Dishwasher smells really damp - why? How do I resolve?

Question

My dishwasher smells very damp after it has finished drying. Everything does dry OK, but smells. The DW is only 2 years old and a good brand. I have tried the usual cleaning solutions, but with very limited effect. Any idea what the issue might be and how to resolve? I use a good brand 5 in one tablet with no other salt/rinse aid. Thanks.

Answer 1

Check your outside drain..Sometimes if it's blocked the smell an come back up through the pipes.

Answer 2

Perhaps you could try the method that I use for my automatic washing machine when that begins to smell damp.

Put your machine on a wash with some soda crystals in the drawer....not only does it remove the damp smell but gives everything a good clean as well including pipework.

Good Luck !

Answer 3

could be the drains or a build up of gunk on the rubber around

the door - give this a good clean and run thru empty on hot wash with a special cleaner - also use one of the special

airfresheners and leave the door open slightly when not in use

Answer 4

mist it with OdoBan or set a cup containing distilled vinegar in it. or a cup containing a bit of bleach. Either one will abuse the damp smell.

Answer 5

Put a cup of vinegar in your dishwasher setting it to the shortest cycle and run it through that cycle with no dishes in it. Try it two or three times and it should get rid of the smell.  Then put vinegar in your rinse aid dispenser and it will help keep the smell away.  I use the cheapest liquid dishwashing degergent I can find and have no problems with smells or spots.  Keep your rinse aid dispenser filled with the vinegar and you should not have a problem with the smell returning.  No it does not make your house smell like vinegar, (maybe a little when you do the initial clean cylce).  The problem may not be in your dishwasher but in the connection lines, which will also be helped by the vinegar.

Answer 6

It might sound obvious but do you clean your filters regularly? - the little one after every wash and all the filters a couple times a month. If the filters are chocked with debris then you will get a fusty smell. Also don't use the economy or quick wash cycle all the time. Friends of mine moved into a house in a very upmarket part of town that used to belong to solicitors, the dishwasher came with the house and on moving day I helped, when opening the dishwasher was greeted by the fusty smell so lifted out all the filters to only find black mould and the fine filters chocked, the economy button was depressed. After cleaning up and telling them not to use the economy button the dishwasher has been fine. The economy/quick wash setting is too cool to kill all bacteria so if continually used there will be a build up of certain bacteria, it is fine for every now and then just not all the time.

Also I would use at least rinse aid as this is a wetting solution so causes water to run off and dry very quickly, it also leaves a pleasant smell so will also help with your problem.

I still top up the rinse aid and salt even when using 5 in 1 tablets as you will get superior results (the packet in small print actually recommends it for "Superior" results)

Answer 7

i sometimes leave the door of mine open for a while after drying just to air it a bit..