DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, I receive a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
With every new day comes new technological advancement. Laundry dryers are a marvel of modern technology. Although the most energy-efficient method of drying clothes is, of course, the sun, this is not always possible.
Not every day is sunny and some homes don’t have space for a yard with a laundry line. It is not easy to dry clothes and linen in a small apartment or humid location. Also, many of us have busy lives so we don’t want to spend time taking clothes on and off a washline.
With a dryer, no matter what the weather is doing, you can wash and dry clothes at any time of the day or night. Furthermore, using a dryer is time-saving. If you have a big family, a dryer is especially convenient because it can get big batches of laundry done quickly.
Dryers leave clothes smelling and looking fresh after a cycle. Also, they cut down on ironing because clothes can be taken out while still warm and folded to prevent creasing.
Now that we’ve reminded you about all the advantages of having a dryer, let’s look at one of the unpleasant things that happen from time to time – the dryer smells fishy or musty. If this is the case in your home, keep reading because we have solutions for this problem.
Dryer Smells Like Fish
When you know the cause of the problem, only then you can find a solution. A dryer that smells fish will most likely cause the clothes that get dried in it to smell the same way. It can also emit an unpleasant smell into the entire room. Here are some possible causes:
- Lint buildup
The main culprit is usually lint buildup in the vent area. Every time you dry some clothes or linen, tiny bits of fabric fluff come off the clothes. This is known as lint and it starts to build up inside the dryer. Most dryers have a lint screen that filters this fluff out.
However, sometimes lint gets stuck in the vent. If you don’t remove it regularly, your dryer can end up smelling fishy. This is because whenever the vent is obstructed by lint, the steam will come back into the dryer.
The combination of recycled steam, hot air, and moldy lint is what causes a fishy smell. To check if lint is the reason behind the smell, detach the vent connection tube from the dryer.
Be sure to have a vacuum and a mop with you when you do this because if you have not cleaned your dryer in ages, then the connection tube will probably be full of water. Clean the vent and remove any fluff or water. Also, give the lint filter a good cleaning.
Remove the lint filter from the machine and wash it with some detergent and hot water. Allow it to air dry before replacing it. You can also use your vacuum attachment to vacuum the area of the lint filter and remove any fluff.
- Something died in the vent
Sometimes a small creature like a rat crawls into the venting system from the outside and dies in there. This will cause a terrible smell and it will of, course, have to be removed.
- You dried mildewed clothes
The smell may be coming from the clothes themselves. Maybe your two-year-old left a tadpole in his pants pocket? Unlikely, but it happens. More likely, you left the clothes lying in the washing machine or laundry basket for too long after they were washed.
This will cause them to develop a nasty smell that’s caused by mildew. Putting them in the dryer will enhance this smell. You will need to re-rinse the clothes, preferably with some pleasant-smelling fabric softener, before attempting to dry them again.
- Overheating
If you didn’t find any problem with the lint filter and vent system, you’ll need to do some more digging. Sometimes, there is a fuse in the electric compartment or a bakelite component that is overheating. This often causes a fishy smell.
You may need to call an electrician to fix this issue and replace the fuse.
A final step
A final DIY fix is to use distilled white vinegar to freshen the inside of your dryer. Using a vinegar-soaked cloth, wipe inside the dryer including the part under the rubber gasket and the door. Vinegar can deodorize the inside and remove bad odors.
You can also add a few drops of essential oil such as lavender to the cloth. Run the dryer for ten minutes or so to remove the vinegar smell before putting any laundry in. Another step you can take is to run your dryer for a while with the vinegar-soaked cloth inside.
This will remove odors from inside the lint filter and vent where you cannot reach. You can also use some diluted bleach to wipe down the inside of the dryer.
This will kill any mold. Be sure to wipe down with a cloth and plain water afterward or it may bleach your clothing! After wiping down, leave the dryer door open overnight to allow it to dry properly.
What if you can’t fix it?
Nothing beats advice from a professional. An expert in appliances will be able to guide you. If you can’t fix the issue with the techniques we mentioned, it is best to invest in a technician.
An expert can help you get rid of lint buildup in the dryer vent or fix any electrical issues that may have arisen. Remember that lint buildup will not only give an unpleasant smell but is also a fire hazard. It can eventually cause the dryer to catch fire.
To Conclude
A fishy, stale, or moldy smell coming from your dryer could be the result of leaving damp clothes in there for too long before drying them or a build-up of lint that has become damp and moldy. We hope our tips have helped you to get your dryer smelling fresh and clean again.
