Why Clothes Smell Musty After Drying

Clean clothes should smell fresh. If they come out of the dryer smelling musty, damp or sour, something is wrong. The cause may be the washer, the dryer, the vent or the laundry room itself. Here is how to find it.

Why it happens

• The dryer is not drying well. Clothes that stay slightly damp start to smell. If a load takes two cycles, see our guide on a dryer that is not heating.
• A blocked vent. Warm, wet air has nowhere to go and stays in the drum and the laundry room.
• Wet clothes left in the washer. Mildew can start within hours.
• A dirty washer. Residue and mildew in the washer drum or the door seal transfer to clean clothes.
• Residue inside the dryer drum. Fabric softener, dryer sheets and lint can build up and hold odors.
• A humid laundry room. Western Washington is damp for much of the year, and a closed laundry room with poor airflow stays humid.

How to fix it

• Clean the lint filter every load, and wash the filter now and then.
• Check that the vent hose is not crushed and that the outside flap opens when the dryer runs.
• Wipe the dryer drum with a damp cloth and mild soap, then dry it fully. Do this with the dryer unplugged.
• Run a hot cleaning cycle in the washer and leave the washer door open between loads, so it can dry.
• Dry clothes as soon as the wash ends. Do not leave wet loads sitting.
• Use less fabric softener and fewer dryer sheets if you see a film on the filter.
• Open a window or run a fan in the laundry room while the dryer is on.

When the dryer is the cause

If clothes are still damp at the end of a normal cycle even with a clean vent, the dryer is not heating or not moving air well. A technician can test the heating parts and the airflow. Our repair service covers both gas and electric dryers. You can also read about dryer maintenance and warning signs.

Check the washer too

Sometimes the smell starts in the washer. If clothes smell damp when they come out of the wash, the dryer is not the cause. Leave the washer door open between loads, wipe the door seal, and run an empty hot cycle now and then. Use only the amount of detergent the label says.

Help the air move

A dryer pushes warm, wet air out of the house. If the vent is long, bent or blocked, that air stays inside and the laundry room stays damp. A short, straight vent with a clean outside flap works best. If you can, keep the laundry room door open or use a fan while the dryer runs.

When to call a technician

• A normal load needs more than one cycle.
• The dryer is hot but clothes are still damp.
• The vent flap outside does not open.
• The smell stays after you clean the filter, vent, drum and washer.

Common questions

Why do clothes smell fine after washing but musty after drying?

The dryer may not be drying fully, so damp clothes sit in a warm drum. A blocked vent or a weak heating part is a common cause.

Can a blocked vent cause a musty smell?

Yes. Moist air cannot leave, so it stays in the drum, the clothes and the room.

How can I tell if the dryer is drying properly?

A normal load should be dry in one cycle. If it needs two, or the clothes are warm and damp, something is wrong.

Should I use more fabric softener to hide the smell?

No. Extra softener and dryer sheets can leave a film that traps odors. Fix the cause instead of covering it.

Need help? Dryer Repair Kenmore can check the vent and the dryer, gas or electric. Call (425) 555-0100 or use the contact page. We are open 24 hours.