My Clothes Dryer Smells

Lint and mold can be the cause of bad odors in your clothes dryer.

When you open your clothes dryer, you want to smell freshly laundered clothing, not a bad smell. That smell is a warning that your dryer needs maintenance.

Odors

Problem odors that come from clothes dryers include a musty, earthy smell. You might notice this one around the outside of the dryer or inside of it. You could also smell an odor of burning, usually when the dryer is in use or just after it runs a cycle, according to the "DIY Guide to Appliances" by Steve Willson.

Causes

The earthy odor is caused by mold. Mold can grow on the outside of a dryer, on the back and sides. If you leave clothes in your washer long enough to mildew, then put them in the dryer, your dryer can pick up the odor. The burning smell is caused by lint building up inside the lint filter and getting overheated when you run your dryer.

Solutions

You can clean mold off the outside and inside of your clothes dryer using a solution of 1/2 cup bleach in 1 gallon of water. Once the mold is gone, the earthy smell should be gone, too, according to "Fungi and Molds" by Jennifer Viegas. Clean out the lint trap after every load you run in the dryer to prevent lint build up and reduce the risk of fire.

References

• "DIY Guide to Appliances"; Steve Willson; 2008
• "Fungi and Molds"; Jennifer Viegas; 2004