topic Re: Dishwasher smells in Community Chat

Dishwasher smells

zitawins — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 15:17:45 GMT

We have a fairly new (three years old) GE dishwasher that regularly smells fishy when I go to take out the dishes. I sometimes run it again with another hot rinse or take out the dishes and wash by hand.

We had a serviceman out who said to run bleach and hot water through the cycle because bacteria gets caught in the hose. We do that and it lasts maybe 10 days and then the smell is back. It's so annoying and distasteful.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Are we the only ones who have this problem?

thanks!

Re: Dishwasher smells

Sooner — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 15:20:15 GMT

Rinse dishes better before you load it; run it every night no matter how many dishes you have in it; clean the filter regularly. And do what the guy said every week if you have you.

ALSO you might have a look behind it maybe call a plumber because it might be leaking somewhere, or maybe the sink drain is backed up and clogged where it drains.

Re: Dishwasher smells

deeva — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 15:25:42 GMT

Maybe there's a kink in your hose that keeps the water from draining completely. Clean the filter regularly.

Re: Dishwasher smells

Still Raining — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 15:26:34 GMT

Often a dishwasher drains over by the disposal. Might check there.

They do a filter/trap in the pan which can be taken out and cleaned.

Are the jets clear?

Re: Dishwasher smells

Sooner — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 15:28:51 GMT

If you don't have Mr. Scrappy you need to get one! It is a brush that cleans the garbage disposal in a way nothing else does!

Amazon used to have then and maybe still does! But in any case everyone needs one of these and it is something I learned about on these boards!

Re: Dishwasher smells

Still Raining — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 15:33:00 GMT

@Sooner wrote:
If you don't have Mr. Scrappy you need to get one! It is a brush that cleans the garbage disposal in a way nothing else does!

Amazon used to have then and maybe still does! But in any case everyone needs one of these and it is something I learned about on these boards!

And the underside of the skirt. My &$# how can people live with that. Rant over.

Re: Dishwasher smells

SXMGirl — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 15:33:52 GMT

@zitawins I also have a new dishwasher and was finding the same problem. I put cleaning vinegar and baking soda in my disposal and clean the filter regularly. I also wipe down the dishwasher after each use. Make sure to rinse dishes well before putting in the washer.

Re: Dishwasher smells

Burnsite — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 15:34:06 GMT

I run a dishwasher cycle using a product called Affresh, recommended in the product leaflet. I use it every two months or so, so it lasts longer than 10 days. I wonder if your water pressure is low, and causing less water to circulate during the rinse cycle?.

My washing machine also gets a dose of the washer version of Affresh once in a while.

Re: Dishwasher smells

proudlyfromNJ — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 15:37:01 GMT

@Still Raining wrote:
@Sooner wrote:
If you don't have Mr. Scrappy you need to get one! It is a brush that cleans the garbage disposal in a way nothing else does!

Amazon used to have then and maybe still does! But in any case everyone needs one of these and it is something I learned about on these boards!

And the underside of the skirt. My &$# how can people live with that. Rant over.

@Still Raining Yes, I would stick my hand in on the underside right near the top. Would use a paper towel and the stuff that came out was horrible! I got rid of the garbage disposal.

Re: Dishwasher smells

fthunt — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 15:42:16 GMT

Do you have a dispenser for a final rinse application to prevent spots - for product called FINISH? That leaves a nice smell.

And do you have a drying cycle? That temperature gets very hot and sanitizes the load.

I have a GE and never had a bad smell of any kind.

Re: Dishwasher smells

Fressa — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 16:17:49 GMT

I use those Affresh tablets in mine. I get them at BBB but I've seen them in the grocery stores, etc. These things work.

Re: Dishwasher smells

Porcelain — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 16:20:28 GMT

@Burnsite wrote:
I run a dishwasher cycle using a product called Affresh, recommended in the product leaflet. I use it every two months or so, so it lasts longer than 10 days. I wonder if your water pressure is low, and causing less water to circulate during the rinse cycle?.

My washing machine also gets a dose of the washer version of Affresh once in a while.

Another vote here for Affresh. We also use the dishwasher version and the clothes washer version.

Re: Dishwasher smells

qualitygal — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 17:26:28 GMT

There is a cleaner for washing machines, that might work in a dishwasher. However, first, I'd call that company and see what they say about that. They have hoses too.

Re: Dishwasher smells

Sooner — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 17:30:22 GMT

@proudlyfromNJ wrote:

@Still Raining wrote:
@Sooner wrote:
If you don't have Mr. Scrappy you need to get one! It is a brush that cleans the garbage disposal in a way nothing else does!

Amazon used to have then and maybe still does! But in any case everyone needs one of these and it is something I learned about on these boards!

And the underside of the skirt. My &$# how can people live with that. Rant over.
@Still Raining Yes, I would stick my hand in on the underside right near the top. Would use a paper towel and the stuff that came out was horrible! I got rid of the garbage disposal.

@proudlyfromNJ @Still Raining

Mr. Scrappy does that too. You just raise it up and the top of the brushes will get around that flap in the disposer.

Re: Dishwasher smells

jackthebear — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 17:57:45 GMT

clean the DW filter

clean the DW

Re: Dishwasher smells

ECBG — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 19:54:31 GMT

@zitawins I agree with @Sooner .

I do run my dishes under water and drag a plastic net scrubber over them. No, they're not washed. (No soap.)

Food goes down the sink disposal. I don't ever put my pots and pans in the dish washer and I do run it with clorox from time to time.

Your dishwasher is connected to your kitchen sink. If you don't have a disposal, that may be the issue.

Re: Dishwasher smells

Judaline — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 20:14:23 GMT

OMgosh, I have this problem. I have done everything here but the Clorox. I'm not comfortable using it on something I eat off. Anyway, I had a Kenmore and got a new Kenmore when the old one died after 20 years. I think from day 1 the new one smelled. Kind of a wet dog smell tinged with creek water. Yep. Bad. I called them to come out 3X while it was still under warranty. I asked them if it could have been hooked up wrong, NOPE. How about the disposal backing up? Nope. "Everything looks good." The only thing that works at all is switching the detergent as soon as it starts up. (I often got rid of the smell when I switched) I keep switching. I always rinse my dishes first. I would never put anything that had egg on it into the dishwasher till it was clean. My first Kenmore NEVER did this. So I'm stuck with what I have. I tried the heated dry and really liked the results, but it still smelled. Thank you so much for posting this stinky problem.

Re: Dishwasher smells

EatWell — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 20:17:13 GMT

@zitawins wrote:
We have a fairly new (three years old) GE dishwasher that regularly smells fishy when I go to take out the dishes. I sometimes run it again with another hot rinse or take out the dishes and wash by hand.

We had a serviceman out who said to run bleach and hot water through the cycle because bacteria gets caught in the hose. We do that and it lasts maybe 10 days and then the smell is back. It's so annoying and distasteful.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Are we the only ones who have this problem?

thanks!

@zitawins

Try a 16 oz. bottle of white distilled vinegar next time you run your dishwasher.

Re: Dishwasher smells

proudlyfromNJ — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 20:16:35 GMT

I grew up in NJ and never heard of a garbage disposal. Have lived in a few other states and never heard of them there either. Have been in NY for forty years and my boss had one. That's when I got one but couldn't clean it so goodby it went. They may be a regional thing.

Re: Dishwasher smells

EatWell — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 20:22:16 GMT

@zitawins

Pour In a 16 oz. bottle of distilled white vinegar before you run your dishwasher.

You night have to do it several times before the smell goes away.