What to Check on a smelly Frigidaire Dishwasher

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Appliance Express
March 8, 2021
Dishwasher Repair

A bad smell coming from your dishwasher usually indicates that food particles have become trapped somewhere inside. The odor itself usually comes from bacteria or mold growth. So, getting rid of the smell is also a hygiene issue.

This guide will outline the most common causes of a nasty odor coming from your dishwasher and tell you what you can do to fix it.

The following models of Frigidaire dishwasher are covered by this guide:

DW1800Y0

DW4500FW1

DW5900PW1

F71C663BB0

F71C663BD0

F71C663BS0

FDB1502RGB4A

FDB1502RGC4A

FDB1502RGM4A

FFBD2409LB0A

FFBD2409LB0B

FFBD2409LM0B

FFBD2409LS0A

FFBD2409LS0B

FFBD2411NB1A

FFBD2411NM1A

FFBD2411NS1A

FGBD2431KB1A

FGBD2431KF1A

LFBD2409LB0B

LFBD2409LM0B

Clean Your Dishwasher

A thorough clean of your dishwasher will remove the odor in many cases. However, it is important to clean your dishwasher properly. Food particles or mold can lodge in many places inside the dishwasher, including places that you can’t reach when cleaning by hand.

You will need to take advantage of the wash cycle itself to get your cleaning solution into hard-to-reach areas. If this method improves the odor but doesn’t get rid of it completely, you can try cleaning your dishwasher again the next day. You need to clean your dishwasher regularly to eliminate the problem.

Here’s how to clean your dishwasher:

  1. Remove all dishes from your dishwasher and place them to the side.
  2. Remove the lower rack by pulling it carefully out until it comes off its tracks. Clean this by hand using warm water and dish soap; then dry it thoroughly with an absorbent towel or dry cloth.
  3. Wipe down the inside of your dishwasher with hot water using a soft cloth or sponge.
  4. Wipe down the soft rubber door gasket.
  5. Wipe down the spray arms.
  6. Replace the lower rack and put a cup filled with white vinegar in the center. Then, run a wash cycle with hot water.
  7. Remove the cup after the cycle has completed. Sprinkle baking soda liberally on the floor of the dishwasher, and run another wash cycle with hot water.

Unclog the Spray Arms and Support

Food waste can become stuck in the holes of the spray arms that spray water into your dishwasher during a wash cycle. These blockages can become moldy or host bacterial growth, leading to a nasty smell.

Use the following method to clean the spray arms and their support:

  1. Turn off your dishwasher at the wall or unplug it.
  2. Remove the lower rack by pulling it carefully out until it comes off its tracks. Place this to the side.
  3. Remove the spray arm by pulling it firmly up and away from its support. Depending on the model, you may need to insert a flathead screwdriver between the tabs that attach it to the support and pry it away.
  4. Remove the support by turning it clockwise by 90° and lifting it out.
  5. Fill your sink or a bucket with hot water. Add dish soap and one cup of white vinegar. Stir to mix.
  6. Place the spray arm and support in the water and soak for two hours.
  7. Use a toothbrush to scrub the holes of the spray arms to dislodge any food. Tweezers or toothpicks can be used to dislodge any stubborn pieces of food in the openings.
  8. Remove the components from the water, and rinse them in clean water. Dry thoroughly with an absorbent towel or cloth.
  9. Replace them inside your dishwasher and replace the lower rack.
  10. Turn your dishwasher back on.

Clean the Filter

The filter strains food particles out of the water that runs into the dishwasher’s drain. That makes it another place where food gets stuck, leading to bacterial or mold growth that can cause a bad smell.

Use this method to clean the filter and remove these smells:

  1. Unplug your dishwasher or turn it off at the wall.
  2. Remove the lower rack by pulling it carefully out until it comes off its tracks. Place this to the side.
  3. Remove the spray arm and then its support by firmly pulling each up and away. Place these to the side.
  4. Grasp the filter firmly and pull it up and out. You can make this easier by holding it through a dry towel.
  5. Clean the filter by hand using hot water, dish soap, and a dish brush. Focus on the well in the middle of the filter where food and stagnant water can get trapped.
  6. Dry the filter thoroughly with an absorbent towel or dry cloth.
  7. Replace the filter, spray arm support, and spray arm.
  8. Replace the lower rack.
  9. Turn your dishwasher back on.

Clear the Drain

Underneath the filter is the drain. While the filter stops most food particles from entering the drain, food can build up inside the drain over time, causing a bad smell or even a blockage. These blockages usually occur inside the drain, where it is impossible to clean manually. You will need to make up a cleaning solution and pour it down the drain to soak and remove the blockage.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Unplug your dishwasher or turn it off at the wall.
  2. Remove the lower rack by pulling it out of the dishwasher until it runs off its tracks, and place it to the side.
  3. Pull firmly on the spray arm, spray arm support, and filter to remove them, and place them all to the side.
  4. Use a sponge and a bowl to remove all of the water trapped in the top part of the drain.
  5. Use a new sponge or cloth and hot water to wipe the visible area of the drain.
  6. Make a cleaning solution by mixing one cup of white vinegar and two tablespoons of baking soda and stirring vigorously. Pour this down the drain and allow it to sit for 15 minutes.
  7. Pour 2-3 cups of boiling water down the drain.
  8. Replace the filter, spray arm support, and spray arm.
  9. Replace the lower rack.

Most of the time, a bad smell coming from your Frigidaire dishwasher will be caused by one of the problems listed here. Trying these solutions should fix the problem. If you try these methods and the problem persists, contact a professional dishwasher repair technician to diagnose the problem and fix it.

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