Candy Dishwashers

My dishwasher smells

Please make sure you follow these instructions fully. If you have any problems with carrying out this maintenance, please contact us.

Always make sure that you switch off the electricity and water supplies to your dishwasher before you start any maintenance.


If unpleasant smells are coming from your dishwasher, there may be some areas which need a little extra cleaning. The tips below will help give you some general guidance but always check the user manual for any specific details on your appliance. Also see the “Performing maintenance washes” topic.

Keep your dishwasher clean and get the best results with the specialist cleaning products available.

1. Make sure that the filters are clean
Pull out the lower tray and check the dishwasher drain filters. Remove any pieces of food debris around the bottom of the machine, as they can block the drain and also cause damage to the pump or scratch dishes. Remove the filter and wash out any debris (pay close attention to the filter sensor if your appliance has one). Clean the filter in the sink using soap and hot water. Also see the “Cleaning the filter” topic

2. Make sure the inside of the door is clean
Ideally, use a specialist cleaner to cut through any grease, remains of detergent or food residue on your dishwasher door. Keep your dishwasher clean and get the best results with the specialist cleaning products available to purchase on the Internet.

Alternatively, you can get acceptable results using warm, soapy water; but do wipe down your dishwasher carefully to avoid leaving soap scum or water stains behind. A weak mixture of baking soda (too much can be abrasive) in water will help to wipe clean any food splashes from the front of the door.

Open the dishwasher door and clean the top and sides. Scrub around the doors with a small brush dipped in hot, soapy water. Wipe over with a cloth soaked in warm water and soap, rinse and then dry the dishwasher door with a soft cloth.

3. Remove any bad smells
Place a cup of distilled white vinegar in the top rack of the dish washer and run a full cycle.

When the full cycle has finished, sprinkle a small amount of baking soda (too much can be abrasive) evenly over the bottom of the dishwasher and run the shortest, hottest cycle your machine has available.

If the above actions haven’t rectified your issue or you don’t feel confident to undertake them please go to our on-line repair booking page to arrange an engineer visit — https://www.domesticandgeneral.com/repairs.

If you have misplaced or lost your user manual, you can download a replacement manual (please have your model number to hand).