Dishwasher Not Draining and Stinky

How Dishwashers Clean

• The dishwasher cleans the dishes inside by pulling in water from the water supply in your house. The water is mixed with soap and pumped up through the sprayer arm inside the cabinet. The sprayer arm turns as the water is pumped through and sprays the soapy water over the dishes inside, helping to power away dirt and grease. The water is pumped out of the dishwasher and through the drain hose into the sewer. The process repeats inside the dishwasher and sprayer, only with clean water.

Food Filter

• One of the easiest fixes you can try for a dishwasher that isn't draining and is stinky is to check the basket on the inside of the dishwasher cabinet. These filters are usually located just above the drain opening, usually in the middle of the cabinet beneath the spray arm. Remove the filter, usually by twisting it and pulling it up out of the cabinet. Discard of any food inside the filter and rinse it out underneath the sink before replacing.

Clogged Dishwasher Drain Hose

• If the dishwasher drain hose between the dishwasher and drain inlet at the other end of the drain hose line is blocked, the dishwasher will have a hard time draining. Remedy this by loosening the hose clamps at either end of the drain hose. To remove the drain clamps at the dishwasher pump, remove the kick panel located at the base of the dishwasher. Rinse the drain hose out with a powerful spray, such as from a garden hose, before replacing. Secure with the hose clamps and replace the kick panel before restarting the dishwasher.

Clogged Garbage Disposal

• If your dishwasher is connected to a garbage disposal, the problem with draining and odors might not be coming from the dishwasher but from the disposal instead. Run the disposal and make sure that any food debris inside has been thoroughly ground up before running the water and flushing out the disposal. If the disposal blades are stuck, use the end of a broom or wooden spoon (never metal) to try and wedge the blades back and forth until they become unstuck. Use a disposal freshener to remove any lingering odors.