The new dishwasher smell comes primarily from two components: the bitumen insulation on the exterior used in many brands and/or the plastic interior parts used in some brands.
There are also electrical and motor parts that have some off-gassing when new.
I would highly recommend getting a dishwasher without bitumen if you are sensitive to VOC (volatile organic compound) odors. The bitumen smells quite strong and takes a while to fully dissipate.
I would also recommend getting wire racks coated in polyester rather than PCV (polyvinyl chloride also just called vinyl), as PVC tends to have more of an odor (and also contains plasticizers).
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So, what to do if you already have a dishwasher that is creating a strong smell?
First, be aware that once you have used the dishwasher it cannot be returned so if you already can tell it smells strong without using it, check if it has bitumen and PVC and consider returning it for one that doesn’t.
However, I’m assuming you got to this article because you ran your new dishwasher and found it has a strong odor….
Off-gassing the Bitumen Odor
The bitumen odor may only be noticeable when the dishwasher is running. And we do need the heat of running the dishwasher to off-gas this component.
The best way to go about this is to run the dishwasher with lots of ventilation. If you are super sensitive to this then it’s best to be out of the room while someone else does this.
The most cautious approach for those who are very sensitive to chemicals would be to install a plastic remediation door to block off the kitchen area from the rest of the house (if possible).
Then use your kitchen stove exhaust fan to move indoor air out while also opening a window (or door) in the kitchen to move fresh air in.
If you don’t have an exhaust fan in your kitchen, you could use a fan going out of one of your kitchen windows or doors.
Just keep in mind where the air is moving to and coming in from, as you don’t want to move the air into the rest of the house but rather keep it moving out of the kitchen.
The first few days will be the worst but it can take months to go down to an acceptable level (depending on how sensitive you are).
Off-gassing the Internal Plastic Parts
There are various plastic components on the inside.
Some dishwashers have a full plastic interior (those that are not stainless steel inside).
There are also smaller plastic components that might have more off-gassing on the inside and then there are the nylon or PVC-coated racks.
For the racks you can remove them and set them outside in the sun to off-gas, same with any smaller parts that can be removed.
If you do well with essential oils you can also wash these parts with either citrus oils or peppermint oils (mixed into dish soap). This helps dissipate and break down chemicals.
(Also, if you have a used dishwasher that smells like synthetic fragrances, citrus oils are very helpful to break those synthetic fragrances down).
If the interior is all plastic then you can also add citrus or peppermint oils to a liquid dishwasher soap and run that through the dishwasher. Run it on the highest heat setting.
This will volatilize the oils so be sure that you do well with these kinds of natural aromas.
If you can’t use essential oils, just run it with dishwasher soap.
If you can leave the door to the dishwasher open, this will help it to off-gas as well. But if it’s bothering you too much to leave open, strategically use the methods in the article just when you are running it.
Off-gassing Internal Stainless Steel Parts
If the interior of the dishwasher is stainless steel than it likely has bitumen insulation on the outside which is going to be the main cause of the odors coming off of the unit.
If the interior has any chemical odors they will likely be removed by just running it with dishwasher soap.
Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.
Guest
“I would highly recommend getting a dishwasher without bitumen if you are sensitive to VOC (volatile organic compound) odors. ”
The issue is that, in 2026, there are NO dishwashers that do NOT contain bitumen. Even the plastic-tub models do now.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
there are some
Jayna
Which dishwashers do not have bitumen?
Thanks,
JM
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
in the post on non toxic appliances
Janey
Hello, should I be concerned about harmful residues on the dishes that are going through in these first few cycles? I’ve been hesitant to put them away. I picked one up out of the upper tray this morning, and although the chemical smell is definitely diminishing, I thought I could smell it on the ceramic bowl.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
glazed ceramic is not porous
Janey
Rinsing the dishes under the tap cleared the smell off them. I’m a renter, so I don’t have a lot of control over which appliances are installed. Our last dishwasher was leaking.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
ok yeah it wont absorb it but maybe run it a few times to offgas everything
Deborah Troxell
What about the glasses and silverware? This bitumen smell is on my dishes.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
you may have to rinse them
Marjolein Eweg
Came across a video that shows how to replace dishwasher insulation. Made me wonder if I could have the bitumen insulation in our dishwasher replaced with a different type of insulation. Not sure if the bitumen is an insulated layer or sprayed / baked on. If it’s a layer that can be removed, I’d prefer to put rockwool insulation in place of the bitumen. I’d be curious to hear your point of view on this.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
it’s def usually baked on, but I think it also comes in sheets
Chloe
Hi do you have a specific brand recommendation? All of Bosch has smart capabilities/wifi now 🙁
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
yes there are some brands recommendations in the article on non toxic appliances. however wifi is not a consideration for me, just the toxicity of materials.
Sarah
Any recommendations for a good dishwasher detergent/soap? I’ve tried so many different kinds over the years and they were bad for a host of reasons (7th Gen left a white film all over the stainless steel that’s almost impossible to remove, others don’t seem to actually clean, etc).
(PS Still off gassing the Bosch I bought a couple of months ago. sigh. Nice to see you made a new blog on the topic of off gassing dishwashers! I discovered there were several smaller moving parts that stunk really badly and a few could be removed to wash or otherwise off-gas independently including the utensil rack, the sprayer arms, and a couple of parts realted to the drain. fyi)
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
thanks for the update on bosch. i haven’t had a dishwasher most of my life and can’t remember what i used last i had one. but you might try branch basics tablets
Sarah
Thanks, Corrine. Much appreciated, as always!
Tammy
Do you hand wash your dishes? If so, what soap do you use?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
i do yes, im not that picky about dishsoap, i rotate between the ones i have reviewed on this site. i dont have chemical sensitivities though.