1997 GE Dishwasher Mold??

[jeremys2004]

Hello,
This is my first post and I don't know much about dishwasher, but today I noticed the my 1997 GE Profile Quiet Power ll was growing mold around the top and bottom of the door. A few months ago I noticed the dishes went coming out all that clean. So I undid the bottom filters and under the big plastic one was filled with mold (Probably has never cleaned since it was installed in 1997). I didn't think much of it since we had just started running it again after letting it set empty for 5 years. But now that there is mold in it, I was wondering if there was anyway to prevent it from happening again. (I can get pictures if wanted)

 

[panthera]

I take ours apart every so often

And don't see the problem - but when I work on friends, I do quite often. The difference? We throw a chlorine bleach tablet in about once a month. We also run the hottest wash cycle and use TSP with a good detergent. Keep things clean, too.

That's all you really need.

[this post was last edited: 10/17/2017-19:52]

 

[jeremys2004]

Well...

We run the hottest wash cycle and we rinse the dishes before they go in. And we use Finish pucks From Costco that are 5+ years old, maybe that has something to do with it.

 

[panthera]

Maybe

But any dishwasher that hasn't been used for such a long period of time will have mold to get rid of. Clean it, run a really hot cycle with 2 chlorine bleach tablets and that should do it.

Don't do the chlorine bleach thing-y too often, but, yes, those dishwasher tablets are not performing as well as fresh ones would. I'd suggest you use them in the pre-wash and get fresh ones for the main wash. That way, you're not just throwing them out.

 

[yogitunes]

in thinking like so many FL washers we come across, a bleach wash may not be enough...

especially if its a plastic tub....that mold can sink down deep....extended hot water and bleach may be what is needed.....

in fact I just seen bleach tablets for the washer and dishwasher at Walmart today....

what we would do for a washer is:
I would take it apart again, and use a bathroom spray designed for mold/mildew with bleach....spray and let soak, scrub some areas with a toothbrush if needed...and let soak....overnight if needed.....

note: this may foam up when you go to run the dishwasher, try a few rinse/holds, and add some vinegar to knock down the suds....

something even more concentrated than bleach.....powder chlorine used for pools, while still in season, 1/2 cup of that added to the main wash on the hottest/longest cycle....that usually wipes out anything and everything...