Bad Dryer Oder
 

The other day I walked into my laundry room and almost fell over from a BO type oder that was coming from our dryer. My first thought was that the vent was blocked with lint that had become wet. Had the dryer and vent cleaned and that helped but we can still smell the oder. The guy who cleaned the dryer vent said it was pretty bad and he said to wet a towel with water and sprinkle some vinegar on it and dry it. We did that but the oder although better is still there. Has anyone ever experienced this? If you have how did you get rid of the oder? Appreciate all replies!

Maybe the rubber belt (if there is one) is slipping and causing a rubber burning smell or maybe a small creature got into your vent and died down inside the dryer and is being roasted or a motor is overheating and smoking. Sometimes it takes a while for a bad smell to clear even if the cause was resolved. Try some of that dryer stuff they add when putting clothes in that comes in zillions of fragrances. My wife often uses that stuff and our garage smells like perfume for hours and hours, They have versions for dryers and for washers or maybe a stronger antiperspirant to keep the clothes fresher. :D

EdFNJ is right about the animal dying in your vent. I had that happen years ago up north when I was pulling out the dryer to check the bad odor and a dead crow was staring at me.

Quite possible your using too much soap detergent in your wash, rinse cycle not removing it just like a sink sponge it accumulates.

Anyone in your house missing? LOL

If you read her post the OP had dryer and vent cleaned no animal FOUND. Since everything was cleaned I wonder if any mold/mildew was found

look for dead animal , under or around dryer.

It is hard to analyze any smell from words. The odor could indicate a dryer problem.
A lot of lint in the vent. There should be a filter before the hot damp air goes into the tube
that vents out doors. You may want to check on the internet and see where it is, how and when to clean it. If, you did not own the home from new, someone may have tossed the filter.

To absorb odors, baking soda is traditional. You open the box and leave it in the dryer overnight. Baking soda is cheap and a grocery store item. You can also charcoal, real charcoal. You can buy it at a place that sells barbecues. Put it in a cloth bag, an old pillow case will work well and just leave it inside the dryer over night.

Assuming it is a small space try a air freshener spray. Citronella oil. Is readily available.
Moth balls will cover the smell.

We think of one issue at a time. The vent could have been full of lint and there could also be a dead animal in the wall or?

Actually removing the ducting and cleaning the dryer VENT doesn't necessarily go inside the back of the dryer itself. Easily a gecko or a tiny frog or even a cow could end up in there if the flapper over the vent doesn't fully close.

Try a container of chlorine dioxide, its a powder you add water to, to activate, works great inside smokers cars.
google it, purchase, insert into the dryer, close the door for 24 hours, its about 25 bucks for one application.

Go to Lowes today and buy a new dryer. Have someone set the old one at the curb and call for special pick-up. No time to waste, Christmas is almost here. Can't have your clothes and house smelling like a dead rat.

Assuming that you have a washing machine next to the dryer it is more likely the odor is coming from it. Make sure the lid (whether front or top load) stays open while not in use. Front load can be propped open a little

I had that happen and after having technician come out I found out the dryer’s electrical socket in wall was bad and was miracle we didn’t have a fire. I would definitely check that. Fortunately my husband knew how to replace it.

Repeat.

Repeat.

Repeat.

We also had a funky smell in our laundry room which turned out to be the washer, not the dryer. I cleaned the inside of the tub, moved both pieces to make sure nothing was underneath, and washed the floor but the smell would still appear.

Even using the “clean washer” cycle with one of those special pods only cleared the smell for a day or two. A neighbor suggested running the clean cycle and using about a half cup of fabuloso, which I have been doing for the past couple months. The funk is gone.

Maybe worth a try for you?

Do you have 2nd floor? I had leaky 2nd floor bathroom sink which smelled the washroom downstairs……

Thanks for all the replies. Most think it is an animal that got inside the vent and died. We replaced the vent line right to the wall and found no dead animal. Others suggested it could be the washer. It’s not the washer. Always leave the lid up and there is no smell coming from it. When we use the dryer the cloths come out fine without that sweat/bo smell. It seems to be getting better each time we use it but it is still there. We have installed a fragrance canister in the laundry and that helps some. One reply was to buy a new dryer and trust me this smell is do bad the thought was there to do just that. I think because of a kink we found in the vent line the dryer couldn’t push the wet air out and over time the wetted lint built up in the back of the dryer creating the most disgusting smell I have ever encountered. It’s similar to the one Seinfeld had in his car after letting a valet guy park his car. Remember that one? Thanks again for all the replies and take my advice and clean your dryer vent every couple of years. Happy holidays to all with no stink!!

How Old is your dryer???
If it is more than 5 years old
BUY a New DRYER
Stop wasting money on a repair man!!!

First step, dryer vent hose, then go from there...

Ohiobuckeye
 

I know people here are trying to help but it’s a mystery. Everyone here that commented are good points. If your vent has been cleaned then you know it’s not in the vent between the dryer & the exit on the outside of your house so like some people said it’s got to be something in your dryer. Call a repair person & have them go through your dryer. I have a water issue right now & it stinks to high heaven. Toilets won’t go down when we flush toilets, water backs up in tubs & the house is only about a yr. old. I’ m guessing the plugs weren’t taken out of the vents on top of house. Good luck with your dryer!

Thanks for the update but I’m sure this thread will go on and on and on.

And if you paid attention, they suggest a dead animal "in the dryer"......not the vent

I’d add water to your laundry room sink. I know your first thought may have been the dryer, but many of us don’t use the laundry room sink. If the water evaporates out of the p-trap in that drain, you can get sewer gas into the laundry room. Just a thought. Dump about a quart of water into the laundry room sink and see if the odor stops. Same holds true for the guest bathtub if it goes unused for several months.

Electric or gas?

IMO Probably still in blower fan? Or in heating element? Electric Dryers are cheap (unless have to have the fancy models) I just buy new one if I couldn’t take it apart and give it thorough cleaning. Even then it may still have odor?

You might have mold in the air conditioning/heat vent in the ceiling. Run your heat and/or clean the duct behind the vent.

Pull out your washing machine there maybe a small rodent that died under it and every time you use it the heat generated from the machine may cause the smell , it may never have been from the dryer , good luck and let us know when you solve the problem

You have a two year warranty on the plumbing. I am not a plumber but if when you flush the toilets water backs up into the tub, your line to the sewer is likely plugged. It is a job for a professional and it should be covered under warranty. The waste pipe may be separated. It is possible one of the workmen of perhaps someone in your family dropped something they shouldn't have down the drain.

Dear OhioBuckEye,
I read about your sluggish toilets and water backing up. There are no "plugs" on your roof. The roof vents are PVC pipe lined with a flexible lead flashing. Sometimes we find those lead flashings occluded and always check for this when we are on the roof and send it to warranty if that ARE plugged. My guess is that you have a slow building obstruction in your main sewer line. If your home is less than 1 year old the Plumber needs to come out to scope it. You need to speak to the Plumber who plumbed your house....some folks say there is a 2 year warranty... Often some construction debris is found, or a "belly" that causes an obstruction, or a snag that will catch some toilet paper and slowly build up to a partial clog or total clog. Sometimes a break in the line is found, especially if you are the neighbor put in a pool, etc. Also, We always tell folks that if you go away for more than a week to always flush all toilets three times to clear the line so if there IS any paper in the line it will not dry out and become an obstruction. Hope this helps! Frank D.

Some Solution;
Buy a new dryer.

My dryer is 4 years old and I have no odor coming from it. I have a daughter who lives in Orlando and I noticed a musty odor on her clothing. Her friend, an engineer, took the working of the dryer apart, cleaned it and reassembled it. The odor is gone. I wouldn’t recommend that to anyone. The only advise I can give is to never leave clothes in your dryer. They may not completely dry, then sit there getting that musty smell. Good luck.

Odor laundry room
 

[Had same problem for two years. We have a newer home. Third plumber identified problem. Builder had not put a trap in sink/laundry room. Trap holds water which stops odors from coming up into house. Used Villages plumber. Had to cut out part of wall but second man fixed and painted and could not tell it was done. UOTE=daca55;2039278]The other day I walked into my laundry room and almost fell over from a BO type oder that was coming from our dryer. My first thought was that the vent was blocked with lint that had become wet. Had the dryer and vent cleaned and that helped but we can still smell the oder. The guy who cleaned the dryer vent said it was pretty bad and he said to wet a towel with water and sprinkle some vinegar on it and dry it. We did that but the oder although better is still there. Has anyone ever experienced this? If you have how did you get rid of the oder? Appreciate all replies![/QUOTE]

Ohiobuckeye
 

Your exactly right Dzurinko! It’s worth a try anyway.