Treat the dishwasher odor with items in your home.
While it may seem odd to clean the inside of a dishwasher, the appliance needs to be cleaned regularly to keep it in good condition. A musty smell inside the dishwasher indicates that bacteria or mold have formed in the appliance. The dishwasher needs to be treated immediately to ensure that your dishes remain clean. After you remove the odor, clean your dishwasher regularly once a month to prevent the odors from returning.
Mold
A musty smell could indicate mold growth inside the dishwasher. Open the dishwasher and inspect it carefully. Remove all dishes and utensils, and slide the racks out carefully. Odd, discolored areas such as green or gray may indicate mold. Wear gloves, and combine one part of bleach with nine parts of water in a bucket. Soak a washcloth in the solution and wipe the inside of the dishwasher down carefully. Run the dishwasher without dishes and dishwashing detergent to rinse the bleach solution.
Food
Sometimes leftover food in the dishwasher can cause it to have a musty odor. Remove the filter from inside the dishwasher. Clean the filter with 2 tablespoons of liquid dishwashing soap, 1/4 cup chlorine bleach and 1 quart of water. If you have difficulty removing the filter, consult your owner's manual for help. Wipe down the area surrounding the filter with an equal mixture of baking soda and water to help deodorize it. Run the dishwasher on the hottest setting to rinse it thoroughly.
Dishes
If you forget to take the dishes out of the dishwasher, they may begin to smell. The moisture inside the dishwasher can cause mold or mildew to form on the dishes. Pour baking soda into the detergent cup and run the dishwasher for five minutes. Stop the cycle and allow the dishes to sit overnight to remove the musty odor. Run the dishwasher the following morning with a bowl of vinegar placed on the top shelf and your regular dish detergent to clean the dishes. The vinegar will help to deodorize and kill any mold or mildew.
Build Up
After you use a dishwasher for a while, dirt and food will build up in small cracks and crevices. The gaskets, hinges and seals will harbor bacteria and emit a musty odor. Dip a toothbrush in a solution that consists of equal amount of baking soda and water. Scrub on the crevices inside the dishwasher to remove or loosen the debris. Run the dishwasher empty on the hottest water setting. If you still notice a musty smell in the dishwasher, place an open box of baking soda into the sealed dishwasher overnight to absorb the odors.
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