To say I don't like drinking perfume?

[Floralpots]

Ok, I apologise for abusing AIBU but it's driving me mad:

My dishwasher has spontaneously started to make my dishes smell and taste of flowers. It's quite a gorgeous smell, but dear god I do not appreciate floral tea and toast. I can even smell it on my hands.

To avoid any doubt:

• It's not just me, DD can smell (& taste) it too
• I've not changed dishwasher tablets
• I've not cleaned it recently probably about a year since that happened
• I've put it on an empty hot cycle (and opened it halfway through to be treated to a perfume facial)
• There's nothing on the bottom/top/sides that I can see

Wise ones please step forward and solve the divine smelling dishwasher conundrum.

Could someone have changed the setting on your rinse aid? Or could the cap have come loose?

How weird. Have you recently opened a new pack of diswasher tabs? They might have changed the smell of the ones you use, bastard manufacturers do that sometimes.

Every now and then I find that some cleaning product I've used for years without any problem has a new smell and makes me sneeze like mad.

I have duly checked the rinse aid. I have no idea what it is usually on, so I have turned it down one for good measure.

The dishwasher tablets are from the same box, however I do decant them in there when they arrive (one of those eco delivery companies that post them out to you). Potentially could have had a dodgy one?

Keep the ideas coming slightly desperate

Do you have an air conditioning system anywhere close? I think one of the most common reason for unexpected sweet / floral smells are ethylene glycol (coolant) leaks.

Get a cleaner and run it through. I clean mine every month, take out the filter and give it an good rinse through.

ethylene glycol (coolant) leaks

I hope o/p isn’t drinking and eating from utensils/cutlery contaminated with ethylene glycol!

If the tablets don't smell then clean out all the traps etc. Most likely to be something in there that's rotting a bit.

Zoflora? Did accidentally you put a dishcloth In the appliance, or wash a pot previously containing said floral disinfectant, maybe?

@bluebluezoo
Microscopic residues could be relatively harmless (relatively, of course, you are right - it is a very toxic substance), but still give out smell. I was just going through the list of every substance I know that can potentially smell "floral" (without being perfumed on purpose) and be found in a usual household.

20 points to Kinkybutkind for nailing the smell perfectly! It's definitely a Zoflo kind of vibe. I don't remember ahem putting it in anything but it certainly smells like I have. Fuck, have I really got to the stage where I've sloshed zoflora in my dishwasher and I don't fucking remember it?!

Looks like I'll need to do a proper clean of it minus the zoflo. I very much doubt I have dishwasher cleaner in, and my DD is self isolating as her bubble got popped at school, so I may have to get creative...

@Floralpots Not that I have ever done that myself of course but you could try a saucer of bicarbonate of soda left in the dishwasher overnight, door tightly closed. Next day, run it empty with a bit of bicarb and your usual tablet on its hottest setting (perfectly safe and non toxic) and with a bit of luck the next load of dishes will not be quite so fragrant !! (Disclaimer - it was the only thing that worked for me )

Oh and make sure you empty the trap/filter first. Those plastic mesh filters don’t half hold the scent...

Have you cleaned the -boak- filter?

Could the subscription company have sent you washing tablets instead of dishwasher tabs?

@Kinkybutkind I am very pleased that you have never doused your dishwasher in zoflora 😉 Bicarbonate of soda it is then. I knew Mumsnet would come up with something even if that does include further evidence of me losing it

Could you have inadvertently put washing-up liquid in instead of rinse aid?

I've done that once - couldn't find a easy way to remove it Just carried on...