Dishwasher Smells Like Wet Dog? Causes and 5 Fixes

Quick answer: If your dishwasher smells like wet dog, the usual cause is trapped food in the filter or sump, mildew on the door seal, or dirty water that sits in the tub. Clean the filter, clear the spray arms, wipe the gasket, run an empty cycle with 2 cups of white vinegar in a cup on the bottom rack (no detergent), and check that the drain hose has a high loop or air gap.

Dishwasher makers don’t list “wet dog” as its own problem. But that damp, musty smell lines up with the causes they do name: food debris stuck in the filter, spray arms, or tub bottom; standing water from a drainage problem; and mildew on the gasket. GE says a dishwasher should not normally hold onto odors, so a smell that lasts more than a few days means something needs cleaning or fixing.

Before you start

Cause	Sign	Fix
Dirty or clogged filter	Smell is strongest near the bottom; dishes feel gritty; you can see food on the filter	Remove the filter and rinse it under warm water; scrub gently with a soft brush
Food in the sump, pump inlet, or spray arms	Smell comes back right after a cycle; spray arm holes look blocked	Pick out debris; clear jets with a toothpick or paper clip
Mildew on the door gasket or tub	Musty smell when you open the door; dark spots on the rubber seal	Wipe with warm, soapy water; use a stronger wipe only if your manual allows it
Dirty water sitting in the tub	Water in the bottom between uses	Check the drain hose for a high loop or air gap, the disposal, and kinks
Dirty dishes sitting for days	Smell builds when you run it only every few days	Run a “Rinse Only” or “Rinse and Hold” cycle until the load is full
New-appliance smell	Plastic, petroleum, or varnish smell in a new unit	Normal, according to Whirlpool; it usually fades within a few weeks

What you need

White vinegar (2 cups)
A glass or dishwasher-safe measuring cup
Warm water and mild dish soap (for hand-washing the filter and gasket only)
Soft-bristled brush or old toothbrush
Sponge or soft cloth and a dry towel
Toothpick or paper clip
Gloves and a flashlight
Your dishwasher’s owner’s manual

How to fix a dishwasher that smells like wet dog: step by step

Work through these five fixes in order. Each one targets a cause from the table above. Start with an empty dishwasher. If you plan to touch the drain hose or pump area, turn off power at the circuit breaker first.

Clean the filter. Pull out the bottom rack. On many Whirlpool and KitchenAid models, you turn the upper filter assembly a quarter turn counterclockwise, lift it out, then lift and pull the lower filter forward. Other brands differ, so check your manual. Rinse the filters under warm running water. Use a soft brush on stuck food or hard water deposits. Don’t use a wire brush or scouring pad, because they can damage the mesh. Lock the filters back in place. Whirlpool warns not to run the dishwasher without the filters properly installed. Note: some models have a filter that needs no cleaning, so check your manual.
Clear the sump, pump inlet, and spray arms. With the filter out, shine a flashlight into the sump (the well under the filter) and remove food, labels, seeds, toothpicks, or glass. Wear gloves. GE also says to check the pump inlet on the tub bottom for paper or plastic. Look at the spray arm holes. If any are blocked, loosen the debris gently with a toothpick or paper clip without damaging the jets.
Wipe the door gasket and tub. Wipe the rubber door seals and the inside edges of the door with a damp cloth and a little mild soap. KitchenAid points out that soil tends to build up at the bottom front of the tub, so give that area extra attention. Rinse with a clean damp cloth.
Run an empty vinegar cycle. Put 2 cups (500 mL) of white vinegar in an upright glass or dishwasher-safe measuring cup on the bottom rack. Do not add detergent. Run a full normal cycle with the heated dry turned off (pick air-dry or energy-saving dry). Whirlpool notes that vinegar is an acid and can damage a dishwasher if you use it too often, so save it for deep cleaning, not every week. A dishwasher cleaner product works too; follow the package directions.
Check the drain path. If you see dirty water in the tub between uses, GE says that usually means an installation problem: the drain hose needs either a high drain loop or an air gap. Look under the sink. The hose should arch up and be fastened near the underside of the counter before it connects to the disposal or drain. If the dishwasher drains into a garbage disposal, run the disposal to clear it. If the disposal is new, Whirlpool says to confirm the knockout plug in its inlet was removed. Also check that the hose isn’t kinked or crushed.

After these steps, run one normal cycle with detergent and no dishes. GE suggests this to flush out leftover food residue.

If that didn’t work

If a musty smell keeps coming back, mildew on the gasket or tub walls may be the cause. GE’s guidance for its dishwashers is to mix 1/2 cup of chlorine bleach in 1 gallon of water, wipe the interior and gasket with a cloth or sponge, then run a rinse cycle before loading dishes. GE says this solution will not harm the interior, gasket, or outside of its dishwashers.

That advice is not universal. Maytag says bleach can damage a dishwasher with a stainless steel tub or stainless parts. So check your manual before using bleach. If you have a stainless tub, or your manual doesn’t approve bleach, skip it. Stick with soap-and-water wipes, the vinegar cycle, or a dishwasher cleaner made for your type of tub. Never use bleach on the same day as a vinegar cycle (see the safety box below).

Also look for standing water. If water stays in the tub after a cycle, Whirlpool says the most common causes are a clogged filter, debris in the sump, a kinked or blocked hose, a disposal problem, or a jammed drain pump. Do not pour drain-opening chemicals into the dishwasher. Whirlpool says they can damage parts and create safety hazards.

When to call a pro or the manufacturer: Call if the smell stays after all five fixes, water still won’t drain, you hear humming or grinding with no draining, a breaker trips, or you smell burning. Contact a plumber or installer if the drain hose has no high loop or air gap and you’re not comfortable fixing it. Bosch, GE, Whirlpool, and KitchenAid all offer support lines and service scheduling on their sites.

Safety: Never use chlorine bleach and vinegar in the same cycle or in the same cleaning session. Bleach plus an acid such as vinegar makes chlorine gas, and bleach plus ammonia makes chloramine gas. Both can hurt your eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. Some automatic dishwasher detergents also contain chlorine bleach, which is one more reason to run the vinegar cycle with no detergent. If you breathe in fumes, leave the area, get fresh air, and call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Turn off power at the breaker before working on the drain or pump. Wear gloves when reaching into the sump, since broken glass can collect there.

How to prevent it

Clean a manual filter about once a month. If you run the dishwasher daily or have a big household, Whirlpool suggests every two weeks.
Scrape food into the trash before loading. The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) says newer dishwashers don’t need pre-rinsed dishes, and GE reminds owners that a dishwasher is not a food disposer.
Run the dishwasher at least once a week. GE says this usually prevents mildew odor. If you wait days for a full load, run a “Rinse Only” or “Rinse and Hold” cycle in between.
Don’t overload. ACI says each dirty surface needs a clear path to the spray arm.
Run the hot water at your sink before starting a cycle, as Whirlpool suggests, to help with washing and draining.
Check that the drain hose still has its high loop after any work under the sink.
If your water is very hard (15 grains or more), Whirlpool strongly recommends a water softener. Hard water also leaves spots on fixtures. See how to clean a matte black faucet for tips that won’t harm a delicate finish.

FAQ

Why does my dishwasher smell bad even after I run it?

A cycle can’t wash away food stuck in the filter or sump, or mildew on the door seal. Whirlpool says small food particles can stay behind even after a wash and cause smells over time. Water that sits in the bottom because of a blocked filter or a drain problem also makes odors worse. Clean the filter, clear the sump, and check the drain hose.

Can I use bleach to clean a smelly dishwasher?

It depends on your model. GE allows a diluted solution of 1/2 cup chlorine bleach in 1 gallon of water to wipe away mildew in its dishwashers, followed by a rinse cycle. Maytag warns that bleach can damage stainless steel tubs and parts. Check your manual first, and never use bleach with vinegar, ammonia, or other cleaners.

How often should I clean my dishwasher filter?

Whirlpool’s general rule is once a month. Clean it every two weeks if you run the dishwasher daily or have a large family. Signs it needs cleaning include bad odors, dirty or gritty dishes, and food you can see on the filter. Some newer models have maintenance-free filters, so check your owner’s manual.

Is it safe to clean a dishwasher with vinegar?

Many manufacturers, including Whirlpool and KitchenAid, describe a vinegar rinse: 2 cups of white vinegar in an upright cup on the bottom rack, with no detergent. But Whirlpool notes that vinegar is an acid and frequent use could damage your dishwasher. Maytag says not every interior should be cleaned with vinegar. Use it only for occasional deep cleans, and follow your manual.

Sources

Last reviewed: October 10, 2026. Always follow your product’s care label and manufacturer instructions.