Thread Number: 23158
Dishwasher Smell.....
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Post# 361379   7/3/2009 at 11:45 (5,381 days old) by chrisbsuk (Bristol, uk)        

chrisbsuk's profile picture
Hey guys,
My dishwasher has a smell inside that I dont seem to be able to get rid of; I have run it empty on a 75*C intensive cycle with TWO finish tablets, yet the smell still remains. I have taken the filters appart, and they are currently soaking in household bleach; any advice would be really appreciated!

Chris





Post# 361385 , Reply# 1   7/3/2009 at 11:52 (5,381 days old) by dj-gabriele ()        

Try running a quick cycle with a couple of glasses of vinegar. It gets rid of any smell I could think, even lingering salmon smell came away easly with that for me

Post# 361388 , Reply# 2   7/3/2009 at 12:06 (5,381 days old) by toploader1984 ()        

if that doesnt work try running a cycle with a couple of tablespoons of bleach.

Post# 361390 , Reply# 3   7/3/2009 at 12:13 (5,381 days old) by dyson2drums (United Kingdom)        

dyson2drums's profile picture
use finish dishwasher freshener, that works for me.
Its lemon/lime, nice....


Post# 361410 , Reply# 4   7/3/2009 at 15:02 (5,381 days old) by zanussi_lover (Nottingham, UK)        

zanussi_lover's profile picture
try an empty wash with bicarbinate of soda, use a few tablespoons. bicarb is an odour remover



Post# 361443 , Reply# 5   7/3/2009 at 17:10 (5,381 days old) by laundromat (Hilo, Hawaii)        

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Maybe the aroma is coming from the outer part where there's insulation. I have seen different types of rodents and other pests like cockroaches nest in the fiberglass.

Post# 361445 , Reply# 6   7/3/2009 at 17:16 (5,381 days old) by launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        

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Aside from the pump,filters, food grinder (if the unit has one), spray arms and the tub, there is little else to hold onto odors and or give them off.

Chlorine bleach will kill off germs and mould, and vinegar will do the same to some extent (though better for moulds and various odors than as a germ killer), so your problem may be between the tub and cabinet of the dishwasher.

As a previous poster stated it is not uncommon for vermin to infest dishwashers. So common that many appliance manufacturers include warnings in the owner's manual advising any or all warranties are void if the unit is installed in an area with vermin infestation.

Take a peek at the motor housing and see what there is. Look for signs of rodent activity such as chewed up bits of insulation and or "calling cards".

L.


Post# 361466 , Reply# 7   7/3/2009 at 18:56 (5,381 days old) by laundromat (Hilo, Hawaii)        

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Maybe a mouse got caught underneath by the motor.Posibly getting a shock???

Post# 361488 , Reply# 8   7/3/2009 at 21:02 (5,381 days old) by neptunebob (Pittsburgh, PA)        

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One place that can cause an odor is right under the door. When you open the door, the part of the tub right under the door can have a layer of caa caa on there. Take a wet paper towel with some dishwasher detergent and wipe this area. It is likely to be gross.

Post# 361517 , Reply# 9   7/3/2009 at 21:55 (5,381 days old) by alr2903 (TN)        

The bleach always works for me. I just can not buy into this, washing machine, dishwasher "cleaner" thing. Do you think today's machines are "feeble" or what? I can tell you 20 or 30 years ago all hell would of broke loose in an appliance showroom, at the mere suggestion that a new washer or dishwasher is dirty or stinky at the completion of it's cycle. Craigslist helped me out with a dependable care Tag. Now if i can just find a sweet Kitchenaid. I have a plastic Tappan, its a frigidaire clone.

Post# 361562 , Reply# 10   7/4/2009 at 01:00 (5,381 days old) by imperialmarkxii ()        
dishwasher smell

Hey Chris;

I have this happen because of some of the things my roommate puts in there, (Tupperware containers used to cook raw chicken in the microwave). But fortunately after the machine is run, the smell is gone.

AS others suggested, I too will add a tablespoon or two of baking soda occaisionally after the second or third time it fills. Vinegar is also great to run about 3/4 cup through at least once a month or so. This helps keep the water jets clear of mineral, and lime-scale deposits caused from hard water.

Either one I add while doing a load of dishes. Caution using bleach however' if you are washing anything made of SILVER, as it will ruin the finish. ...

This is why we reccomended DW's (when I was employed at SEARS) with Stainless Steel interiors, as they are far less likely to absorb orders than those w/plastic (like mine, as it came with the house)interiors. Also, they retain the heat better for higher temps. ...

-Russell


Post# 361569 , Reply# 11   7/4/2009 at 02:26 (5,381 days old) by spankomatic (Ukiah,CA)        

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I had this happen on the Bosch dishwasher. It was the filters.Once I cleaned them the smell went away.

Post# 361570 , Reply# 12   7/4/2009 at 02:28 (5,381 days old) by spankomatic (Ukiah,CA)        

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2

Post# 361571 , Reply# 13   7/4/2009 at 02:29 (5,381 days old) by spankomatic (Ukiah,CA)        

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3

Post# 361579 , Reply# 14   7/4/2009 at 03:27 (5,381 days old) by chestermikeuk (Rainhill *Home of the RailwayTrials* Merseyside,UK)        
Dishwasher Smells

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Hi Chris, I would try the finish dishwasher cleaner and then a rinse with bicarb...also check the waste pipe, does it have an air break?? sometimes on refits the plumbers just stick it into the sink waste trap which could siphon dirty water back in!!! seen this happen a few times and all you need to do is raise the flexi waste hose a little higher than the waste trap entry connector...hope this sorts it!!!...Mike



CLICK HERE TO GO TO chestermikeuk's LINK


Post# 361600 , Reply# 15   7/4/2009 at 07:18 (5,381 days old) by chrisbsuk (Bristol, uk)        

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hey...
thanks all for your replies - i tried the vinegar approach (as i couldnt be bothered to go to the shop to get the other bits) and it has worked! Hell knows what it was, but the machine now smells "clean" again.

Also going to replace the rinse aid with a lemon scent one, rather than the plain one currently using...



Post# 361604 , Reply# 16   7/4/2009 at 08:08 (5,381 days old) by dj-gabriele ()        
YEAH!

Glad that it worked!

Post# 361613 , Reply# 17   7/4/2009 at 08:59 (5,380 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

Other thing that works great is Tang!

Thanks John for teaching me that.


Most wierd about the idea was when I ran out of detergent and decided to load the dispenser with two envelopes of Lemon Tang. The dishes came out better than with Finish and the smell was great.


Since that, I never wanted to drink Tang again.


Post# 361660 , Reply# 18   7/4/2009 at 13:57 (5,380 days old) by roto204 (Tucson, AZ)        
Tang?

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Awesome. Maybe there's hope for those of us with vintage machines yet--we'll switch to phosphated Tang :-)

Post# 361668 , Reply# 19   7/4/2009 at 14:41 (5,380 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

LOL


Well, that's what John taught me. Use tang to remove odors.


But I decided to try a remix version of this idea and put the dishes together... there was nothing to loose. if they didn't come out clean I would just run a new cycle with detergent.


Post# 361674 , Reply# 20   7/4/2009 at 14:58 (5,380 days old) by dj-gabriele ()        
TANG?

What is that?

Post# 361694 , Reply# 21   7/4/2009 at 17:03 (5,380 days old) by ronhic (Canberra, Australia)        

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I have not had Tang since I was about 7yrs old....

...and doubt I will


CLICK HERE TO GO TO ronhic's LINK


Post# 361696 , Reply# 22   7/4/2009 at 17:05 (5,380 days old) by westie2 ()        

Tang is a powdered dring mix of different flavors.

Here is a link to read.


CLICK HERE TO GO TO westie2's LINK


Post# 361699 , Reply# 23   7/4/2009 at 17:18 (5,380 days old) by rolls_rapide (.)        
chrisbsuk

Which detergent and rinse-aid have you been using?

Ecover was useless in my mum's Zanussi several years ago, and created the most foul odour you could imagine. Switching to Finish cleared the stench.

Some food types do create smells: bowls and containers used to store raw chicken, and beaten eggs really have to be rinsed in the sink before you put them in the machine, else you may get a smell after the wash has finished. And it can be noticable on drinking vessels.


Post# 361718 , Reply# 24   7/4/2009 at 20:27 (5,380 days old) by launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Dishwasher Cleaners - Tang

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It is the citric acid you want, not "Tang" in particular.

All dishwasher and washing machine cleaners contain various mixtures of acids. Citric is the main one, but there are others as well. Dishwasher Magic claims to "disenfect" one's dishwasher as well, killing such common germs as E Coli.



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