Mine smells permanently of beer.
Doesn't seem to make a difference to each brew.
I avoid bleach, as we are on a biological sewerage system here, and it's pretty hard on the bacteria.
I would like to add..
That if you leave your brewer in the sun each time for a few days....
Be prepared to buy a new fermenter as U V Rays will destroy it..
My 2c
Cheers
PJ <_<