Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Smelly

One of my biggest pet peeves is unsolicited advice. I don't like it when people should on me. When I need advice, I ask. So, I am asking. My dishwasher smells moldy. I have tried bleach, baking soda, vinegar and some foaming cleanser. Bleh. It still smells. Fire away with your advice, I need it and I will heed it.

15 comments:

LadyD said...

Idea #1
There is a sump in the bottom of the tub that collects the dirty water that runs out of the hose after the pump shuts off. Go in the dishwasher, sponge the water out of the sump and replace it with full strength bleach. Let it set over night and the next morning cycle the washer to flush out the sump, tub and hose.
Idea #2
Waste pipe/Drain pipe plugging up with moldy food material?
Idea #3
You might have a very small hole in your dishwasher hose, this can cause small amounts of water to leak out under the dishwasher and cabinets which will rot the wood. Mold and Mildew could be growing under your dishwasher subfloor and in the space under your cabinets causing the smell in that area.

Carla said...

Wow. That sounds like work, another pet peeve.

Pat..........!!

Krystal said...

I'm the dishwasher in my family, we have no auto-dishwasher. If I start smelling moldy then theres a problem.
I don't have any advice for you but I hope you figure out whats going on with your dishwasher!

Carla said...

A moldy mom would not be good, Krystal.

LD,
There is water usually just sitting at the bottom of the dishwasher.

Karla with a K said...

We have water that just sits in the bottom. Our plumber said that's normal... just depends on quantity (sometimes our has the whole bottom of the unit full of water...)

Which leads to - did you know that with most(?) dishwashers, the piece at the bottom of the dishwasher with the spraying arms on it lifts straight up and off? Removing this piece gives you the opportunity to pick out all the food particles stuck in there that can block the water flow... leading to too much water building up in the bottom of the dishwasher.

Email me if you want more details. I took ours off once and cleaned it, so I know it can be done. Then a few months ago, I tried to do so again, and couldn't get it off. (Hence the plumber.) I can't tell you how much this cost us, because we haven't received the bill yet. Because he can't find the replacement part yet. So we use it without the piece in it. Until he finds the part. Or, it stops working :)

Good luck with this...
(sorry... word ver... "oderper"! I think it meant to say "oderpu.")

erin said...

Sorry, Carla. I started making my own dishwasher detergent. Equal parts borax and baking soda. It works GREAT. I also use white vinegar in the rinse thingy so I don't get any spots. Maybe switching to something more "organic" like this would help? As it happens, I have 12 pounds of baking soda at home, so if you'd like me to make you some, just holler.

LadyD said...

Ooooo- Standing water is not good.
?
Makes me think something is plugged.
I will check with the big man tonight:)

WV is Ralecud, weird? stuff that is chewed and re-chewed by your dishwasher?

LadyD said...

Okay, I am irritating- But I love to fix problems & I don't have the time or money to go to school to be a doctor-

3 things men online said could be causing your standing water:

Often times the dishwasher drain hose is not installed properly. It must be routed up as high as the dishwasher as soon as it comes out of the unit.

You have blockage inside, in the drain line, or if it connects to the disposal side of the sink. I would first check at the disposal, if it does indeed connect there. Usually gunk from the disposal will clog right at the opening where the dishwasher drain line connects. Clear any debris with the hose disconnected. Reconnect the hose and run water back through the dishwasher to clear the rest out. If it is connected to the disposal your drain line should be looped or at least up high under the sink to prevent garabage from back feeding into your dishwasher.

It is the hose connector right on the "P" trap under the kitchen sink. That connection has too small a diameter. Get a connector with a larger diameter and it will pump the dishwasher properly.
What has happened is that the pump in the dishwasher has worn due to age or an impeller problem and now it cannot pump like it used to thru that smaller connect in the "P" trap.

If you doubt this, just remove that hose and let the diswasher discharge that water into a 5 gallon pail placed right under the sink and bypass that connector. You will see that I am correct on this matter and the dishwasher will fully pump out .

The Web is a world of knowledge:)

Carla said...

I took up much of your day, I see LD!! Not even on a fun subject either. Thank You!!

LadyD said...

Oh' you did not, silly:)
Only took me a couple of minutes....I LOVE searching for answers. It gives my mind a break from reality:)
Plus, I love to learn new things~

Carla said...

Thanks peeps!!
Wow. I might have to try a couple at a time. Baby steps.

Anonymous said...

Carla, I find this sentiment regarding unsolicited advice HIGHLY ironic given your recent posts on RH Reality Check...

I listened to your story that you presented at Faith Community Church and I am so sorry to hear about your difficult past experiences. A wanted pregnancy that results in a miscarriage is profound. I have worked with many pregnant couples at a childbirth education center in Manhattan who have experienced this trauma. How you related it to your chosen abortion must be all the more painful.

Hope that you have a nice weekend.

Carla said...

Dang. You found me. :)

This blog is my happy place where I go to have some fun aside from the heavier stuff in my life. A split personality so to speak....is that what you mean about advice?

I appreciate your comment and your experience very much. Also, that you heard my story.

Have a nice weekend as well. Maybe you will stop by with a name sometime. :)

Janet said...

Please tell us, did you solve the problem??
If so, how?

Carla said...

Hello Janet,
I don't think I have solved it but it is better. The standing water at the bottom is still there. I pour bleach into it and now the dishwasher is MOLD FREE and SMELLY FREE!! I have not taken apart the whole appliance because that would be work and I try to avoid that.