I've heard there are odor issue with Bosch dishwashers. Has this been resolved in this model null

Question

Jsimonetta · Accepted Answer

I have had mine for 18 mos, and it definitely has a horrible odor. Every week you have to clean the drain, and use some type of odor deterent. Major turnoff

Retiredrepairman · Answer

There appears to be a design flaw in Bosch dishwashers.  The smell problem is common. At the end of the dry cycle water is left in the sump.  This water remains in the sump and in hours begins to become putrid.

The solution is for Bosch to add an 'end drain cycle pump out' to remove the water that accumulates just before it turns off at the end of the dry cycle.

The first step in the wash cycles is a 'pump out.'  So they know that water is in the sump and needs to be pumped out befor they begin the wash cycles.  They may leave the water in the sump to avoid sewage gases from coming into the dishwasher.  However most of us have the drain loop into a disposer elliminating this need.

So, have they fixed this problem?  No!

HORRIBLE · Answer

Our Bosch 100 series dishwasher is less than a year and a half old and smells disgusting. The drain hose is installed correctly and we have always rinsed dishes thoroughly of food before adding them. I've run a white vinegar wash six times in the last week with virtually no improvement. I will never buy another dishwasher from this crap company.

Answered by HORRIBLE 3 years ago

UNHAPPYBOSCHCUSTOMER · Answer

I am DISGUSTED with the ongoing smell that our Bosch leaves. We can't even use it anymore.  My husband is a plumber and we have done it all, every...single...step that we have researched and were told to do. The dishes are so ordered, we can't even use them, it's like the smell is imbedded in the glass and utensils. It's quite disappointing for the cost of these machines and the fact that Bosch does NOTHING but put the blame back into the consumers hands.  There needs to be a recall or something
With how many people have this same complaint. I'm furious, im frustrated and will never own a Bosch product again.

Answer

Ours is horrible. We had someone come out within weeks of owning it. The smell is disgusting. We have tried a lot of things and nothing works. I can’t wait to replace this dishwasher! I’ll never buy or recommend a Bosch dishwasher again!

Answered by Anonymous 3 years ago

Odorfix · Answer

This is our second Bosch and yes, there was some odor when we got it. Despite what others may say, we have the discharge line set up correctly and there was still a bad odor. 
Searching online, it was suggested that: 
A. Use very little liquid dishwasher detergent. Instead of the fourth line, we fill only to the first line
B. Get a couple copper fittings (1/2" couplings are fine) from your hardware store, sand them a bit and place them on the middle rack on the rear tines. Don't say "This won't help". Copper kills algae and mold. It's a prime ingredient in swimming pool algae killer. Just leave them in place. 
C: After the dishes are dry and removed, leave the door open a bit to let it dry out. I notice that this new model actually opens the door after the cycle is complete. Nice feature. 
Since using these suggestions we have NEVER, in three years, had any recurrence of the odor problem and I don't clean the filter all that often as we rinse the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.

Answer

There IS an odor problem with Bosch dishwashers.  I bought a new Bosch dishwasher a month ago after my last Bosch died. It has had a moldy odor since DAY 1.
I called Bosch and they told me to buy freshener for it!  I am now waiting for a service team to look at it, but seeing so many people expressing the same problem opinion on line reviews I am not overly hopeful that they will be able to fix it

Answer

My solution to the odor problem is to never leave the door closed. Had it replumbed with higher loop to better drain, used cleaners, etc. Nothing works except keeping the door open. Definitely a design flaw . Bosch customer service not at all helpful

Answered by Anonymous 3 years ago

Answer

Ours also stinks. Purchased January 2022 and it was stinking within a week. We've been told to change our detergent, use less detergent, vinegar wash, Dishwasher Magic...nothing helps. Repair guy is coming out today (third time) to replace the drain line, so we'll see if that helps. Our ancient Frigidaire never had ANY problems until the motor started dying after 11+ years, regardless of what detergent we used or how much.

Answered by Anonymous 3 years ago

KCphasersonstun · Answer

The odor is a Bosch issue but easily rectified.. If the drain hose is installed correctly, there is no problem. The drain hose must exit the dishwasher area higher than the height of the garbage disposal/drain. That way all the waste water either goes down the drain or back into the dishwasher. Ours works perfectly with no odor.

Answered by KCphasersonstun 6 years ago

Answer

I've had this ongoing problem for 4 years. I've been in the store many times and the only answer I got was leave the door open a crack.. Since it automatically closes I did two things that two other people suggested and this solved my problem finally. I put a clothespin on the rack and this kept the door open about 2 in. I put a capful of bleach in the water sitting in the bottom after the washer was done and this solved the problem of the smell. Their problem is they do not empty the 2 in of water thats left sitting in there  that immediately starts to smell after the dishwasher was done. Thankfully they emptied it before the next wash but this was their mistake and they knew it and should have solved it. No amount of cycling vinegar and cleaning agents in this dishwasher is going to help at all.

Anne · Answer

Wish I had seen this thread before I bought my Bosch. I have the same issue as others and use the turkey baster method to get that stinky water out of the bottom. I keep cleaning out the filters and finding nothing in there. My drain hose also looks fine. It’s time consuming and gross to clean out the water. Will never buy another Bosch.

Answer

Bosch needs to do a major recall on these dishwashers! They have a problem and they know it! They finally replaced our dishwasher even though it was past the one year warranty, because the smell was constant and ruined most of our dishes! They replaced it with the exact same model and the smell is creeping right back!

nwise · Answer

I purchased my Bosch dishwasher about 2 years ago. I thought I was being smart by buying top of the line. I was so wrong. The smells are absolutely disgusting. When I add a dish to my dishwasher, I always hold my breath. I tell anyone who will listen to stay away from this brand. I never had any problems with my other dishwashers. I have tried all the possible solutions that people have recommended but nothing worked. The only thing that helps a little is keeping the inside of the door dry. I wipe it off every time and keep the filter clean. It still smells most times. I would NEVER RECOMMEND A BOCHE DISHWASHER

Answer

Just installed our brand new Bosch dishwasher last night and already the smell began after very first wash! We had trouble with our last Bosch smelling badly and stupidly decided to get another one after the last died (only 6 years old!). The fact that the smell started after one wash with a brand new dishwasher is pretty appalling.

Steve · Answer

At the end of the dry cycle the air inside the dishwasher begins to smell like hot garbage. This is the top rated Bosch with “Crystal Dry”. The smell clings to the dishes and all the dishes need to be rinsed by hand after being “cleaned”  before using.

Anonymous · Answer

Yes our brand new dishwasher smells absolutely terrible. It is ruining our stainless water bottles. It is installed correctly with the drain line elevated. Unless Bosch recalls this dishwasher I will absolutely never purchase another.

Answer

We are also having a horrible smell issue with our Bosch dishwasher. It was purchased a year ago and after approximately 7 months, the smell started. We've smelled it in the dishwasher, on our bowls and plates (many times food on the plate reactivates the smell), and at times even throughout the kitchen. Sometimes it’s barely there and other times it’s crazy strong. We’ve tried all suggested remedies and even had a Bosch approved repairman come out with no resolution. The repairman said it was set up correctly and the filter was clean so he didn’t have suggestions. He didn’t smell it so it must be we’re “hypersensitive.”  We have a whole house water purification system complete with softener and uv light so we know without a doubt the water going in is clean.  We loved our previous Bosch which lasted 14 years. Sadly, we will probably end up replacing this new dishwasher with another brand soon. So much money wasted by staying loyal to Bosch when we shouldn’t have.

Soledad · Answer

Ours stinks and makes all dishes stink immediately after wash. The only solution I've found thus far is adding a little bit of bleach with every load. It's annoying to do it but even more annoying when you forget because the smell comes back right away. On the other hand, it's kind of a simple solution.

Stantheman · Answer

Our second Bosch dishwasher and we did not experience any odor issues with the first one.

BadOdor · Answer

Also have had horrible “ fishy” smell, cleaned the drain filter, vinegar, cleaner, baking soda, sterilization cycles, and sucking out all of the residual water before starting the next cycle, and having a service call to check the installation. Got so bad on the dishes I had to handwash everything twice to get the stink off.

Seems a bit better now by draping a dishtowel to keep the door open during the drying cycle, time will tell. But so much problem - I will never buy or recommend Bosch in the future.

Answer

Just purchased BOSC dishwasher and cant help but notice bad odour coming from machine. Ive only used it three times and smells of rotten food ecen with nothing in it....ive sprinkled baking soda and vinegar and still smells

AndrewinLouisville · Answer

My Bosch SHP 865 is about 4 years old and stinks.  After I run it, it's OK for a couple of days and then this unholy stink develops.  It cleans fine and is quiet - no complaints there.  I clean the filter cylinder regularly. So I called customer service.  There is only one of me so I run it maybe every four or five days.  "That's your problem!"  It is designed to be run daily.  Funny, there is no mention of that in the manual and the sales guy at Lowes certainly did not mention it.  Because it does not expel all the water at the end of the cycle, the remaining water develops a smell after a few days.   I've had 4 Bosch dishwashers in 4 houses over the last 20 years - I like Bosch stuff for cars -  but this is the last Bosch DW I will buy.

BadsmellinBoschdishwasher · Answer

My solution is to remove filter in the bottom and tray as well as the spin arms. The spin arms retain water also.  Empty this water into the bottom of the dishwasher.  Then I use a turkey blaster to suck the standing water that wells up where the filter resides..  It’s seems ridiculous but you will not have a hard boiled egg smell in your dishwasher anymore!

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I just bought the Bosch 800 ADA model in June 2024 and it smells awful.  It appears the back wall just will not dry.  Over $1200 and just appalling. My cheap old dishwasher never smelled.  A recall needs to happen. Do not but this dishwasher.

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So angry about this. Our whole house smells putrid because of this dishwasher. Joke of a product!

anon · Answer

Did you notice the thing is "on clearance"?

That should tell you something

I wouldn't take it if you gave it to me. I'm going to rip mine out and get one made by someone else

It stinks and if I have to clean the filter every time, I might as well just hand wash the dishes instead

Truending · Answer

I’ve bought a brand new Bosch dishwasher in 2020 and the disgusting smell was there even after the first wash, in which only brand new dishes bought from supermarket (no food particles) were washed. So definitely it is not an issue of drain hose (which is correct) or food or dirtiness. It’s all about the design of the machine. I read somewhere that the new water heating system used in many new dishwashers generates these chemicals which give off odor. I guess it is true. It is really frustrating because you can’t convince the Bosch service because the odor can’t be seen.

Answer

I’ve had the same issue with a horrible odor immediately after use when the cycle stops. It does penetrate the dishes. Bosch was of no help. I’ve learned that if I stop the cycle a few minutes b4 the end and open the door, I don’t get the odor at all. I’m not sure why this works but it does. It’s very inconvenient bc it means you have to catch the cycle b4 it ends. I need to replace our DW in our Fl home and won’t be buying a Bosch. For $1k I expect more. Is this too much to ask for clean smelling dishes?

Hero · Answer

August 2024 and still an issue with these. Extremely disappointing.

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Same issue. Water does stay in the bottom but is seems like a broader issue. Never had a problem with our previous dishwasher, which was not a Bosch…

Fishysmellingdishes · Answer

Don't buy it!! We got ours early 2022, snd it was the higher end model.  After the first week, our dishes started to smell like fish. It is intermittent and for a short time, i thought it was fixed but then it came back  There's no amount of vinegar or baking soda that will prevent the smell from attaching to our dishes.  We have had serviced it with no luck, they just gave me a year supply of cleaners which did nothing.  We had the drain hose redone with the recommended loop, with no improvement.   finally, my husband  removed drain line from the disposal to drain separately amd still the smell persists.  I have washed dishes with copper and no luck. I have resorted to using bleach periodically but that doesn't work always,; i read someone adds bleach every wash and i may try that.  Sometimes, i think the dishes funny smell but once liquid or heat on them , it reactivates the smell and it basically ruins my dinner until i can find a plate or glass without the smell.

I despise the dishwasher and am disappointed that Bosch never did anything to fix it other than give me the years worth of cleaner, which was worthless. We are done with it and looking for anything other than a Bosch.

Bosch, if you read these reviews, you should buy everyone a new dishwasher, non Bosch and even compensationsate for all the meals you ruined, extra time, energy, water, detergent, vinegar, baking soda, cleanee, bleach,  used to rewash and try to kill the smell.

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Piece of garbage. Dishes smell like dead fish, absolute waste of money.

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Not solved. The base is plastic and the sides are stainless. The seal between theses to is cheap and allows food and crud to build up and stink. I am trying caulking to seal this area. First time did  not work so tomorrow I am trying different caulking. Do not buy this product.

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Sorry to say that I don't know if it's resolved, but I found a fix.

I stitched a "tube" with big weights (some unneeded towel rack ends) on each side. When it's not running, I put one end inside the top rack and let the other end hang out. It prevents the door from closing, and the air stays fresh.

I also try to be home or nearly home when the cycle ends so that I can open the door and let everything dry.

Answer

NO!

Tippy · Answer

It's not enough to connect to a garbage disposal, the drain hose must be looped adequately.  I almost always install the dishwashers instead of having others do it.   That said, I have an old Bosch (in a house I bought) that died only because parts no longer available, and it never had the drain hose looped the way it should have been, but still no odor.  The hose was too short.  We use our dishwasher on average 10 times a week so water remaining in the dishwasher would never get putrid.  I'm putting this 500 series dishwasher in my lower kitchen, and Ill respond back here when I've run it a few months.  Whether I install a Bosch in the upper kitchen depends on my experience with this one.

Stinkydishes · Answer

No not resolved I am experiencing the same - it leaves a vile smell on the dishes which is so off putting - leaving it open sounds like an awful “solution” if I’m honest aswell because the smell then permiates the kitchen and no body wants that - desperate for a real fix

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I purchased the Bosch SilencePlus 44 3 years ago and the odor has never gone away.  Within 2 days of washing a cycle the smell...odor....is BACK!
There should be a recall on this product to fix

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Not in mine.  I've had it for a year...it has always had an odor.  I didn't expect to have to keep the dw door open all the time...not a great look.  I hate this dishwasher.

Craig · Answer

I have one it stinks bad for over 2 years now its smells like the worst breath you've ever smelled. I've tried everything
i pulled the unit out and there's a clear plastic area when you can see water is getting trapped there's no way to fix it. the water inside is yellow and that area of the dishwasher is where the strongest smell is. I added a photo so you can see where the water is getting tapped

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My 25yo daughter and I ALWAYS smell garlic when opening the clean or dirty dw. She said she even smells it in her special tumblers after washing. I've tried the Finish dw cleaner things, have cleaned the filter, and now am trying a vinegar wash. Not cool, Bosch.

JimKslc · Answer

NO! There is always a puddle of water below the filter in the bottom that does not get pumped out, and it stinks almost immediately.

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Yes! There is nothing you can do about it and it is repulsive. Do not buy a Bosch dishwasher under any circumstances.

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Yes, do not purchase this, it is complete garbage.
Mine has not worked because of the order issue from day one, and I have to throw it away. I've called Bosch many times and they won't do anything to help me. Would NOT recommend this, why get a dish washer that makes your dirty dishes even worse! Garbage.

Dennis · Answer

After many months trying to eliminate the odor, I removed the third rack and no longer have a problem.

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Still unresolved the smell.

HSHIII · Answer

No

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No. It is the worst. Nothing helps. Would never buy this brand again for this and several other reasons. Wish I had researched better!

Hokie · Answer

Yes. Bosch dishwashers emanate the fishy odor. I had that in the older one that we had and also on the new one that we got just a few weeks after we bought it. It persisted despite cleaning the filers and the dishwasher.

I read that a copper tube placed inside the dishwasher eliminates this issue. I was skeptical, but got a small piece of copper pipe from the hardware store and placed it in the second rack.

It has been 2 months and we have not had smelly dishes  since then! The copper seems to work!

Ozzie · Answer

I have not had a problem

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It took about 8 months to figure this out. Surprisingly, the top rack was not seating into the connector on the back wall, so clean dishes always smelled like lake water because wash and rinse water never made it to the top spray arm.  The dishes just cooked in the moist heat from below - it wasn't the putrid smell I've read in this forum, but definitely a loud smell that could be rinsed off.  Since removing the top rack and freeing the bound up sliding connector, i haven't noticed the problem.  I can feel the top rack seat into the back connector now.

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I’ve had mine for 5 years and noticed an odor for the first time yesterday. It helps to rinse off any food residue before placing dishes in the dishwasher

Happy58 · Answer

I bought our dishwasher approximately a year ago, I’m very pleased and we haven’t had any odor problems.

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No 2023

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no

“I've heard there are odor issue with Bosch dishwashers. Has this been resolved in this model”

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