Dishwasher smell

[Little Pete]

We are having problems with a smell on our dishes after they have been in the dishwasher. It doesn’t happen every time, maybe one in three or four, but it’s very obvious when it happens, it can overpower the smell of the food on a plate when it’s bad. We’ve put various cleaners through the machine, tried loads of different tablets, opened the door as soon as the wash finished, left it closed until fully cooled but nothing seems to stop it. When we had a new kitchen about four years ago I replaced all the waste pipes and they are separate to the sink waste but this has had no effect either.
Has anyone any suggestions?
Pete.

[595Heaven]

You’ve not mentioned the filter but I’m sure you will have checked that.


Make sure all the rubber seals are clean as well.


You could get a jug and half fill with white vinegar. Put it upright in the top tray with nothing else in the machine and run a hot cycle

[selwonk]

A cup of lemon juice can work wonders.

[vaud]

Some dishwashers have a one way valve on the drain to prevent backflow. Depending on your configuration might you be getting backflow from the drain?

[TooLateForAName]

Are you using salt or just all in one tabs?

Had an issue years ago with a dishwasher where they used all in one tabs and no salt - the water softener was full of manky horror.

[JulianHJ]

Remove both racks and check inside the slide mechanism for the top rack - some models can suffer from a build up of debris here. Check and throughly clean the filters at the bottom, and inside the door seals. Run a decent cleaner (we use Finish) through the machine on the manufacturer's recommended cycle.

[Little Pete]

Thanks for the responses. We always use salt and the filter has been checked and cleaned. I haven’t considered a build up in the rack slides but I have cleaned the door seal.
I’m struggling to describe the smell, it’s not like a bad food smell. The wife described it as a dirty water smell so the one way valve is worth a look.

[PurpleFox]

Is it like a wet dog smell? That's the only way I could describe it, although I haven't actually got a dog.

Apparently it's bacteria on the crockery. We get it occasionally as you describe. Plastic doesn't seem to smell, just plates and glasses.

I run the dishwasher empty now and again with a few tabs, some vinegar, lemon juice and anything else I can lay my hands on from under the kitchen sink. Seems to work for a while but sometimes irritates me so much I feel like going to get a new one.

4 year old Neff.