We have a Knemore dishwasher that is about 3 years old. We don't use it that much. We run it maybe 1 once a week.

But, it always smells moldy. I have tried running it with Baking Soda as I have heard it helps, but it doesn't.

We are currently using Cascade dishwashing detergent and also use Jet Dry rinse agent. Perhaps someone else might have a helpful hint to rid the awful smell?? Thank You!

The reason that it smells is the because you don't use it often enough - - unless you actually wash your dishes before putting them in there (and what would be the point of that!!), they will have remaining food particles on them and they will most definitely be nasty by the time the end of the week rolls around.

Check out your grocery cleaning section for a dishwasher cleaner (like Glisten) or one of those little deoderizers that hangs on the shelf.

Another thing to try to remove the odors is a bowlful of lemon juice and vinegar - just put it on the bottom shelf (empty dishwasher) and run through a short cycle - the washing/rinsing will empty out the bowl during the cleaning.

One thing I have found to help was to put the dish washing soap in even before you have any dirty dishes in it. That way it will be ready to go.


Rinsing the dishes before putting them in the washer and using a lemon scented Cascade help control these odors.

We only need to run ours once a week and have found this to help.

thanx so much lydia for your vinegar and lemon juice trick. It worked!

Also, thanx to you too, WoW. I will try leaving the detergent in the dishwasher, while not in
use.

Thanx again!

You might also check around the edge of the door. This is where mildew often collects. Scrub it down with some bleach and water.

Catty

Throw about a half cup of bleach in it the next time you use it....does wonders...also, stop using power soaps ( in everything)...go to liquids....

For the interior:

Put in 2 cups of bleach in the empty machine, set on the hottest, longest wash cycle. Let it run.

Follow with 1 cup baking soda plus the juice of 4 lemons (about one of those Real Lemon juice lemons you find) Run it on warm on the longest cycle, then run it on a cold full cycle to fully rinse it out.

For the Exterior: Especially around the seal, use 1/2 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water, and scrub the rubber seal. Follow up with clean water wiping it all down. If the front of your machine is metal or plastic, use any house hold cleaner.

Since you only use it once a week, I would suggest that you prop the door open a hair after each use, this keeps the moisture from collecting. Moisture is a key part in mildew/mold growth. I would use something that is the general thickness of a doubled over pot holder - Most Likely I would take a pot holder, double it and prop the door open. (I do this after using the oven to cool down the over and to let moisture escape as well)

Make a bag of Baking soda to store inside when not in use. I use an old sock, filled with 1 cup of baking soda, tie it off, and I use these in many places, at the bottom of closets, in the hamper, in the trunk of the car. I change them out every 3 to 6 months (or when I start smelling something I do not like. Heck, I even use these in the bottom of the kitchen waste cans.

There are products on the market which are moisture absorbent, try that as well.

Check to make certain your machine is level, if water is puddled on the floor of the machine, that could be promoting mold/mildew growth. Most machines are adjustable at the front, a crescent wrench is needed, there is a nut on the foot that is relatively easy to turn, raising and lowering the foot. Most machines are preset in the back, so you need to only worry about the front part.

Filters: A lot of dish-washing machines do have a filter on them now days, check to see if yours has one, it may be time to get a new one.

Cascade is used to cause the water to sheet off of the dishes so it doesn't leave mineral marks.

Antibacterial soaps DO NOT kill mold and mildew spores. They only kill germs and bacteria (Worthless against viruses as well)

I think I have covered all the possible issues.
Cheers

David

PS If you are on a septic tank, follow this with flushing down the bacteria about three days later - bleach can kill the naturally occurring bacteria in septic tanks causing issues there.