Upon the first use, our brand new, professionally installed LG dishwasher gave the dishes- particularly glassware- a strong smell similar to a riverbank with submerged, slimy roots and vegetation. At the beginning, the smell would sometimes not occur until about 20 minutes after the cycle ended, but it would last indefinitely on dishes put into the cupboard. The dishes would hold this odor, even when completely dry, unless we rinsed and dried all the dishes by hand or set them all out on the counter for 3 days to air out.
On my first 2 warranty service calls to LG, 5-12-21 and 6-7-21, the technicians recognized an odor but could find no mechanical issues with the machine. The 3rd time I called, on 6-7-2021, LG refused to send someone to my house, saying that they would not send someone for the same issue since they found nothing at the last service call. (Incidentally, a technician told me that if LG has to send someone 3 times for the same issue, the policy is to replace the machine.)
For the next 2 years, despite efforts to clean and drain the machine, try different cycles, and various dish washing products, the smell continued to get worse and worse. Eventually, when we opened the dishwasher after any cleaning cycle, our entire downstairs would reek like a riverbank. The only thing that helped somewhat was running a cycle with the dishwasher empty and some Clorox bleach in the bottom. That was only effective for one load following the bleach load.
We have lived in our home for over 30 years and had two previous dishwashers with no problems. The only time I have ever smelled this swamp odor in my home was several years ago when I left a pitcher of water undisturbed and unrefrigerated for about a month. It produced a thin slimy film and that very characteristic submerged-vegetation-in-a-swamp odor.
On 6-23-2023, I tried again to get some satisfaction from LG. After several calls, hours on the phone and weeks of waiting, my case was escalated to the Presidential Liaison. I was told that the best they could do was give me a courtesy check for $100 for my troubles, and a rebate for 20% of the machine cost. I expected $100 plus $206. I did receive the $100 check, and then I received a coupon off the price of my next LG appliance purchase for $58 with a notice that the case was closed.
After 2½ years of dealing with stench, we replaced the LG dishwasher with a Bosch model a couple weeks ago – NO MORE SMELL.
I have read reviews on LG and found that this issue is not unique to our machine. I believe I know what is causing the problem, which comes from the factory. Dishwashers are tested at the factory to be sure they function correctly. A portion of that water remains in the machine until it is installed and used by a customer. I believe that impure water was introduced into my washing machine and bacteria multiplied inside it, to the point where it cannot be rinsed or washed away without taking the machine apart.