Help! My Clothes Dryer Stinks!

The last thing you want to do with freshly washed clothes is to put them into a dryer that has a foul smell. Air drying your clothes is one option, but you should also investigate why there’s a bad smell in the dryer so that you can find the best way to get rid of the smell. A few possible causes include:

• Clothes That Have Stayed Damp Too Long – When damp clothes linger in either the washer or the dryer, they invite the growth of mold or mildew, and these can leave an odor in the dryer drum.
• Lint Buildup – When lint builds up in dryer vents, it can limit air circulation and trap odors. Restricted airflow can lead to a bad odor, and you may also notice that clothes are taking a long time to dry.
• Pest in vents – Small animals may enter dryer vents to nest through the exterior duct. If an animal dies inside ducts or vents, the odor worsens.

Cleaning a Dryer That Stinks

To eliminate odor, your dryer needs a thorough cleaning. Start by disconnecting the power and removing the lint trap. Use a clean rag to wipe away any lint that has accumulated. Put the trap under running water, scrub it with a soft brush and let it dry. Meanwhile, use your vacuum’s hose attachment to remove lint from the trap’s housing. Vacuum around the dryer especially under the vent.

Disconnect the vent from behind the dryer and vacuum it out, then reconnect. Clean the openings of the exterior vents outside the house as well. Use a mixture of 1 cup of bleach to a gallon of water to wipe down the inside of the dryer as well as the door and its seal. Do this by dipping a clean towel in the mixture. Use a second cloth dipped in water to help remove the smell of bleach.

Preventing Odors

Remember to get damp clothes out of the washer when the cycle is done and dry them immediately. Always clean the lint trap before each drying cycle. Dryer vents should be cleaned annually.

If you still detect a foul smell or if the dryer isn’t working right, call Bestprice Appliance Repair. We’ve been serving LA County with expert appliance repair since 2009. We offer same-day service by trustworthy technicians, and we guarantee our work with a 90-day warranty on parts and labor. Call today!