For quite awhile now I have noticed a strong smell coming from my dishwasher, it happens at the beginning of the cycle. It is sort of like a rotten egg smell. I noticed that there is a little water in the very bottom of the dishwasher after I run it, I'm not sure how long the water has not been draining out completely, sorry. I took the bottom rack out today and took the nuts out of the filter at the bottom. I found the most disgusting stuff on the other side of the filter. It was like a black and green sponge. I scraped it off and cleaned the fliter, there was also another piece, a second filter maybe, in the dishwasher drain. I pulled that out and cleaned it off. Now I have a square hole where the dishwasher drains out that is full of water. I am assuming the drain has build-up in it and it needs a good cleaning. What would you suggest to clean it out? I just ran something called "Dishwasher Magic" through and empty cycle but it didn't do anything. What can I safely put in my dishwasher to clean out this build up? Do they make something like drano or liquid plumber which is safe for a dishwasher?

Do not use Draino or anything like it in your washer. That sump area should be periodically cleaned out because the screen is catching larger food particles. I'd try throwing in a couple of cups of bleach and run it on a long cycle.

I knew that I shouldn't use Draino, but I didn't know if there was something made specifically for cleaning out that area of the dishwasher and dissolving the build-up. I just tried a cycle of Vinegar, I'll give the bleach a try. Thanks.

As long as you have the vinegar out you could try my recipe. Mix 1/2 cup of table salt with 1/2 cup baking soda and throw into the sump area then add a cup of bleach. Allow it to sit over night and then run a fresh cycle with no dishes.

Well thanks Darlene, you found a 4 year old question not addressed to you and decided to reopen time and give me a reddie. Your situation may differ from that of Destny. However my fix should work for folks, I have no clue who you ,ean "all the other ideas " did you go back and give all of them reddies too?

YOU SHOULDN'T MIX BLEACH WITH VINEGAR!! VERY BAD!! Bleach should only be diluted with cold water.

You are putting your life on the line!
You're a first timer so let this be a warning. LOSE THE CAPS! We don't yell at each other in here. Tom

Mapleleaf1970, don't be a douche. Wait you already are. CAPS IS YELLING? STOP CRYING. GOOD FOR VISION IMPAIRED.

OK guys! Time to put this 5 year old thread to bed. Tom