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Stinky Dishwasher

We don't have an air conditioner in our home, so in the summer time, we do all we can to keep any kind of heat out of the house, or avoid making heat.  For example, we don't turn on the TV, avoid turning on lights, no baking or even burning candles until it's as cool outside as we would like it in the house.  That also includes running the dishwasher.  So....now I'll get to my point.  One day, out of habit, after cooking I just stuck a wooden spoon in the dishwasher when I was done with it, and forgot it was there.  I was washing dishes by hand, so the spoon was in the dishwasher for about a week, getting all nasty and moldy.  :P  When I realized what I had done, the dishwasher STANK and of course I tossed out the spoon, and ran the dishwasher with tons of soap and dish washing salt.  I must have ran it 5 times now, but it still has that lingering stink, and it makes the dishes taste funky.  Does anybody have any ideas of some mojo I can do to get rid of the smell?  I've been washing dishes by hand for a few months now, and would like to be lazy and run my dishwasher again now that the weather is cooler.

You could try adding some vinegar to the wash cycle.

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I've read before that running the (empty) dishwasher with powdered lemonade or tang instead of soap will clean it.  Never tried it though, so I can't promise anything.

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the "lemonade" kool-aid flavor is the only one that works, as told to me by the Martha Stewart email I get weekly. yeah, i know!

I'd try a ton of vinegar, maybe baking soda? OH!, the OxyClean stuff is great! Go buy some of that, it's super handy dandy.

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Some of the mould may have lodged in the hoses. Try the Koolaid thing, and if that doesn't work they sell bottles of DW cleaner you put inside and run the machine empty. Magic.

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Thanks everyone!!  I'll give the vinegar thing a whirl first.  I don't think that they sell powdered tang or kool aide in Germany.  Most people buy bottled water instead of drinking the tap water, and if they are going to buy a drink, it may as well be flavored to begin with.  But if nothing else works, I do have a neighbor that's an American military person, so she could get it for me at the commissary for me.  I may ask her later.

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OH!, the OxyClean stuff is great! Go buy some of that, it's super handy dandy.

Are you talking about the stuff for taking out stains in clothing? 

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DW cleaner you put inside and run the machine empty. Magic.

So they do sell this stuff in Europe?  I see you are from Spain.  What does "DW" stand for?  Sorry if it's a stupid question.  I haven't heard of the stuff...could you describe the package for me?

Thanks again everyone!

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Quote:
DW cleaner you put inside and run the machine empty. Magic.

So they do sell this stuff in Europe?  I see you are from Spain.  What does "DW" stand for?  Sorry if it's a stupid question.  I haven't heard of the stuff...could you describe the package for me?

Thanks again everyone!

DW=Dish Washer.

They sell the cleaner in LIDL. It comes in little blue bottles that you invert in the silverware basket. It's their house brand, W5.

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They sell the cleaner in LIDL. It comes in little blue bottles that you invert in the silverware basket. It's their house brand, W5.

Sweet!  I think that LIDL is about a 5 minute bus ride for me.  I'll try to make it there tomorrow.  Thanks!

Buy the way, I tried that Helva stuff you mentioned on another post.  DEVINE!!!  :)>>>

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