Stinky clothes/dryer

[3_disprincesses]

The last several weeks our clothes, towels and other items coming out of the dryer have an odor. The longer the items dry (towels taking longer) the stronger the odor. I have seen commercials for the HE Washer cleaner but #1 its not HE and its the dryer not the washer I'm sure. Any suggestions on what's happening?

 

[pilesoflaundry]

Is there any chance something got into the vent like a birds nest or small rodent?

What kind of odor, burnt odor, ick odor, musty smell?

 

[SILLYANDI]

The last several weeks our clothes, towels and other items coming out of the dryer have an odor. The longer the items dry (towels taking longer) the stronger the odor. I have seen commercials for the HE Washer cleaner but #1 its not HE and its the dryer not the washer I'm sure. Any suggestions on what's happening?

Is it a burnt or metallic smell? Maybe the motor has something stuck in it (or the lint trap?)

 

[tfoley427]

Does it just smell kind of "Funky?" You may need to do a wash in the machine with no clothes in it, just bleach and detergent. At my old place our washer and dryer were down stairs in a mud basement. We would have this happen quite often. Also, you may need to check the center spindle in the washer. Sometimes grunge and dirt can get in there making it smell.

As far as the dryer goes it could smell just because of the bad smell from teh washer.

 

[3_disprincesses]

The smell is kind of musty to me. Maybe even a mildew odor. It is possible that something climed up in the vent - and that's the first thing my daughter said. She went outside while the dryer was running just now and said the smell is pretty strong.

 

[nelson84]

Your best bet is to call Billy the Exterminator. There is a strong possiblility that you have a possum flopping around in there. They love to get in behind tubs and an air vent from a dryer is easy access in your house.

CALL BILLY!!!

 

[3_disprincesses]

Your best bet is to call Billy the Exterminator. There is a strong possiblility that you have a possum flopping around in there. They love to get in behind tubs and an air vent from a dryer is easy access in your house.

CALL BILLY!!!

LOL and Billy is in my neck of the woods!

 

[Normangirls]

We were getting a funky, almost musty sort of odor, and I swore it had to be the dryer. Then I washed a shirt, hung it up to dry, and realized it had the smell, too. The odor was just being magnified by the heat of the dryer.

We had a front-loader HE machine, and it was the typical odor problem you hear about. We used the HE machine cleaner and it really helped - maybe it will help in a regular machine, too?

I also just heard somewhere that you can use white vinegar (a lot of it) in an empty wash cycle periodically to clean the washer (DISCLAIMER: I have not done this and do not know how it will work!!!!!!!).

 

[Ms. Belle]

I read someplace that the HE washers get very mildewy because the door is usually closed after the wash is moved to the dryer, so the inside of the washer never really drys out. You might have alot of mildew in the washer that is getting in the clothes and then the dryer is intensifier the odor. Tide has just come out with a cleaner for HE washers. You might try that to see if it will solve the problem. Or there is probably some sort of vinegar cure that could you could find on the internet that can be run through the washer to get rid of mildew. It would be worth a try. I also just recently heard a report on NPR that phosphates were taken out of laundry and dishwasher detergents and they are the main cleaning agent. Maybe the detergent you are using just isn't cleaning the clothes very well.

One other question - do you have a well? I have one and have to have the well cleaned every year, usually in the spring due to bacteria. I can always tell I have a problem because my clothes start stinking badly. They never smell clean.

 

[wangmichelle]

Was there someone in mischief, but friends you don't know?

 

[csharpwv]

I would almost be willing to place a 50/50 bet on this one!

I would place 1/2 on the mildew smell from the washer being magnified by the dryer -
and I would place the other 1/2 on a rodent in your dryer vent.

Here is a way to test to see where this odor might be coming from...

Go to your linen closet and get something out that was washed months/weeks ago before you started noticing the smell (blanket - sheets - or even a pillow from your bed) - run it through a cycle in the dryer and see if the smell comes out on the previously clean item.

If the smell come out on the item - it IS something in the dryer - if there is no smell after the cycle is complete - your washer is leaving a sour odor on your clothes - and then that smell is being magnified by your dryer.

If it is your washer - I would definitely go with white vinegar as your first option. It's REALLY cheap and there is nothing in it that can be harmful to the environment!

Hope your mystery stink disappears soon!

 

[disneyhand]

No matter if you have the front load he washer or the traditional top loader, always, always leave the door/ lid open after your last load of wash. Otherwise you are closing up something that is very wet inside and it will start to smell musty. You may also see mold begin if it's closed up long enough.

Once it dries out, you can shut it. I also wipe my front load glass door down with a towel and then leave it open.

The vinegar treatment mentioned above should help, though I've heard that sometimes it's too late, especially for the top loaders and you may need a new seal or something like that.

 

[3_disprincesses]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I will definately try the idea about putting the clothes cleaned months ago in the dryer and to see if they come out with the smell. I very seldom put clothes in the dryer - I hang all of my clothes and most of my families. I just went and sniffed some that had been hanging since being washed this weekend and they smell fine. The biggest problem is when i dry towels/washcloths. The longer they dry, the worse they smell. I will be cleaning the washing machine with vinegar also - just in case I'm sure it should be cleaned anyway.

Thanks Again!
Theresa

 

[2binak]

Our front load washer sometimes gets a musty smell and the heat from the dryer just increases the smell. Our washer manual says to run an empty cycle with bleach on the sanitary setting. That does the trick every time.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

I always wash my towels in hot water with a cup of vinegar. Not only does it get any possible musty odor out of the towels but it also helps clean the washer too.

Hope you get some answers on the smell.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I will definately try the idea about putting the clothes cleaned months ago in the dryer and to see if they come out with the smell. I very seldom put clothes in the dryer - I hang all of my clothes and most of my families. I just went and sniffed some that had been hanging since being washed this weekend and they smell fine. The biggest problem is when i dry towels/washcloths. The longer they dry, the worse they smell. I will be cleaning the washing machine with vinegar also - just in case I'm sure it should be cleaned anyway.

Thanks Again!
Theresa

Ah if it's just towels/washcloths strip them. Run a hot wash with no detergent. You can put some baking soda or some vinegar in there, preferably just the vinegar.

There is soap buildup in your towels and washclothes and any soap reside left behind is making the funk smell. I'm sure of it.