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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Crockery smells after dishwasher clean

29 replies

WutheringMights · 09/08/2024 08:03

Posting to see if anyone has had the same problem and can offer their advice.

I have a Siemens dishwasher. I run the 70 degree hot wash and extra dry cycle every 3 days when the dishwasher is full. Dishes come out clean but they smell like dirty stagnant pond water.

The machine is cleaned once a month with the finish dishwasher cleaner on the machine care cycle. The door seal is wiped, the filter removed and scrubbed and even the water that sits beneath the filter by the pump is sponged out and that area wiped down. I've even removed both arms and washed them through to make sure none of the holes are blocked with debris.

What else could be generating this smell? It puts me off eating breakfast / dinner when the crockery smells so bad.

I suppose the only answer is a new dishwasher but other than the smell, it works. Has anyone else experienced this problem?

OP posts:
crazycatladie · 09/08/2024 09:41

I would buy a finish deo and put it in every day and use the half load setting.

Dearg · 09/08/2024 09:45

I think it could be the length of time between washes. My Siemens has half load and speed vario cycles, so I can do a 70 degree intensive half load in less than 90 minutes.

I would do that daily. Also if you are around, open the door when the wash finishes .
Some machines will let you set that automatically but I don’t think mine does.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 09/08/2024 09:49

Does the dishwasher itself smell inside?

If you 'sponge out' the water beneath the filter, I would fill it again with clean water as it may act a bit like a U-bend to prevent.

You could replace to rubber supply hose(s), or at least remove them and put them in a bowl of boiling water.

WutheringMights · 09/08/2024 10:09

crazycatladie · 09/08/2024 09:41

I would buy a finish deo and put it in every day and use the half load setting.

Yes I have the deo thing inside (albeit the Tesco own version). That makes the dishwasher itself smell lovely but the crockery still comes out smelling of stagnant water.

I will try the half load setting and see if that's an improvement- thank you!

OP posts:
WutheringMights · 09/08/2024 10:11

Dearg · 09/08/2024 09:45

I think it could be the length of time between washes. My Siemens has half load and speed vario cycles, so I can do a 70 degree intensive half load in less than 90 minutes.

I would do that daily. Also if you are around, open the door when the wash finishes .
Some machines will let you set that automatically but I don’t think mine does.

Yes, mine has the speed vario cycle so I will try the half load and see if that makes a difference. Leaving the door open after emptying is a good idea. I'll try that too - thank you!

OP posts:
dontforgetme · 09/08/2024 10:14

I can smell 'dishwasher smell' but my oh swears he can't smell a thing. On holiday this year it was particularly bad with the hotels crockery. I am genuinely starting to feel like it's just me and my sensitive nose!

Our dishwasher is on once a day and in between that I have started to leave it open to air out as I do with the washing machine door.

WutheringMights · 09/08/2024 10:14

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 09/08/2024 09:49

Does the dishwasher itself smell inside?

If you 'sponge out' the water beneath the filter, I would fill it again with clean water as it may act a bit like a U-bend to prevent.

You could replace to rubber supply hose(s), or at least remove them and put them in a bowl of boiling water.

The dishwasher itself doesn't smell. I have one of those deo things hanging inside so it smells of lemons when it's freshly emptied. It's just the crockery that smells awful.

The rubber supply hose is the last thing I haven't tried. I'll be honest, i was trying to eliminate everything else before trying to wiggle the machine out of the gap to get to the hose. I think I'll do that next though. Anything is worth a try at this point. Thank you!

OP posts:
TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 09/08/2024 10:37

I would try different dishwasher tablets (you've probably done this already) I have found that some cheap ones seem to leave the surface feeling a bit rough. I now tend to buy the 'Ultimate' ones but they are expensive and so I only buy them when on offer (Tesco Clubcard).

The only other thing I can think of is that it is related to with the 'rinse aid' feature. As I would guess that is probably only used on the final rinse. One way to check this might be to interrupt it before it finishes and take something out and see if it smells.

You can do all of this before trying to get to the dishwasher out. I had to move ours and found the 'easiest' way was to tip it slightly and slide some cardboard under the front feet and then I could slide it a bit more easily (but not that much!)

RespondingToYou · 09/08/2024 10:47

Try unloading the dishwasher, filling the detergent compartment with citric acid powder and using the hottest wash possible. This removes the grease - imo crockery and cutlery smell, when there’s a problem, of greasy dogs’ fur (and we have dogs).

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 09/08/2024 11:21

One more thing. I don't think it will be the rubber hose, as that would mean it would be tainting the supplied water and you would notice that as soon as you open the dishwasher.

I would try the suggestion of @RespondingToYou

And investigste the rinse aid feature. I once topped it up with a some kitchen cleaner by mistake! It hasn't seemed to have affected any of us though. 😜🤪 (but I wouldn't recommend it.)

IdLikeToBeAFraser · 09/08/2024 11:26

I think no matter how good your machine is, if you're leaving things in there for three days before washing, that's not really ideal. I think you need to run it more often.

Do a proper clean and delimescale with something like the Engineers dishwasher clean stuff - quite pricey but effective. Also check your salt and rinse aid are full.

I sometimes put a halved lemon in and do a cycle just to freshen things up.

RespondingToYou · 09/08/2024 12:09

A dishwasher engineer gave me tip I’ve given here but I’m also interested in your suggestion @IdLikeToBeAFraser. Can you be more specific or give a link please?

Doingmybest12 · 09/08/2024 12:30

Three days for dirty plates in an enclosed place is horrible at this time of year. Do you do a rinse when you leave dirty pots in there?
I just put my washer on every day regardless of how much space is left . I think on days with less to wash it helps to flush out the debris. I also usually try to do a hot empty cycle once a week which does seem to help.

WutheringMights · 09/08/2024 12:36

@Doingmybest12 & @IdLikeToBeAFraser you are both absolutely right. 3 days is too long and I hadn't really thought about it until you pointed it out.

I do always rinse things before going in the dishwasher and I never put pots or pans in there. Even so, I wouldn't dream of leaving dirty crockery in the washing up bowl for 3 days so why am I doing it with the dishwasher 🫣

I will run it every 1-2 days regardless how much is in there and I will leave the door open after emptying.

OP posts:
WutheringMights · 09/08/2024 13:06

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 09/08/2024 10:37

I would try different dishwasher tablets (you've probably done this already) I have found that some cheap ones seem to leave the surface feeling a bit rough. I now tend to buy the 'Ultimate' ones but they are expensive and so I only buy them when on offer (Tesco Clubcard).

The only other thing I can think of is that it is related to with the 'rinse aid' feature. As I would guess that is probably only used on the final rinse. One way to check this might be to interrupt it before it finishes and take something out and see if it smells.

You can do all of this before trying to get to the dishwasher out. I had to move ours and found the 'easiest' way was to tip it slightly and slide some cardboard under the front feet and then I could slide it a bit more easily (but not that much!)

I will try without rinse aid. Is smelly rinse aid a thing? I'm willing to try everything mentioned here before replacing the machine.

Thanks for the cardboard tip as well. I'll do this if my final check needs to be the filling hose. As others have mentioned, the machine would likely smell if it's that and it's just the dishes that smell.

OP posts:
Ihateslugs · 09/08/2024 13:13

I live alone and only put my dishwasher on when it’s full, maybe twice a week. Yes, it smells a bit when I open the door to put something in, especially in hot weather but I just try not to breathe and be quick! I use Tesco brand three in one tablets and my crockery does not smell when it comes out. I rarely rinse the plates or bowls before putting them in unless I’ve cooked fish or something very smelly.

I put the machine on a long hot wash intended for very dirty dishes and open the door as soon as it is finished - I like to remove the cutlery basket so my knives don’t get pitted. I don’t leave the door open once I’ve emptied the dishwasher as it’s in a prominent place in my kitchen and I tend to lean against it anyway when using the worktop.

Obviously I clean the filter thingy every now and again, probably not as often as I should and rarely wipe down the door, seal or insides - I have mobility issues and it’s quite painful to do housework. I did have a problem last week when a few things were still dirty after the wash so looked at the filter and found it clogged with a fairly large piece of silicone which had come of my tongs!

My dishwasher is a basic one, about six years old, not expensive so I guess I am just lucky regarding smells and quality of cleaning. I have a good sense of smell according to my children, they tell me I can smell things that they can’t!

Buying a new machine is a drastic measure but might be necessary if you have tried everything else, especially if you have only noticed this smell with this machine not the previous one.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 09/08/2024 13:18

It could be the something moulding in the rinse aid compartment. You could try pouring boiling water in there, I have not idea if that is a good or bad thing to do but you seemed to have explored all the other options.

You could try a wash with a couple of items and no dishwasher tablet, see if it smells then? Just to try and narrow it down.

Now I think about it I'm pretty sure it won't be the rubber pipe)

WutheringMights · 09/08/2024 13:25

That's an interesting read @Ihateslugs
This is the first dishwasher I've ever had and it's 6 years old. I've only noticed the smell in the last year and nothing has changed in my cleaning or maintenance habits.

I'm going to try the half load, regular uses, avoiding rinse aid and leaving the door open. If none of those work, I'll replace it.

When I know I'll be entertaining family or friends, I've started hand washing clean crockery so it doesn't smell when they eat from it. It's all such a faff and bloody annoying.

OP posts:
DomingoinLittleOakley · 09/08/2024 13:40

I had a smelly problem with my dishwasher recently - glasses in particular came out smelling like wet dog, it was horrible. I tried all sorts of cleaning things to no avail, then realised I hadn't topped up the dishwasher salt for ages so did that and it's done the trick.

PinotPony · 09/08/2024 13:55

I had this problem. Everything stunk even though the dishwasher was spotless.

It was the drain outside. I assume it was clogged up from food waste and fat going down the kitchen sink. I lifted the manhole cover and blasted all the gunk and fat away. Ran the dishwasher on a hot cycle until I could see clear water draining away.

RespondingToYou · 09/08/2024 16:03

Many thanks @IdLikeToBeAFraser.

Rainydayinlondon · 09/08/2024 16:07

I found this too, and changed to Ecover tablets and wash at 60. Although they’re supposedly better for the environment, they clean surprisingly well and leave neither a “funny” dishwasher smell nor a perfumed one.

BertieBotts · 09/08/2024 17:03

IME this happens because the dishwasher isn't draining properly. So where it normally would drain all the dirty water out and rinse with clean, new water it's only draining some of the dirty water out, and then rinsing with half clean, half dirty water.

Take out the deodoriser thing, then after a cycle, empty then stick your head in and see if the dishwasher itself smells like wet dog/pond water. And then take off the filter cover and see whether there is gross water pooled at the bottom - the bottom of the dishwasher should be empty. You can also check what the water is like when a bowl accidentally flips upside down - the water held inside this should be clear and smell clean, maybe slightly of detergent. If it's gungey and greasy, that's your problem.

If so, you probably have something stopping it from draining effectively. That could be:

Dirty filter - have you taken this out and cleaned/scrubbed regularly? Warning this is a horrible job if it's been left too long.

Something trapped in the impeller (little fan thing) leading to the pump? Be careful when feeling around in here, because broken glass can get trapped in it. But it can also be things like coins, little toys, bits of plastic packaging, meat bones, bits of hard vegetable, etc.

Pump itself being knackered/worn out - this can happen if the machine is old.

Drain pipe blocked with grease and food deposits -you can pull it out and check (this will be very smelly and gross if it is this).

Drain pipe having been fitted incorrectly, ie having a U shape between the dishwasher and the drain - this causes dirty water to sit in the pipe and if it's been done completely wrong, can potentially even wash back into the machine. Most modern machines will have the pipe go up on the back of the machine and then you're supposed to run it level or downwards to the drain, but older ones didn't have this feature and you're meant to put the "high loop" in yourself, when fitting it. If it was fitted by a layperson this might not have happened.

Dishwasher not levelled properly - again can be missed when installing, or if the level has shifted over time e.g. because it wasn't attached to the counters or cupboards, and the momentum of the heavy door opening and closing has affected this, it might not be draining effectively. You can put a spirit level inside it to check whether it's level.

If you've had any of these issues for a while you might also have general build up of gunk and slime in harder to reach parts of the machine which won't be cleared out by the cleaning cycle thing. I would go into it and attack it and see if you can take any bits off e.g. the supporting rails from the upper rack may be removable, and if you have a higher end e.g. Bosch/Siemens, then you can often pull out the whole of the plastic piping thing which transports water from the bottom to the top spinny arm thing.

BertieBotts · 09/08/2024 18:31

Just re-read your OP again.

even the water that sits beneath the filter by the pump is sponged out

I was wrong about this - there is supposed to be a little bit of water here, apparently it helps protect the seals. But at the end of a cycle it should be clean/mostly clean water. If it's dirty water or a lot of water, then you likely have a draining issue as I described above.

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