A smelly dryer can be caused by a number of factors, but it’s always a source of annoyance. Throwing a load of freshly washed and clean laundry into a musty-smelling dryer can even give your clothes a bad smell. Our easy-to-follow guide will help you get your dryer and your clean clothes smelling clean and fresh once more.
The first step to eliminating the smell from your dryer is to inspect the lint filter and trap. The dryer removes small bits of damp fibers from your clothing during the drying process, and these tiny bits of fluff collect in the lint tray, resulting in musty odors if they sit for too long.
To clean the lint filter:
Please note: Putting the lint filter back in when it’s not properly dry can promote mildew growth, which will lead to the smell returning.
Sometimes the most basic and straightforward cleaner is all that is required to complete the task. If your dryer has a faint odor and only needs a light cleaning, soapy water is the most effective way to remove odors from the machine. If your dryer has a strong mildew odor, follow up the soapy water cleaning by wiping the interior of your dryer down with bleach in order to kill any mildew.
To clean the dryer:
If you’re interested in a more natural way of deodorizing your dryer, you can use white vinegar as a solution. Fill a spray bottle with half vinegar, half water and saturate a few old towels with the liquid. Place the towels in the dryer to dry. As the cloth tumbles around on the inside of the drum, the vinegar kills mold and mildew.
Note: You can also add a few drops of essential oil to the vinegar mixture before you spray the towels. Myrtle, lemon, or eucalyptus are all good options.
Baking soda is an alkaline powder that absorbs bad smells from the dryer as well as the odor of other cleaning products. To use baking soda to deodorize your dryer, wet a towel and sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the material’s surface. Then place the cloth in the dryer and dry it on the lowest drying cycle until completely dry.
As with the lint filter, mildew can grow in the dryer vent hose if lint is allowed to build up, causing bad smells and mildew. If you have cleaned the dryer drum and the lint filter and the bad smell still persists, the vent hose is likely the source of the smell.
To clean the vent hose:
Since you are going to be taking apart the dryer vent, it is essential that you disconnect your dryer from its power source. You’ll also need to move it away from the wall so you can easily access the back.
If your dryer is vented to the outside, it will have a vent line attached to the back of the dryer.
The vent pipe or vent line should pull off the back of your dryer easily. Applying firm but gentle pressure, pull on the pipe until it comes off the back of the machine.
Before checking the vent pipe, look inside the dryer where the pipe was attached. If you see any lint or debris in the opening, you can remove it either with your hand or a clean, dry cloth.
You will need to totally remove the duct pipe in order to clean it. After removing it from the back of the dryer as outlined above, you’ll also need to disconnect it from where it vents to the outside.
Using a vacuum with a hose attachment, vacuum as far inside the duct as you can reach at either end. This should allow you to remove all visible lint, which is the source of the smell.
Follow these tips to prevent a problem with a smelly dryer from reoccurring:
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