Most dishwashers come with a filter in the bottom that needs to be cleaned out from time to time due to small food particles that get trapped in the filter.

1 cup of bleach works wonders. Run your dishwasher empty or full of dishes. froggyintexas

My dishwasher had the most awful odor. I cleaned the filters, ran bleach, baking soda etc. It was a little better but not fixed. I finally figured out that in my dishwasher food particles accumulate along the bottom of the door and it needs to be cleaned from time to time. It was so bad the first time I cleaned it I was nearly gagging. We were ready to replace a 3 year old dishwasher the smell was so bad. Now I try to remember to clean it every week or 2. I don't pre-rinse my dishes at all. Drives my mom crazy.

I checked the filter/trap, and it was pretty clean & didn't smell, but I cleaned it anyway. I think 'stuff' just builds up on the sides, top and bottom of the dw. After I ran the Tang through one cycle, it smells like citrus! Wonderful hint! Thanks so much for reminding me about Tang! My DW mfr(Fischer-Packel)says I don't have to rinse, just scrape off the big stuff; and it REALLY does work. This is the first time in the 4 years I've owned it that it has developed a smell.

At my house I am the dishwasher....so I just go take a shower! <giggling wildly>

Most dishwashers have a screen and a mini garbage disposal and after time gunk builds up. By taking a cup of baking soda and adding enough water to make it pourable into the lowest part of the drain area and then adding 2 cups of white vinegar letting it set for 15 minutes following 4 cups of boiling hot water will clean most drains and removed the build up.

I had a problem with mine draining completely and when I took the screen out you would be amazed how much gunk was in there from years of use. It is recommended to do this at least once a year.