New DW Smells Bad

[TromboneAl]

Dishwasher! Not Dear Wife.

Our old dishwasher never smelled bad. The new one, stainless steel, fancy, smells bad after a month or so of use. I know how to clean it, but I wonder what's different about the design.

 

[REWahoo]

Al, does it have a filter that requires periodic cleaning?

 

[Newventurer]

Maybe?

https://www.seventhgeneration.com/green-cleaning-household-tips/why-does-my-dishwasher-smell

 

[MarieIG]

I was going to caution about a health issue. Glad its the dishwasher!

 

[UnrealizedPotential]

Wow, you really had me going on the title. Good thing it wasn't what I thought because it would of been one of those throw my hands up in the air and surrender moments.

 

[HFWR]

If it smells bad, maybe its nose is plugged...

 

[mystang52]

My dishwasher is only 18 months old, but when I got it the owner's manual recommended using a dishwasher cleaner periodically. About once a month I use this Finish product:
https://express.google.com/product/...046&pdata=CgQzLjc5&utm_content=eid-lsjeuxoeqt

 

[RobbieB]

I dunno.

I've never had a dishwasher smell bad. Not even the new low water, low energy, HE, plastic tub $500 cheapie which is my latest.

 

[davebarnes]

Details

dishwasher ... The new one, stainless steel, fancy, smells bad after a month or so of use.

1. Brand/model of dishwasher?
2. Brand/model of detergent?
3. Brand/model of rinse agent?
4. How often do you run it?
5. How often do you clean the filter?
6. What temperature water is delivered to the machine?

 

[Jerry1]

Something is plugged up. Most likely a filter. Do you see standing water after the cycle finishes? Do you load dishes with a lot of food particles left on them (again, pointing to the need to check the filter)? Maybe it just wasn’t installed correctly. Is the drain tube elevated? It needs to be higher than the drain into the sink/garbage disposal. As I write this, I think I’d check that first.

 

[ncbill]

Wow, you really had me going on the title. Good thing it wasn't what I thought because it would of been one of those throw my hands up in the air and surrender moments.

I was getting ready to comment something on the order of "Well, you should have done your homework before you got married..."

 

[marko]

Dishwasher! Not Dear Wife.

Oh! Never mind.

 

[Richard4444]

Is there standing water remaining after the cycle? Could very well be mold accumulating.

Rich

 

[TromboneAl]

Al, does it have a filter that requires periodic cleaning?

No.

All it has is this "micro filtration system":

There is no info about that in the manual other than that image, and the word "filter" appears nowhere in the manual. I opened it, and there was no gunk or other stuff inside it.

Note that I'm just curious about what would be different in this machine to cause the smell.

Note that after every 30 cycles it says "Affresh" on the screen in the front, meaning that I should buy their "Affresh" DW cleaner and use it to clean the machine.

1. Brand/model of dishwasher?
Kitchenaide/KDTM354DSS
2. Brand/model of detergent?
Using Cascade pods. Once we use them up, we'll go back to Cascade powder. Actually, this is a difference. Never used those before.
3. Brand/model of rinse agent?
Finish JetDry
4. How often do you run it?
Every 2 days
5. How often do you clean the filter?
Never
6. What temperature water is delivered to the machine?
120 degrees

Thanks.

 

[REWahoo]

Suggestion: Just prior to your next run, pour in a cup or two of vinegar. We do that to help reduce hard water problems, but it may also prevent odor problems as we also have no filter to clean and have never had an odor issue.

 

[davebarnes]

Two things that are probably different between your old dishwasher and this one:
1. Grinder - the old one had one and this machine does not. The process now is that the detergent contains enzymes which dissolve the food particles and they are wash away. The micro-filter is there to capture large items (e.g., a bottle cap).
2. You must the recommended detergent and the rinse agent. It is all one 'system'.

"Have you cleaned the dishwasher?

Don’t just clean the dishes — take the time to ensure the dishwasher interior is clean too. ...

Use a white vinegar rinse:
Put 2 cups (500 mL) white vinegar in a glass or dishwasher-safe measuring cup on the bottom rack.
Run the dishwasher through a complete washing cycle using an air-dry or an energy-saving dry option. Do not use detergent. Vinegar will mix with the wash water.

NOTE: Vinegar is an acid, and using it too often could damage your dishwasher. It’s better to do so only when you need to deeply cleanse your dishwasher."
How to clean the dishwasher interior - KitchenAid Product Help

You should use the ProWash setting. Let the dishwasher think for you.

P.S. Next time: Bosch.

 

[REWahoo]

NOTE: Vinegar is an acid, and using it too often could damage your dishwasher. It’s better to do so only when you need to deeply cleanse your dishwasher."

Interesting. Our Kenmore dishwasher is 12+ years old and we use vinegar every time we run it with no apparent ill effects. Might not be the case if it had a SS liner?

 

[ERD50]

....
Don’t just clean the dishes — take the time to ensure the dishwasher interior is clean too. ...

Use a white vinegar rinse:
Put 2 cups (500 mL) white vinegar in a glass or dishwasher-safe measuring cup on the bottom rack.
Run the dishwasher through a complete washing cycle using an air-dry or an energy-saving dry option. Do not use detergent. Vinegar will mix with the wash water.

NOTE: Vinegar is an acid, and using it too often could damage your dishwasher. It’s better to do so only when you need to deeply cleanse your dishwasher."

How to clean the dishwasher interior - KitchenAid Product Help

... .

Maybe this should be in the 'pet peeve' thread, but I hate it when a manufacturer uses a phrase like "too often", or "regularly". How often is "too often", or "regular"? Once a quarter is too often? Once a month, once a week? And what would be damaged? How would I know?

Our DW is a Kenmore label, but it sure looks like the image T-Al provided, and I guess many of these are made by the same company. Ours does have a grinder in it, and I have had to take the bottom arm out and unscrew some things to get to it and clear it out. When that clogs, flow is reduced and water sits there and can get smelly. Apple stems/seeds, toothpicks and those little fruit labels that got by our scraping seemed to be the worst culprits.

If his model doesn't have a grinder, maybe the same area clogs regardless?

-ERD50

 

[tfudtuckerpucker]

I did some searches for your model, and found these. You might find something helpful here

Kitchenaid recommendations for removing odors


suggestions from ifixit


new dishwasher smells like a wet swampy bird merged with an aquarium

Help!! Brand New KA Dishwasher Smells Horrible

From Stackexchange

 

[Dash man]

Our last dishwasher had an odor problem for a short time. It was a KitchenAid. Once I cleaned out the drain hose it was fine until it died a year later. Lasted about 8 years. Now we have a Bosch.

 

[grasshopper]

I am the DW in the Grasshopper family, Ms G said my hair smelled nice today.

 

[mn54]

I am the DW in the Grasshopper family, Ms G said my hair smelled nice today.

Did you use a white vinegar rinse?

 

[CitizenK]

I would check if you have a “high loop” in your drain line in the sink cabinet. It should be attached to the underside of the counter. Your installation instructions probably require either a high loop or an air gap. If the drain line is run low to the trap or disposal, you can get some smelly back flow into the dishwasher.