How do you get rid of a nasty odor in our dishwasher?
by
Frank staus
+1
We have a 20 year old Kenmore Dishwasher & don't use it every day but when we do, it cleans & dry's the dishes perfectly but then after clearing the dishes from the machine & close the door & put it to rest for another 2 weeks, water seems to somehow drain back into the unit & lays there in the bottom becoming stagnant & smelly. We have a garbage disposer which seem to have a hose running from it to the dishwasher. We don't check it every day but we are now suspecting water drains from the garbage disposer back into the dishwasher. Maybe there is a backup valve that is NOT doing it's job ??? HELP !!! Frank 
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The next time the unit is cleared out remove the two racks. Under the bottom rack, below the water jet arms there maybe a plastic removable strainer. Remove that and see if anything might be caught in that basket, that ciuld not been seen.
Thank you Diane. I'll try it. Frank
https://www.hometalk.com/diy/clean/dishwashers/how-to-clean-your-dishwasher-20664982
How to Clean Your Dishwasher Naturally
I would try cleaning it with a spray all purpose cleaner or Chlorox spray cleaner.