt into the disposal. Run cold water and put it on the garbage disposal. Run the unit until it grinds up all the ice. But don’t get tired yet! You have a remaining cleaning aid to use.

• Freshen up the disposal of lemon peels. Grab ground lemon peels (or any other citrus) and drop them in the disposal. Add cold water from the tap for the lemon peels to leave a fresh smell. Kudos for cleaning your garbage disposal! No more awful dishwasher smells.

5. Dirty Air Gap

Air gaps prevent water backup in dishwashers. Clogging up prevents draining. It can also cause bacteria build-up and bad smells. It is super easy to unclog an air gap. Take its cap out and clean all the debris. Wash it in soapy water to remove molds and bacteria and replace it. 

How Do I Get Rid Of The Rotten Egg Smell Of My Dishwasher?

We have analyzed the reasons for the rotten egg smell in your dishwasher. Cleaning different components of your dishwashing system clear off the odors. The steps include unclogging your drain system.

Deep cleaning your tub and scrubbing the filters are essential. You must clean the garbage disposal and freshen it with ground lemon peels. The dirty water goes down the drain leaving your appliance clean and fresh. To maintain your dishwasher’s efficiency and hygiene, make this procedure regular. You can kill the rotten egg smell by observing the tips below;

• Clean and disinfect the garbage disposal to get rid of foul odors.

• Scrub and wash your dishwasher filters in hot soapy water to flush away food debris and slime.

• Clean clogged drain using hot water, vinegar, or baking soda solution.

• Unclog the air gap to peel off the slime and kill molds and bacteria.

• Run a normal cycle with a bowl full of vinegar to cleanse and freshen the tub.

• Run your dishwasher to the hot water setting to kill molds and bacteria. The water melts off slime and grease.

Important Quick Question and Answer

Conclusion

Using a smelly dishwasher is not only disgusting but unhygienic. The smell alerts you that slime has buildup in your appliance or drains. You will need to do a deep cleaning process with several aids. Hot water, white vinegar, lemon peels, baking soda, and table salt are some of the cleaning agents you can use. They will get rid of dirt and orders.

But we have unique processes of how to get rid of egg smell in the dishwasher. Read the complete guide to follow the processes. You will need to clean;

• Tub

• Filters

• Drain hose

• Garbage disposal

• Air gap

• Gasket/seal

Once you ensure your dishwasher is clean, soak it in ground lemon peels for half an hour. Flush the peels and repeat the deep cleaning procedure.

Have a sparkling experience!