If you don't clean your dryer regularly, mold and mildew can start to grow, and this can cause a musty smell that will be difficult to get rid of. Leaving damp clothing in your dryer too long can also help cause this problem.
Soak a few sturdy towels with white vinegar until they're damp but not dripping. Place these in the dryer and run a full cycle. White vinegar's acidity acts as an organic dryer odor remover, neutralizing and banishing those foul smells.
Tumble dryers can often suffer from musty smells and can quickly ruin, a fresh smelling clean load of laundry. Foul dryer odors are usually the result of blocked/obstructed airflow. Most dryers work by blowing hot air over the clothes, and then exhausting this hot, humid air outside.
Sometimes mildew can be the problem. First spray bleach water inside your washing machine and wipe it out. Then start adding a cup of white vinegar to the washing machine with every load of laundry. The vinegar will get rid of the mildew in contaminated clothes and will help them smell fresh out of the dryer.
Lint and Residue: Over time, lint and detergent residue can build up in the dryer, contributing to odors if not regularly cleaned. To prevent this issue, it's best to remove clothes from the dryer promptly after the cycle ends and ensure they are completely dry before putting them in.
If you want your laundry to smell good, you need to clean your machine. Over time, detergent residue, fabric softener, and dirt can build up inside the machine, leaving your clothes smelling musty.
Deodorize the dryer with baking soda
To use baking soda to deodorize your dryer, wet a towel and sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the material's surface. Then place the cloth in the dryer and dry it on the lowest drying cycle until completely dry.
Why Do My Clothes Smell Like Wet Dog After Drying? Clothes typically have a wet dog smell after drying when there is a buildup of detergent present throughout the clothes. To avoid unwanted odors in clothes, make sure to use the correct type and amount of detergent for every wash.
Enter dryer balls infused with your favorite scented oils. These nifty little balls not only cut down on drying time and reduce wrinkles, but they also leave your clothes smelling divine. Simply add a few drops of your preferred oil, toss them into the dryer, and voila!
Distilled White Vinegar Rinse
Adding one cup of distilled white vinegar to the final rinse cycle can give your clothes and linens the softness you desire without using dryer sheets. The mild acetic acid in the vinegar cuts through any detergent residue left in the fibers that makes the fabric feel scratchy.
Check inside the dryer drum—you may need to open the dryer panel to do so—for any trapped items or excessive lint buildup and clean as necessary. Look for signs of wear and tear on the belt. If it looks damaged, it could be melting due to friction and may be the cause of the burning smell. You should replace it.
When the dryer vent is clogged or improperly vented, moisture gets trapped and can prevent clothes from getting completely dry. This dampness allows odor causing bacteria, mould and mildew to develop causing unpleasant odours... ...so ensure that the dryer vent is clear and properly connected to a conduit outside.
Baking soda is used to remove many odors throughout your home and it works just the same for washing machines. Start by mixing ¼ cup baking soda with equal parts water. Pour the mixture into where you'd normally put your laundry detergent and run a normal cycle (without laundry in it, of course!)
If you haven't used the appliance for a while, certain unpleasant smells can start to crawl their way through the appliance drum. Cleaning the tumble dryer with a care product will keep odours away and ensure your load comes out perfectly dry every time.
There are a few different ways to make your own scented dryer sheets. The easiest method is to simply put a few drops of safe fragrance oil onto a cloth and let it dry completely (see section above for choosing a safe fragrance). The cloth can then be tossed in the dryer with your clothing.
Using Fabric Softener:
Fabric softeners are specially designed to add a soft, pleasant scent to your clothes while reducing static and making them feel cozy. Simply add fabric softener to your laundry during the rinse cycle and let it work its magic.
There can be many reasons why your laundry isn't smelling fresh. Musty odours can result from various factors, including insufficient drying, overloading the washing machine, or using too little detergent. Ensuring proper washing and drying techniques and regular machine maintenance can help achieve a fresh scent.
To help get the sour smell out of your garments:
Rewash whites and white undergarments in chlorine bleach using the hottest water that's safe for the fabric. For color clothes or towels, add a small box of baking soda to the load. Fresh air and direct sunlight eliminate mildew, so hang items outside to dry.
Clean the Inside of Your Dryer
Then, mix one-part vinegar with two parts warm water. Put the mixture in a spraying bottle and spray it inside your dryer. Let it sit for five minutes then wipe everything down with a microfiber cloth. Be sure to get into any nooks and crannies where lint and bacteria can hide.
Other suggestions for keeping clothes smelling fresh in the tumble dryer included using scent boosters, washing pods, dryer sheets, laundry conditioner soaked into a cloth and emptying the tumble dryer regularly. Sandra Armstrong suggested: “Scent boosters that you put in the washer are brilliant, especially Lenor.”
Whether you want to clean your washer, fabric softener, dishwasher, microwave, or dryer, vinegar is a great option. If you want to clean your laundry more frequently, try cleaning your washer with vinegar once a month.