Help! My dishwasher is smelly!

[princess pooh]

My dishwasher has a really gross smell and I don't know how to get rid of it. I run it very often so I don't think it's the smell of the dirty dishes. I've tried running it when it was empty and I've changed dishwasher detergent a few times but nothing has helped. The smell was there when we moved in but it's gotten worse over time. How do I get my dishwasher to smell normal again ?

 

[Chicago526]

Maybe some food got stuck in the drain? Can you open it up and see?

 

[PixieDust32]

Yeap, it might be food stuck there, my DH fixed ours couple times.
You can use Baking Soda too!

 

[gradtchr]

I've heard you can run an empty load through with some vinegar. Heloise usually has some great ideas on stuff like this you might check her website.

 

[Dodie]

Are you sure the smell is coming from inside your dishwasher? Have you pulled it out and looked underneath it? I ask because I had a friend who had one of Mickey's little cousins "expire" under/behind her refigerator and it took forever to figure out what the smell was. She kept cleaning out her fridge and throwing stuff away - thinking it was something inside.

 

[Poohgirl]

There is a new cleaning product out there that is like 'Jet dry', except you put it in an empty dishwasher and it takes out the stains and smells. I was going to look for it myself next time I went grocery shopping.

 

[Free4Life11]

There is a new cleaning product out there that is like 'Jet dry', except you put it in an empty dishwasher and it takes out the stains and smells. I was going to look for it myself next time I went grocery shopping.

I was gonna say the same thing. Looks pretty good...I think I'll get some next time I'm at the store.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Run your dishwasher empty with only white vinegar in where you would put the soap. It will clean it out thoroughly and safely. aw:

 

[Disney Doll]

My dishwasher has a spinny thing in the bottom, where the water comes out, that I just realized that I can take out. When I took it out, I was amazed at what was under there!!!!

I cleaned it out really well, wiped all the food gunk out, ran the dishwasher empty and it was OK. I didn't do the vinegar thing, but it probably wouldn't hurt.

 

[speedi-deedi]

The other thing to make sure you clean are the gaskets around the edge of the door. If you spill anything when you're loading it, it can get kind of smelly and mildew-y with the constant heat and moisture.

 

[Danvers]

Run your dishwasher empty with only white vinegar in where you would put the soap. It will clean it out thoroughly and safely. aw:

 

[aprilgail2]

Run your dishwasher empty with only white vinegar in where you would put the soap. It will clean it out thoroughly and safely. aw:

That thing is so small where you put the soap and the company that I got the dishwasher from told me to put a gallon of white vinegar in the dishwasher to get rid of the smell. They told me to just pour a gallon in the bottom of the dishwasher and run it through a regualr cycle.

 

[Lewski709]

I have the same problem. I tried bleach and it worked for like 2 days. I think we need a new dishwasher. I am so grossed out by the smell, I can't load it without gagging (my condition noted below doesn't help either, because I am super sensitive to smells now).

 

[poochie]

Also try sprinkling a envelope of lemonade unsweetened koolaid inside and run the diswasher empty. really cleans it out and get rid of smells too.

 

[monkeyboy]

Blame the dog

 

[princess pooh]

I just bought a big container of vinegar so I'll try that first. Thanks for the tips!

 

[inthemood]

TANG!!!


I fill both of the soap dispensers once a month now, and run it empty,it really works!!

I think this an old Heloise tip.

Also open the door all the way and wipe underneath, in the inside, you won't beleive what gets caught under there!!

hoh!

ITM

 

[PixieDust32]

 

[LadyyRedd]

My dishwasher has a spinny thing in the bottom, where the water comes out, that I just realized that I can take out. When I took it out, I was amazed at what was under there!!!!

I cleaned it out really well, wiped all the food gunk out, ran the dishwasher empty and it was OK. I didn't do the vinegar thing, but it probably wouldn't hurt.

Kind of like a spinning arm, right? I have one of those things where the water comes out too. How did you get yours out? I've been having problems with the water not coming out sporadically, so I'm thinking it needs to be cleaned out in there, but I couldn't figure out how to take that thing out, if it comes out at all.

Kimya

 

[disney funseeker]

With my old dishwasher, I took the inside apart. There were 2 parts on the bottom that were held down by screws, so I unscrewed them and wow lots of guck. I was also able to soak the parts to clean off the hard water minerals.