Good call on the spray arms—I overlooked those at first too. Another sneaky spot is the dishwasher filter at the bottom. Mine was pretty gross when I finally checked it... cleaning that out made a huge difference. Worth a peek if you haven't already.
Cleaning the filter definitely helps, but honestly, sometimes it's not enough. I went through this whole dishwasher funk saga last summer—cleaned the spray arms, scrubbed the filter spotless, even ran vinegar cycles... and it still smelled off. Turns out the real culprit was actually the drain hose. It had a slight kink in it, causing water to sit and stagnate between washes. Gross, right?
Once I straightened that out and made sure it was properly elevated (apparently that's important?), the smell vanished completely. So yeah, filters and spray arms are good starting points, but if you're still noticing a funky odor after all that cleaning, I'd seriously recommend checking your drain hose setup. It's one of those sneaky things you wouldn't think about until you've tried everything else.
Also—and this might sound counterintuitive—but leaving the dishwasher door cracked open slightly after running a cycle helps air it out and prevents moisture buildup. I know some people hate doing that because it looks messy or whatever, but hey... better than dealing with that weird musty smell every time you open it up.
Anyway, just my two cents from someone who's been there. Hope you get it sorted soon—dishwasher smells are no joke.
Good call on the drain hose—it's one of those sneaky culprits most people overlook. You wouldn't believe how many times I've seen dishwashers with hoses kinked or sagging, causing water to just sit there and get nasty. Elevating it properly is key because it helps gravity do its thing and prevents backflow.
Another thing worth checking is your garbage disposal connection (if you have one). Sometimes food debris can back up into the dishwasher drain line if the disposal isn't cleared regularly. Had a customer once who swore their dishwasher was haunted by some funky smell demon... turned out they hadn't run their disposal in weeks. Quick run with hot water and lemon peels, and boom—problem solved.
Also, totally agree about leaving the door cracked open after cycles. It might look a bit messy, but moisture buildup is basically an open invitation for mold and mildew. If you're really bothered by the look, you could always just leave it cracked overnight and close it in the morning.
One last tip: every now and then, toss a dishwasher cleaning tablet or powder in there (the kind specifically made for cleaning dishwashers, not dishes). They help break down grease and buildup in places you can't easily reach. It's not a miracle cure, but it definitely helps keep things fresher between deep cleans.
Dishwasher funk is no joke—good luck!
