Domakihub Clean a Smelly Dishwasher Filter and End Bad Odours
The fix is simpler than you think — and costs almost nothing.
Reviewed by Domakihub cleaning pros · 2026-06-23 · 5 min read
A dishwasher that smells bad is one of the most common kitchen complaints in Greek homes, holiday rentals, and hotel properties — yet the cause is almost always the same neglected spot: the filter, spray arms, and door seal. The video above walks through the full process visually, while this article gives you a clear, repeatable method using white vinegar and baking soda that you can buy at any supermarket. Follow these steps once a month and the odour problem disappears for good.
Why Your Dishwasher Smells (It Is Not the Detergent)
Food particles, grease, and mineral deposits accumulate in the filter basket at the bottom of the machine. In a warm Greek kitchen — especially during summer — that trapped organic matter breaks down quickly and releases the sulphurous, musty smell that seems to come from nowhere. Most people blame old detergent or standing water, but the filter is the real culprit in the vast majority of cases.
The door gasket and spray arm holes are secondary hotspots. The rubber seal around the door traps moisture and food residue in its folds, while the small holes in the spray arms clog with limescale and grease, reducing water pressure and leaving soil sitting on dishes instead of rinsing away. Tackling all three together — not just running an empty cycle — is what produces lasting results.
What You Need Before You Start
You do not need any specialist cleaning product. Gather one cup of white wine vinegar (plain white vinegar works equally well), three tablespoons of baking soda, a soft toothbrush or small bottle brush, a microfibre cloth, and warm soapy water in a bowl. That is it. Avoid bleach inside a dishwasher — it degrades rubber seals over time and is unnecessary when vinegar and baking soda do the job safely.
Five Steps to a Fresh, Odour-Free Dishwasher
- 1
Remove and rinse the filter
Twist or unclip the cylindrical filter at the bottom of the tub — your machine's manual shows the exact method, but most rotate anticlockwise and lift straight out. Hold it under hot running water and use the toothbrush to scrub every surface, paying attention to the fine mesh screen where grease builds up in a thin, almost invisible film. If the filter has not been cleaned in months, soak it in hot soapy water for ten minutes before scrubbing.
- 2
Unblock the spray arm holes
Pull the lower spray arm free (it usually unclips or unscrews) and hold it up to the light to see which holes are blocked with limescale or food debris. Use a toothpick or a thin skewer to clear each hole, then rinse under the tap. Do the same for the upper spray arm if your model has one. Blocked holes mean poor water distribution, which leaves residue on dishes and accelerates odour build-up.
- 3
Wipe the door seal thoroughly
Fold back the rubber gasket around the door opening and wipe every fold with a damp microfibre cloth. You will often find a dark, slimy residue — this is mould and decomposing food, and it contributes significantly to the smell. For stubborn build-up, dampen the cloth with undiluted white vinegar and work it into each fold, then wipe clean with a fresh damp cloth. Allow the gasket to dry slightly before closing the door.
- 4
Run a hot vinegar cycle
Place one cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe bowl on the bottom rack — do not put it in the detergent compartment. Run the hottest cycle available (60 °C or higher is best). The vinegar vapour circulates through the tub, dissolving limescale deposits on the interior walls, the heating element, and the spray arm mounts. This step also kills odour-causing bacteria that survive in warm, damp conditions.
- 5
Follow with a baking soda rinse cycle
Once the vinegar cycle finishes and the machine cools for a few minutes, sprinkle three tablespoons of baking soda evenly across the bottom of the tub. Run a short hot cycle. Baking soda neutralises any remaining acidic odour, lifts light staining from the interior, and leaves the tub smelling genuinely clean rather than just masking the problem. After this cycle, prop the door open for twenty minutes to let moisture escape — trapped humidity is what allows odours to return so quickly.
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FAQ
- How often should I clean the dishwasher filter?
- Once a month is the right interval for a household running the machine daily. For holiday rentals or hotel kitchens with heavy turnover, a fortnightly check is safer — filters fill faster when the machine runs multiple cycles per day.
- Can I use lemon juice instead of white vinegar?
- Lemon juice does have mild antibacterial and descaling properties, but the acetic acid concentration in white vinegar is significantly higher, making it more effective against limescale — which is a common issue with Greek tap water. White vinegar is also far cheaper per litre. Lemon juice is a reasonable substitute in an emergency but not a like-for-like replacement.
- My dishwasher still smells after cleaning the filter. What else should I check?
- First, inspect the drain hose at the back of the machine — a kinked or incorrectly routed hose can trap standing water that goes stagnant. Second, check that the hose has a high loop or an air gap before it connects to the drainpipe, which prevents dirty water siphoning back in. If the smell is a sharp sewage odour rather than a food/grease smell, the issue is almost certainly in the drain connection rather than the machine itself.