Orange gunk in dishwasher- how do I get rid? Help, advice and problem solutions on all aspects of home appliances from washing machines to TV's

[CWillis34]

Hi I have this orangey coloured gunk that forms on my dishwasher, in particular, the filter. I gave it a massive clean (took apart all components) 2 weeks ago and it’s back already. Is there anyone out there who can confirm what the problem is and any remedies to get rid of it?
NB gunk is on dishwasher, not on crockery and not due to tomato sauce!
Many thanks.

[robertm]

Had that one too. After some research I found that the orange gunk is a colony of Serratia marcescens. This bacteria thrives on fat and humidity, and once established it's hard to wipe off, so it's best to prevent its appearance by keeping the device dry and clean.

Also, it's been suggested that certain detergent brands are better than others on preventing its appearance.