Musty Smell in a Dishwasher After Several Days of No Use

Food

• Using your dishwasher without scraping off food can result in a funky smell. The dishwasher does not always rinse away large pieces of food. The food becomes stuck to the bottom of the dishwasher and sits there. When you do not use the dishwasher for several days, the food can spoil or mold. When you suspect that food is the culprit, wipe the bottom of the dishwasher down with paper towels to remove any gunk. Remove the foul odor by placing 2 cups of white vinegar into the bottom of the dishwasher, turn the dishwasher to the light wash setting and stop it when it completes half the cycle. Letting the combination of hot water and vinegar sit in the dishwasher for 20 minutes will remove the odor. Finish the dishwasher cycle to complete the odor removal process.

Hidden Build-Up

• Debris build-up can hide in the hinges, gaskets and small crevices in the dishwasher. The filter in the bottom of the dishwasher contains food particles and grease. The bacteria that would normally wash away multiplies on the filter and inside the dishwasher when you do not use the appliance. When you notice a musty odor, inspect the filter located in the bottom of the dishwasher. Remove any large pieces of food and debris, and clean the filter, cracks, crevices and gaskets with 1 quart of water, 2 tablespoons of liquid dish detergent and 1/4 cup chlorine bleach. The solution effectively kills odor-causing bacteria. You may need to use a small bristle brush for hard to reach areas. Before you use the dishwasher again, run it empty using the hottest water temperature to remove any remaining residue.

Mold

• Mold typically is the reason a dishwasher has a musty smell after several days of no use. Mold thrives in dark, humid and moist locations. You may notice areas of discoloration inside the appliance, but mold spores are not always easy to spot. Chlorine bleach kills mold spores effectively, but do not use it too often because it can break down the rubber seals. Set the dishwasher to run on the light wash setting and use the hottest water possible. Stop the cycle halfway and add 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach to the dishwasher. Let the dishwasher finish its cycle. If you have a problem with mold, leave the dishwasher door cracked after each use so it can ventilate.

Dishes

• When you leave dirty dishes in the dishwasher, you will notice a musty odor. The stale smell forms due to the food, residue and grease sitting in a dark, closed environment. After you wash the dirty dishes, you may notice that the smell remains inside the appliance because the foul odor sticks to the porous plastic surfaces inside the appliance. After you clean the dirty dishes, place an open box of baking soda inside the appliance and leave it overnight. If the smell remains, use a lemon-scented detergent the next time you wash dishes or wipe the inside of the dishwasher down with an equal amount of baking soda and water.