Why Dryer Smells Like Sewage?

Everyone wants clean, fresh-smelling clothes. It’s a disappointment when you start to run your dryer and you smell an awful order that bears a resemblance to rotten eggs on a sidewalk on a 95-degree summer day or, worse yet, sewage. 

This isn’t hard to diagnose. Lint build-up is why dryer smells like sewage. Fortunately, it’s an easy fix you can do yourself. 

The article below guides you through cleaning out the lint from your ductwork and dryer. Soon, your clothes will have that fresh smell!

Most people routinely check their dryer’s lint trap. The problem is that’s not the only place where lint collects. It collects in other parts of the dryer, behind the dryer, the vent connection in the back of the dryer, and the vent itself. 

You need to clean out all those areas for more than the reason of smelly clothes. Trapped lint can also be a fire hazard. It can spark as the dryer heats up and catch the laundry room on fire. For that reason, you shouldn’t run the dryer while you are asleep or away from home. 

Read: Do All Dryers Need A Vent?

Your dryer has some metal ductwork that connects the dryer to the wall vent. The first thing you do is disconnect that from the dryer. Now, try running a load with that unconnected. A better smell indicates your main problem is in the flexible ductwork and the venting system to the outside of the house. 

Make sure the flexible ductwork is clean and not kinked or twisted. Look in the wall vent and clean it out with your hands. While you have the dryer pulled out, clean all the lint behind it along the floor, walls, and on the back of the dryer. 

You may see more of this if your dryer is in an enclosed space like a laundry closet rather than a laundry room that’s easier to clean. 

Read: Why Your Dryer Gets Hot When Not Running

The vent to your dryer runs outside your home. It is usually on the exterior wall opposite your dryer’s position but sometimes it’s on a roof. Take a sponge and water and clean the outside vent. 

You are going to find as you do this that there is wet lint in the vents. That could be from weather or laundry dampness. The wet lint is what is causing the sewage smell. It’s like of like have a wet dog permanently in your home. 

Some of the lint and debris on the outside vent are going to be hard. That happens when it’s exposed to the weather. You should scrape that off with a screwdriver. 

Read: Can You Put A Stackable Washer And Dryer Anywhere?

Once the outside vent is clean, turn your attention to the dryer. You will need to do a deep clean to eliminate the smell. For this, you will need a clean rag, towels, bleach, water, and white vinegar.

Disconnect the power going to the dryer. Then, start with the trap for lint. Pull it out and get rid of any lint with the clean rage. You can use a vacuum hose to get smaller stuff. You will need to clean it with running water in the sink and scrub the trap with a gentle bristled brush to thoroughly clean it. Set it out to air dry.

Now, clean the housing of the lint trap. Use smaller hose for vacumms to remove all dirt and lint. You may want to vacuum the area around the dryer too if you haven’t done it yet. 

Use the vacuum hose to clean lint from the back of the dryer and where the flexible vent attaches to the back of the dryer.

Everyone wants clean, fresh-smelling clothes. It’s a disappointment when you start to run your dryer and you smell an awful order that bears a resemblance to rotten eggs on a sidewalk on a 95-degree summer day or, worse yet, sewage. 

This isn’t hard to diagnose. Lint build-up is why dryer smells like sewage. Fortunately, it’s an easy fix you can do yourself. 

The article below guides you through cleaning out the lint from your ductwork and dryer. Soon, your clothes will have that fresh smell!

Most people routinely check their dryer’s lint trap. The problem is that’s not the only place where lint collects. It collects in other parts of the dryer, behind the dryer, the vent connection in the back of the dryer, and the vent itself. 

You need to clean out all those areas for more than the reason of smelly clothes. Trapped lint can also be a fire hazard. It can spark as the dryer heats up and catch the laundry room on fire. For that reason, you shouldn’t run the dryer while you are asleep or away from home. 

Read: Do All Dryers Need A Vent?

Your dryer has some metal ductwork that connects the dryer to the wall vent. The first thing you do is disconnect that from the dryer. Now, try running a load with that unconnected. A better smell indicates your main problem is in the flexible ductwork and the venting system to the outside of the house. 

Make sure the flexible ductwork is clean and not kinked or twisted. Look in the wall vent and clean it out with your hands. While you have the dryer pulled out, clean all the lint behind it along the floor, walls, and on the back of the dryer. 

You may see more of this if your dryer is in an enclosed space like a laundry closet rather than a laundry room that’s easier to clean. 

Read: Why Your Dryer Gets Hot When Not Running

The vent to your dryer runs outside your home. It is usually on the exterior wall opposite your dryer’s position but sometimes it’s on a roof. Take a sponge and water and clean the outside vent. 

You are going to find as you do this that there is wet lint in the vents. That could be from weather or laundry dampness. The wet lint is what is causing the sewage smell. It’s like of like have a wet dog permanently in your home. 

Some of the lint and debris on the outside vent are going to be hard. That happens when it’s exposed to the weather. You should scrape that off with a screwdriver. 

Read: Can You Put A Stackable Washer And Dryer Anywhere?

Once the outside vent is clean, turn your attention to the dryer. You will need to do a deep clean to eliminate the smell. For this, you will need a clean rag, towels, bleach, water, and white vinegar.

Disconnect the power going to the dryer. Then, start with the trap for lint. Pull it out and get rid of any lint with the clean rage. You can use a vacuum hose to get smaller stuff. You will need to clean it with running water in the sink and scrub the trap with a gentle bristled brush to thoroughly clean it. Set it out to air dry.

Now, clean the housing of the lint trap. Use smaller hose for vacumms to remove all dirt and lint. You may want to vacuum the area around the dryer too if you haven’t done it yet. 

Use the vacuum hose to clean lint from the back of the dryer and where the flexible vent attaches to the back of the dryer.