My Washer & Dryer Smells

Mildew grows in moist environments like laundry rooms.

A foul smell coming from your laundry room could be caused by long-neglected gym clothes. It could also be caused by the growth of fungus in your washer and dryer.

Causes

Mold and mildew grow on and near washers and dryers because of the high levels of moisture both machines produce. A clothes dryer can disperse a gallon of water with every load of laundry dried, according to J. ferris and T. Lemmer, authors of "Black & Decker's Home Improvement 101" book. Also, if you leave wet clothing inside your washing machine for a few days, it could begin to grow musty-smelling mildew.

Solution

Mold can be cleaned from the outside of a washer and dryer with a mixture of laundry detergent and water. If you leave clothing in your washing machine long enough to grow mold, first run a load without any clothing through your washer, adding bleach to the water. You can then rewash the clothes.

Prevention

You can prevent smelly mold from growing in your laundry room by making sure that the dryer vents properly to the outside of your home. Leaving your washing machine door cracked open after running a load will help keep its interior dry, according to Jennifer Viegas, author of "Fungi and Molds."

References

• "Fungi and Molds"; Jennifer Viegas; 2004
• "Black & Decker Home Improvement 101"; Jerri Farris, Thomas G. Lemmer; 2005