Elif Sarıkaya · mother of three, a scent-sensitive homemaker · Last updated: October 6, 2026
In a house with three children the dishwasher runs at least twice a day. Ours does. Even so, one morning I opened the door and flinched at a sour, heavy smell. The dishes were spotless, yet the smell was close to something rotting.
I am sensitive to smells, so I went through the machine piece by piece. The source took two minutes to find: I could not remember when I had last washed the bottom filter.
What should you do in which situation?
| Situation | What to do | ODORGO product |
|---|---|---|
| Sour or rotten smell when the door opens | Clean the filter, wipe the gasket | Multi-Purpose Liquid 500 ml |
| Even clean glasses smell | Hot empty wash at 65-70°C | Multi-Purpose Liquid 500 ml |
| Odor has settled in the kitchen | Spray the air and surfaces | Spray 250 ml |
| Odor keeps coming back | Passive protection under the counter | Gel 250 g |
| Trash and drain odor mixed in | Steps in our drain guide | Multi-Purpose Liquid and Gel |
Why does a dishwasher smell?
- The bottom filter. Every wash sends food scraps into it. Left unwashed, they rot in the warm, damp interior. In most homes this is where the odor lives.
- The door gasket. Water, detergent residue and grease collect in its folds. The slippery layer you feel under your finger is where bacteria grow.
- Eco programs. They never reach the temperature that dissolves grease, so a machine run only on eco for months builds up a film that starts to smell.
- The drain connection. A smell closer to sewage than sour may come from the drain the machine is connected to; see the sink and drain odor guide.
Why are lemon peel and scented tablets not enough?
Lemon peel in the basket, a clip-on freshener, scented tablets. I tried them all. The scraps and the grease stay put while a pleasant scent is laid on top, and lemon mixed with rot can be worse than the rot alone. An empty wash with vinegar makes more sense: it helps dissolve limescale, but does little against grease.
How do you remove dishwasher odor for good?
Treat cleaning and odor removal as two jobs. Filter, gasket and a hot wash cut off the source; the odor left in the air comes after.
- Turn the filter under the lower rack counterclockwise and lift it out. Scrub it with an old toothbrush under hot running water and wipe its housing. Do this once a week.
- Add ODORGO Multi-Purpose Odor Eliminator Liquid 500 ml to lukewarm water, 15 mL per 1 liter, and wipe the folds of the gasket, the inside of the door and the detergent compartment.
- Once a month, run the hottest program (65-70°C) with the machine empty. The grease film only dissolves at that temperature.
- Shake ODORGO Odor Eliminator Spray 250 ml well and spray around the machine, under the counter and into the air.
- Place ODORGO Odor Eliminator Gel 250 g in the cabinet under the counter or in a corner of the kitchen, standing flat.
The Multi-Purpose Liquid can also go in the dishwasher: add 20 mL to the rinse cycle or inside the machine, together with your detergent and never in place of it.
What is in ODORGO, and how does it work?
It is a water-based formula built on five plant-derived essential oils: pine needle, anise, clove, cedarwood and lime. The oils attract the odor molecule, bind it and turn it into an odorless compound; the technology is rooted in research at Delaware State University in the USA. It is not a perfume, so it does not mix with food smells and turn your stomach. As someone who gets migraines, that is what won me over.
I like the gel because it works quietly 24/7 on its own, with no outlet or batteries and no heat. It lasts up to 30 days in enclosed areas of up to 15 m²; longer in smaller spaces such as drawers and cabinets, like the one under the counter.
Keep the gel and the spray away from direct contact with food, and rinse the parts of the counter that touch food. The spray is water-based; you can use it on any surface that water does not harm. On water-sensitive fabrics and surfaces (unfinished or untreated wood, silk, leather, electronics, etc.), test on a small hidden area first.
Keep your kitchen fresh
Two minutes a week for the filter, one hot wash a month, a gel working in the background. I no longer open that door with hesitation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a dishwasher smell?
Food scraps in the bottom filter, the film on the door gasket and grease that eco programs cannot dissolve. If it smells like sewage, check the drain connection.
Can ODORGO go inside the machine?
Yes, the Multi-Purpose Liquid can: add 20 mL to the rinse cycle or inside the machine, together with your detergent.
Why do clean glasses smell?
The grease film inside the machine passes its odor to the steam of the final rinse, and the glass picks it up. A monthly empty wash at 65-70°C and a clean gasket stop it.
Does a vinegar wash work?
Partly. It helps with limescale but does little against grease and gasket buildup.
Should I stop using the eco program?
No. Eco keeps the bills down; it only lacks the heat to dissolve grease, and one hot empty wash a month makes up for that.
What if the odor has settled into the whole kitchen?
Spray ODORGO Spray into the air and onto the surfaces that smell. For heavy odors such as frying, see the kitchen, carpet and sofa odor guide.