• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
go to homepage

Search by
Category
  • Cleaning Blog
  • Automotive
  • Bathroom Appliances and Fixtures
  • Carpets and Rugs
  • Cats
  • Closets and Organization
  • Dogs
  • Electronics
  • Fabrics
  • Floor & Carpet
  • Floors
  • Food
  • Furniture
  • General Housecleaning
  • House
  • Household Appliances and Fixtures
  • Jewelry
  • Kitchen Appliances and Fixtures
  • Kitchen and Bathroom Surfaces
  • Kitchenware
  • Metals
  • Outdoors
  • Other Pets, Animals and Pests
  • People
  • Stain Removal
  • Stuff
  • Surfaces
  • Things You Own
  • Tools and Techniques
  • Walls and Ceilings
  • Windows
  • Everything Else
  • Ask us your cleaning question

go to homepage

How To Clean Stuff.net

Search by
Category
  • Cleaning Blog
  • Automotive
  • Bathroom Appliances and Fixtures
  • Carpets and Rugs
  • Cats
  • Closets and Organization
  • Dogs
  • Electronics
  • Fabrics
  • Floor & Carpet
  • Floors
  • Food
  • Furniture
  • General Housecleaning
  • House
  • Household Appliances and Fixtures
  • Jewelry
  • Kitchen Appliances and Fixtures
  • Kitchen and Bathroom Surfaces
  • Kitchenware
  • Metals
  • Outdoors
  • Other Pets, Animals and Pests
  • People
  • Stain Removal
  • Stuff
  • Surfaces
  • Things You Own
  • Tools and Techniques
  • Walls and Ceilings
  • Windows
  • Everything Else
  • Ask us your cleaning question

Home / Cleaning Guides / House / Household Appliances and Fixtures / How to Remove Musty Smells from the Dryer

How to Remove Musty Smells from the Dryer

Table of Contents:
  1. Locate the Problem
  2. If the Problem Still Remains
  3. General Odor Removal
  4. Additional Tips and Advice

Amanda asked: How do I remove a musty smell from a dryer? My friend is suffering from a smelly dryer. She says she cleans her clothes in her new washer and immediately puts them into the older dryer. After they get through drying, they have a musty/funky smell to them. How would one go about removing smells from the dryer? What would be the cause? Where could you clean?

Musty smells in the dryer can quickly ruin a nice, fresh-smelling clean load of laundry. Try these methods to locate and remove the problem.

Locate the Problem:

  • Remove the dryer vent and vacuum out any debris or lint that may have become trapped.
  • Check the area where the vent attaches to the dryer as well as the vent that connects to the outdoors.
  • Lint that becomes trapped in these vents can stay damp and hold the musty smell. As the dryer is running, the odor is pushed back into the laundry.
  • If the load is too large, it may be taking too long to dry. As the laundry sits in the warm air, the damp clothing creates the perfect environment for the musty smell.
  • Have your water checked. If your water is hard or has sulfur in it, it can lead to odors on the laundry. While the smells may be mild when wet, some minerals smell much stronger after being heated and “cooked” by the dryer. A water softener or filtration system may help.
  • Sniff around the door gasket to see if that might be the source of the odor. It you think it might be, inspect it to see if there is enough area available that a wet sock or other small item might have gotten caught behind it. If so, try shaking the door to see if there is any jostling noise, or try peeling back the rubber to visually inspect the area. If you think the rubber itself might be the source of the odor, mix baking soda and water to make a thick paste about the consistency of toothpaste and spread the paste over the rubber. Leave the paste in place for 30-60 minutes, then wipe it off with a damp cloth and wipe the rubber dry. This paste process can be repeated as many times as needed. If necessary, the rubber can be replaced.

If the Problem Still Remains:

  • If you have checked all the areas of the dryer and cannot find the problem, it may be that the problem lies in the washing machine.
  • For more information about removing the musty smell from clothing and the washer visit the following pages:
    • How to Clean the Washing Machine
    • How to Remove Mildew Smell from Laundry

General Odor Removal

If you cannot located the source of the odor and instead would like to try deodorizing the drum area, here’s what to do.

You Will Need:

  • Deodorizer (choose one):
  • White vinegar
  • Baking soda
  • Activated charcoal
  • Coffee grounds

Steps to Deodorize the Drum:

  1. Select a deodorizer from the list above.
  2. Put the deodorizer on a plate or bowl and set the dish in the drum.
  3. Carefully close the dryer door, ensuring the dish does not tip.
  4. Let the dish sit in the dryer overnight, then remove it in the morning.
  5. Repeat the process as many times as needed for the smell to be removed, using a fresh batch of deodorizer each time.

Additional Tips and Advice

  • Vacuums with extender attachments make excellent cleaning tools for cleaning out the vents.
  • Long dusting tools can also be helpful.
  • Ensure the dryer has been turned off and had a chance to cool down before removing the venting. The heat may leave the metal areas hot, so proceed carefully.

Cleaning Guides, Household Appliances and Fixtures

Was This Guide Helpful?

+85
-38
Rating: 70%. From 123 votes.
Please wait...

Related Posts

  • How to Remove Musty Smells from Furniture
  • How to Remove Musty Smells from a Safe
  • How to Remove Musty Smells from Central Air Conditioning
  • How to Remove China Marker from a Dryer
  • How to Remove Oil Smells from the Basement
  • How to Remove Glue from a Dryer

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, conse ctetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit sed diam.


Thank you for subscribing!

Reader Interactions

About the Author

Avatar photo

Susan

I'm a stay-at-home mom who used to run a small housecleaning business. These days I consider myself more or a mad cleaning-scientist. I do most of the testing for our articles - as well as helping Mark & Melanie write them.

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Helpful comments include feedback on the recipe or changes you made.

show comments +

Comments

  1. Howard says

    July 5, 2010 at 8:15 pm

    Good info on potential sources, but now that I’ve identified it, what the heck can I do to clean it???

    Reply
  2. Jaycee says

    June 6, 2013 at 8:27 am

    @Howard:
    Read the bit again about vacuum or dusting tools — you have to eliminate the musty lint. If that doesn’t work, run some hot water, white vinegar & baking soda through your washer — that may be where the bad odors start.
    “Vacuums with extender attachments make excellent cleaning tools for cleaning out the vents. Long dusting tools can also be helpful.”

    Reply
  3. Leanna says

    November 5, 2014 at 11:30 pm

    Thank you for the tip. It does work.

    Reply
  4. Cheryl says

    March 3, 2016 at 10:33 am

    My clothes smell good coming out of the washer and dryer, but when you take a shower or when a towel and wash clothes get wet again, they smell like dirty socks.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Featured Guides

How to Clean a Hairbrush

How to Clean a Microwave Oven With ZERO Chemicals

How to Clean Every Dental Retainer

How to Clean your Macbook’s Screen

Join our mailing list.
Be the first to know about new arrivals, sales, and special events.
Thank you for subscribing!

Footer

Browse by Category

  • Automotive
  • Clothing & Fabrics
  • Floors & Carpets
  • Housecleaning
  • Kitchen & Bath
  • Outdoors
  • People & Pets
  • Household Stuff

Contact

  • Ask Us Your Cleaning Questions
  • Contact Form

Follow us on Social Media

Site Information

  • Cookie Policy
  • Guest Post Policy
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • XML Sitemap

Copyright © 2023 · HowToCleanStuff.net · All Rights Reserved · Website by Anchored Design