How do you remove a smell from your washer/dryer that is leaving scent on clothes???

Question

Something about our dryer that is leaving a stinky smell on our clothes.Like mildewy or wet dog smell.Mainly on our towels and heavy items.We use the towel after shower,and it just has that smell.What can we do.I use tide w/downy, and a separate fabric softener, and also dryer sheets.

Answer 1

Wash it down with some clorox, that should disinfect the whole thing.But make sure that you let it dry before you use it again.

Answer 2

Are your clothes sitting wet for a little bit before going in the dryer? That can cause the mildey smell, especially in towels and heavy items. Other than that, maybe the vent for the dryer is clogged somewhere? Maybe dirty? You could always call the manufacturer and ask them.

Answer 3

I bet you have a front loading washer, they are unfortunately prone to this.  What I do, about once a month, is put in a few old towels, turn the washer on the longest and hottest cycle and add Simple Green to the detergent cup and the fabric softener cup.  I let it go through its cycle and then wipe the rubber gasket well with Simple Green or bleach and then I turn the washer on again and just let it run with clear water and no detergent.  Some people also add 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of white vinegar to the washer and let it run through a cycle and that seems to help also.  

Answer 4

Pull out your dryer and turn it on it's side.  Check on the floor to see if there is anything burned.  Also check the floor and see if there is a dead mouse or something of that nature there.  Get the dryer insides cleaned out, especially all the lint.  After all this set it up and try it again and see if it helps.  If not, get something you can ruin, get it wet with 1/2 bleach/1/2 water, and dry it and see how that does.  If that doesn't work, do it again but this time use water and baking soda.  After that, I don't have any idea whatsoever.  We had this happen with our washer and we got rid of it by using another detergent that is supposed to get rid of all the clothing odors.  Good luck.