The dishwasher wasn’t rinsing properly. I found a bottle of what I thought said “dishwasher cleaner” under the sink, so I put that in the dishwasher, on a hot cycle. Well, I am partially sighted and turns out I misread the bottle. It was actually washing machine cleaner. After several cycles I managed to get rid of the suds, but not the smell. The dishwasher smells terribly of laundry detergent. And it’s strongly clinging to the glasses and dishes, making them unusable. I tried putting vinegar in, but it didn’t get rid of the smell. I am worried about my landlady’s reaction when she finds out. She is already at the end of her tether with me because I am several months behind on the rent. She has spoken before about evicting me due to the money - I’m worried this might be the final straw. what can I do to get rid of the smell?
There should be a mesh filter at the bottom of the tub to prevent food bits from clogging the drain pump (assuming the machine doesn’t drain to a garbage disposal which some machines do). Give that a rinse under the sink.
They make dishwasher cleaning agents specifically to clean out the machine. You could try those or something with the same active ingredient.
You may need to do a couple vinegar rinses and follow-up with an empty cycle or two to push all the “contaminated” water out.
Thanks for the advice. I’ve taken the filter out and washed it as you suggested. It was pretty clean already, just a little bit of fluffy looking stuff on it. I scrubbed it and put it back. I guess I’ll keep doing washes now until it goes away.
Bicarbonate of soda gets rid of smells. Could be enough to put a plate with a few tablespoons of bicarb on it flat on the bottom, partially close the door and leave it over night. Then rinse the plate in the sink so you don’t get bicarb in the machine or on the vinegar. It shouldn’t do any harm but it froths up when vinegar and bicarb touch and you don’t want to damage any seals in the machine.
Do you know what type of cleaner it was? Brand or what’s in it? I know I’ve seen washing machine cleaners that are either strong chlorine bleach possibly with other chemicals, oxygen bleach like oxiclean, and other.
I’d agree use baking soda, make a paste, cover the dishes, just some to start with in the sink to test. Let it sit a while, then soak it with vinegar. If that isn’t enough you need more acid. Ideally powder form which isn’t as diluted and can work with the heated water during a cycle. Citric acid powder would be the easiest. If you can’t get it by itself maybe unsweetened store brand lemonade packets (dried, if you can ask about ingredients, citric acid should be high on it), a bunch and add them then run hot. Then run dish detergent through as normal.
Disclaimer: I don’t have personal experience with this but know a little of cleaning and looking it up people suggest this.
Just test on one dish to start before doing it all is my suggestion.
It was dettol. Thanks for the advice, I’ll try it.
Looks like it might be Benzalkonium Chloride based which is odd as that should come off with alternating water, soap, water rinse. It’s not particularly dangerous or damaging.
OK thanks. After multiple rinses it seems to be pretty much gone now.
Hooray!
