Thank you for the replies, I answered incorrectly about the loop, what I meant it to say was that was the first thing we checked and it was not the problem, there was a high arc. We were using rinse aid and running sanitize rinse.

We actually had a KA repair co come out and check it/run diagnostics. They stated that we needed a new control panel, optical wash indicator, and drain hose(although that was just a throw in, there werent any obvious issues). I am really dissatisfied with this, we shouldnt need these repairs on a dw that is less than a month old, and has been run less than ten times. After arguing for over an hour with ka supervisors I think they are going to install a new unit.

Now I have to decide if we want the same model kdte254ess or a different model kdtm354ess. The 354 is similar but has the ProDry (fan to help with drying) option for same price, I am considering this but it has higher sound decibel rating and self cleaning filter plus no third rack. May need to start a new thread for advice.

We are also having same issue with our KA. It’s been going on for months. We use Cascade pods and rinse. We also run cleaning pods monthly. im about to replace the dishwasher. However if you Did find a solution. Please share with us.

We are having the same issues with our brand new KA dishwasher, KDPM354GPS which was installed on 4/19/19 and we have run only twice. Smells like horrible rotten garbage and my dishes smell that way, too. Got a big run around from Best Buy - then get an even bigger run around with KA. She tells me to use one of the cleaning dishwasher pods because if I don't and they come out and find no mechanical issues they will charge me with a service call, even though I purchased a 3 year warranty!!!! I feel I made a big mistake buying this DW over over $1,000.

I have the same problem! The dishes smell fishy and dirty when they come out and the glasses actually feels sticky! I have to rewash everything by hand. We had the repair man out and he claimed he could not find a problem. I'm disgusted and will never buy another kitchen aid!

The issue occurs with other brands, not just KitchenAid. There's a long thread here somewhere full of complaints about the same problem with Bosch dishwashers. It's typically related to local water conditions interacting with the choice of detergent. Try a different detergent.

We bought our KitchenAid dishwasher two years ago. It's had the same awful smell off and on. The dishes on the bottom rack smell worse than those on the top rack. We've changed detergents and we use a rinse aid. We've tried vinegar and baking soda. We always rinse our dishes before using the dishwasher and our filter was not clogged. It seems to be draining well. If anyone gets this problem resolved, please post your solution. Thank you!

Dang, I feel guilty, as my ancient Kenmore Ultra Wash never has a bad smell, even if we run a wash and don't open the dishwasher for a day or two. All we use in it is one of those pods, and any of them seem to work just fine.

I'll bet you this issue is down to government required regulations limiting the water usage per wash cycle. It's just like how you can no longer buy a washing machine that actually fills up with water and has an actual agitator. The infuriating thing about it is that we are awash in water in my area and the lakes are overflowing.

Hello Everyone - this is an additional comment from my post on April 25. After going around & around with KA and doing every single thing they asked me to do with all the cleaners and running it on the 4 hour washes I got sick of it and filed a complaint with the BBB in Michigan against Whirlpool. Amazingly, after that, they became very nice and immediately authorized Best Buy to take back my dishwasher and gave me a full credit with Best Buy to go and purchase any other dishwasher I wanted. Too bad they made me go through those lengths. The new dishwasher, also a KA, is doing well and no smell so far after only 2 weeks. We'll see how it does after a month!!!

Mine has the same smell everyone describes. I have noticed it is related to the detergent, as Dadoes says. It is especially noticeable if I use a "green" brand.

It isn't Consumer Reports' top-rated dishwasher detergent but Cascade Complete ActionPacs with Dawn is phenomenal.

Don't pre-rinse the dishes, just scrape; pre-rinsing will cause the sensor to "tell" the dishwasher the dishes are clean. Be sure the water is hot enough. I throw everything in the dishwasher, don't use any rinse aid, and my dishwasher is a 14-year-old Whirlpool.

It's not your dishwasher! It's ALL dishwashers, there is a thread on here called Dishes smell 'fishy' after dishwasher. They try to hammer out all the reasons our dishwashers are smelling awful. I believe the actual answer is that we're missing the phosphates in our detergent. There is a Cascade with Phosphates Professional Fryer Boil Out on Amazon that has phosphates (heavy duty for restaurants) that works like a charm. However, I find it leaves rust spots on my silverware. But trust me when I say it's not your dishwasher brand.

I have same dishwasher. We have to clean it every time we use i. Terrible smell. Hate it

Do you have bars or soft water?

Hard*** sorry

Soft water

That's what we have as well. We are on well and septic. We have a water softener and have found when the water softener either a) runs out of salt b) needs to regenerate that we get that swamp, nasty smell. I also have a Miele which lets me add salt (not sure if you have that option in KA, but we have found that to help as well. Then the last thing I have done is combined Cascade with Phosphates Professional Fryer Boil (on Amazon) with Somat in equal parts and we now I have no more smell. It's a very labor intensive process, LOL! But it's worth it, we haven't had that smell in ages unless of course we have a breakdown in one of the steps. Hope this helps!

Claire, Cascade Boil Out is a chlorine-based detergent. Chlorine is incompatible with enzymes (it deactivates them) so should not be combined with Somat if Somat is an enzyme detergent. Otherwise, you're just as well to use only the Cascade.

Salt is involved only if a dishwasher has an onboard water softener ... it does absolutely nothing for a dishwasher that doesn't have a softener mechanism. KitchenAid had a couple models with softeners circa 9 years ago but no current models have it AFAIK. If Wendy Mullin is referring to model KDTE254ESS of the OP, it does not.

I get that there is plethora of scientific opinions and there are many pending which thread. I have tried everything and it’s the only thing that has worked for us. I had a Miele it was terrible and old, so I got a brand new one. 2 days later same thing started again. It might scientifically not make sense but it’s worked. There is absolutely zero scientific/biological theory that has worked thus far from my hours and hours and hours of research. I’m just sharing what has worked for us, it may not work for someone else. I have tried many, many ideas that have worked for others, not to mention the money I have dumped into all the different dishwasher detergents and none of them have worked. So this is my own concoction of what works for us. Does it make sense, probably not... but I don’t have to smell it anymore.

Same issue!!! But I have figured out it has nothing to do with detergents or settings ... the computer/control board is not telling the pump to fully drain after a cycle, therefore dirty rinse water pools in the bottom and bacteria grows. If you pull out the filter you will see it’s sitting in nasty water - when it should have been pumped out. I can hit the drain button and manually drain it but it’s brand new!!! Software needs updating!

Drain periods are timed and are programmed to be long enough plus extra to fully drain the water. Only reason it wouldn't drain fully in an allotted drain period is an obstruction somewhere. Running Cancel/Drain is an extra drain so double+ the time of standard.

For whatever it's worth, I had a new KitchenAid dishwasher installed two weeks ago and have no issue with bad smells.

Wait about 3 months. That’s how long it took before the smell started In our new KA dishwasher. We’re trying putting three pieces of copper pipe inside the washer. Hopefully that will help.

HU-902712847, I love my new dishwasher and sure hope that doesn't happen.

We read several reports about new machines with plastic tubs having this problem. Owners speculated that the recycled plastic being used had impurities. Smelly impurities? Ugh. So we bought one with an all stainless steel tub, and 1 month later ... it stinks. What a disappointment. I kind of wish we had kept the old one. It was 20 years old and was 10 times noisier [seriously, the new ones are so quiet, I cannot believe people actually complain about 55 decibels, do you live in a library?] but it did not REEK.

HU-902712847, did the three pieces of copper pipe inside the dishwasher work?

@ddowhan: "So we bought one with an all stainless steel tub, and 1 month later ... it stinks."

I assume that the dishwasher drains properly (no stagnant water with debris), that the filter is clean, and that the drain hose is positioned properly with a high loop.

You could try Affresh.

I use Cascade ActionPacs which washes really well. And there's no dishwasher smell.

We had the same problem with our Frigidaire dishwasher in the house we’re renting- it was brand new when we moved in. Tried everything to figure out what was causing it to no avail. Then I happened to meet someone who works for Frigidaire and she said to try Finish Powerball detergent tablets. We did and it completely solved the problem. No idea why!

It seems that many people have the same issue I have. cheap old dishwasher from 15 years ago didn’t smell. But expensive brand new one smelled horrible the first week we got It. So what’s changed? The detergent? No! The water source? No! The plumbing? No.

the ONLY logical answer is the dishwasher. Now the question is why does the expensive new KA dishwasher smells so bad as opposed to the cheap old one.

I’ve been dealing with the horrible smell off and on for 3-1/2 years. I’ve tried everything that has been suggested on this site and then some. Some things work for a week or so and sometimes up to a month but the smell always comes back. My dishwasher is spotless. We clean the filter regularly but it’s never ever dirty. I’m trying something new now. I always empty the dishwasher right when the cycle is finished, then I pour about 1/2 cup of white vinegar right on top of the filter. So far my dishes smell great. I also use the Sani-rinse cycle (not sure how much that helps). I also always use Finish drying agent. I have a couple pieces of copper pipe in there but really don’t think that helps much. I will update in about a month if things change.

We have a new Frigidaire. 2 months old. Have tried everything to improve the smell. stainless interior back panel stays wet. Our old (26 years old!) Kenmore - plastic interior never smelled!! Don’t make them like they used to!! Disappointing.

You might want to throw some basic white vinegar inside your dishwasher. It helps destroy the smell and disinfect the unit. Some more related Tips to clean a dishwasher

So I am going to try placing a cup of coffee grounds in my dishwasher between loads. I tried everything to get a bad smell out of my camper freezer compartment years ago and the only thing that worked was the coffee grounds. It was amazing actually!

I’ve been having the same rotten garbage smell in DW. Appears to only happen during warmer months. Ours sits against an exterior south facing wall,so maybe the suns heat is getting in and under the DW somehow And causing warm conditions for bacteria to grow. We have no smell when the DW is empty.

We have the same problem with our new KA dishwasher. I tried everything above and just tonight I discovered the origin of the smell. It's the material used in the upper shelf or rack that pulls our for knives or flat things that we never use. KInd of like an outgassing from some plastic part. Thats it for sure on ours. Not sure how to eliminate it without somehow removing the shelf.

Our new KA was installed about a month ago and yes, we are getting the terrible smell! I use Finish pods and the rinse agent. I wish I had my 22 year old Maytag back! Or that I had went with the GE dw, used one at our vacation rental and no problems!

I finally feel like I have solved the problem with the garbage smell. I wrote 11 months before and told what I had been doing and my dishwasher was smelling good, but, I also had tried a few other things at the same time so I wasn't sure what exactly cured the problem. My dishwasher smelled great for about 6 months then the smell came back. So here's what cured the smell for me this time. Someone had written that KA has a problem about draining all of the water after a wash cycle. That is true...there's about 2 1/2 inches of water left where the filter is. So what I do is.... in an empty dishwasher, I close the door and press the cancel button for two seconds until it starts draining the water. After about a minute or so, the water will be gone. Then I open the door and take the filter out. I pour 1/2 cup baking soda into the space where the filter is. I microwave a cup of white vinegar (about 2 minutes) making it hot but not boiling. I pour the vinegar onto the baking soda. It will bubble. Then I shake another 1/2 cup baking soda all over the bottom of the dishwasher. Then I put a cup of white vinegar on the top rack and another cup white vinegar on the bottom rack. I wait about 15 minutes and then put the filter back into dishwasher. I start a normal cycle using hi-temp water. The smell was completely gone. Before I tried this method, I tried just white vinegar and it didn't help. The combination baking soda/vinegar did the trick. I plan on using this method every other month even if the smell doesn't come back. If any of you try this, hopefully it will work just as well for you. Also, I will NEVER EVER buy a KitchenAid dishwasher in the future.

I don't want to have to go all through that with a freaking dishwasher are you kidding me I want to put my dishes in close the door wash them and be done

Agreed, Maureen. That's my ancient Kenmore Ultra Wash dishwasher! I actually dread the day it dies.

We put in a KA dishwasher a few months ago and have had no smell issue. We run ProWash and Pro dry cycles. Everything comes out very dry. I think the Pro Dry helps a lot since it is a blower dry cycle. I am sorry you had all these issues with the smell.

BOTTOM LINE; TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW NOT TO BUY THIS NOW WRETCHED BRAND!!!!!!!!!!!!

TRY THIS.......IT IS THE ONLY THIG THAT HAS WORKED, AND IT WORKS GREAT!!! Found this in an earlier post from a few years ago. We have had 2 new diswashers, Miele and Bosch and they both left the dishes smelling terrrible, like rottten eggs. The Bosch is new construction so pipes and drainage are not the problem. I've tried the vinegar, the baking soda, lemon, everything and none worked great. Then I tried this and it's a miracle. From the previeous post "Then the last thing I have done is combined Cascade with Phosphates Professional Fryer Boil (on Amazon) with Somat in equal parts and we now I have no more smell." I only use 1/2 teaspoom of both, combined and it's amazing! It will change your dishes life :))))))

My 20yr old Kenmore dishwasher died and I just had a new Whirlpool installed Nov 2021. It is only a month old, and I've noticed a horrible smell coming from it. I'm absolutely devastated!! And after reading all the comments on here, I'm realizing it isn't just one brand having this issue. (warning: beginning of rant - sorry!) Who is hiring these "engineers" creating these junk appliances? Do they not do testing? Have appliance manufacturers just done away completely with their R&D departments?? And then have the NERVE to charge us customers, at the least, twice as much.. and for what? What are we paying for? What is going on here? Obviously I'm upset. I work too hard for my money. And what a shame... a company who prides themselves on making their products in the USA. I NEVER had an issue with odor from my old dishwasher. Not one time in 20 years. I suppose I'll try some of the things I'm reading in the previous comments to help get rid of the stench, but I'm mad as hell that I have to. Appliance manufacturers.. if it ain't broke, don't "fix" it. Go back into your 1990 archive files and start over from there when you made quality products.

@H W,

I know. Same. I bought a new Whirlpool dw in 2015. I really liked it, but after about a month, it had the most ghastly stentch that I could not get rid of. Used bleach, more detergent, less detergent, always left the door ajar, did cleaning cycles, ugh. Everything. Then I found a web site that addressed the issue back then. It said to use Borax--about half a cup, in the longest and hottest cycle. (as a dedicated cleaning cycle) I did that a few times and it helped. It was suggested to add a sprinkle of Borax going forward to prevent it coming back. I did that too, and the odor was gone.

Last year, I got a new Bosch dw and same. Ugh. This one was a bit more difficult to deal with as it uses less water than the Whirlpool did. However, I kept at it and it's fine now. I have to be careful of the detergent I use in the Bosch as it is fussy, unlike the Whirlpool was. In the Bosch I am using Lemishine dw cleaner monthly, which as far as I can tell is simply citric acid with a lemon scent. I was using the Finish dw cleaner fluid once a month, but I found that hard to obtain after a while. I find the Lemishine cleaner is slightly better. I also add a sprinkle of Lemishine booster (also citric acid, so might be a redundant purchase) to the detergent dispenser a couple times a week. Using this plan along with Finish Quantum detergent pods seems to keep odors away. I also have good luck with Cascade powder dosed at 1 1/2 TBS for my soft water--might have to use a little more with hard water. Hope that helps.

ETA, when things were at their worst with the Bosch and the odor changed to general aquarium water scent, I took the advise on some thread on this forum and put copper pieces/fittings, such as from the plumbing section of the hardware store in the dw while running cycles. That put the kabosh on the fish pond scent that was coming up. Gads. Never had these issues back in the older days. Anyways, been there, smelled that and much better now. Take care.

I had the same problem with a new Thermador. I did the installation which is very easy. The first difference I noticed between my old dishwasher and the new Thermador was that the included drain hose was shorter than my old dishwasher. I ran the hose through the hole in the kitchen cabinent for the water, electric cord, and drain hose just like the old dishwasher. No problem with plugging it into the electrical receptacle and attaching water line. But because the hose was shorter, I could only manage a 45 degree run to the highest point i could under the cabinent, attached the drain hose to the cabinent and continued with another 45 degree run to disposal and attach it. Although I managed to install the included hose with the necessary loop it was about one inch lower than recommended because it was shorter. I thought it would not be a problem. WRONG. It continued to smell weeks after installation, and after using vinegar and baking soda, rinsing the dishes completely before loading, etc . I finally decided to purchase an extension drain hose from Thermador. It solved the problem. Here is what i did. I connected the original hose to the new extension. I ran the hose along the bottom of my kitchen cabinent until i could make a 90degree turn up and attach the hose to the very highest point under the cabinent, which now was higher than the minimum recommended height from floor. I then ran the hose along the top of the cabinent, attached the hose to the cabinent in two places to keep it from sagging, ran the hose above my plumbing lines, and directly above my disposal. I then made a 90 degree turn down and attached to dishwasher. The smell is finally gone. Hope this helps.

@Randy Hatch Thank you for your comment. Your step-by-step vinegar & baking soda process worked for us with our KitchenAid dishwasher.

Our dishwasher had a bad smell (sour milk, old food... something) so I took the entire dishwasher apart (racks, filter, hoses, etc.) and cleaned everything but the smell persisted. There was no single source of the smell, it seemed to be "baked in" to the dishwasher itself. I followed Randy's suggestion and the smell has gone away. So far the smell has not returned after about 4-5 washes. If the smell starts to come back I'll do this process again as it's the only thing that's worked so far.

It's annoying to have to do it at all, but it's really not that bad to do this process once every few months if needed. Anyway, just wanted to let others know what worked for me. Thanks again Randy!

My KitchenAid dishwasher is two years old now and I have had no issues whatsoever with bad smells.

The only issue I've had is the drain pump failed within warranty and was replaced. I had a repairman out recently (I thought it was the drain pump again) but it was an obstruction in the sink drain pipe which was causing the problem, not a dishwasher problem

I got a KA dishwasher in Sept 2020 and its now Sept 2022, and the bad smell happened for the first time. This is with mostly daily use, probably 6-7 times a week. Running a vinegar cycle now. If it doesnt work, I’ll try what some other people said.

We just got a new Kitchenaid dishwasher a few days ago and the installer made a point to tell us that he installed the drain hose with a "high loop" and not a "low loop". I'm not sure what this means. We've only run it one time, no smell so far. BTW, this thing has really long cycle times, some are over 2 hours long.

A high loop means the dishwasher's drain hose is arranged as shown in this photo. It routes from the base of the dishwasher up to countertop height (where it's secured), then down to the plumbing port, either to a disposer as shown or to a T on the sink drain line if there is no disposer involved. The high loop prevents backflow (uphill against gravity) of (dirty) water from the sink or disposer into the dishwasher. A low loop has the hose on the floor and up to the drain connection, which would be a downward (with gravity) backflow route into the dishwasher.