Some of your home’s smelliest places are your home appliances. With the help of Atlanta Appliance Services, here’s how to take care of common appliance odors with appliance cleaning tips and vent maintenance advice for eliminating filth, odors, and all while saving energy.
5 Dryer Appliance Odors
1| Burnt Rubber
There are usually two main reasons for this unpleasant smell. One tip I can recommend, which often slips people’s mind is to follow the washing and to follow drying instructions on clothing tags when washing and drying them. It’s easy to fall into the routine of throwing all your clothes together, assuming it will turn out fine.
One reason your dryer can start to smell is if synthetic clothes get too hot. They will begin to create a rubber smell.
The second, a little more complicated, is that your dryer is putting off a burnt rubber smell because of a possible wire short. You’ll want to inspect the dryer’s power cord. If you see a frayed or exposed wire, it can melt the protective rubber coating. This power cord will need to be replaced with a new one, so be careful! To prevent shock, turn your dryer off while changing the cord.
2| Dryer Smells Like Mildew
This is a common one. You’ll never get used to the moldy, moist smell of clothes as soon as you open your dryer door. Luckily, there are simple fixes for this widespread problem.
Usually, this smell is because of wet clothes sitting in the dryer for too long before starting the cycle. It only takes a second to start the dryer, but it can cause quite an annoyance getting a moldy dryer to smell better.
If you haven’t left wet clothes in the dryer for a long time, make sure you don’t have any built-up lint that has gotten moldy. Fix this by pulling out the lint screen, removing the lint, and wiping the screen with a dry towel.
One pro tip if neither of these quick fixes works is to dampen some towels with white vinegar and run the dryer with those towels in there. This natural odor reducer is safe and easy. Just be sure to wash the towels immediately, so they aren’t stuck smelling like vinegar!
3| Burning Appliance Odors
Any odd smell coming from your dryer is inconvenient and annoying, but this one can also be dangerous. If you ask if that burning smell is coming from your dryer, the problem must be addressed immediately.
This issue will need to be fixed by Atlanta appliance services due to the potential of a house fire. In this scenario, you should contact us professionals and stop using the dryer until the source of this hazardous smell is determined.
4| Gas Dryer Smells like Gas
I understand your panic about this smell because of a gas leak, and it is possible. It’s more likely a filter or vent issue. Regardless of the size of the problem, it’s best to call on one of our technicians when you smell smoke or gas from an appliance.
If you open your dryer early on in the cycle and smell gas or smell it on your clothes, that’s a sign that your igniter is going bad. This vent issue can be caused by a dirty filter or an exhaust system breach. The gas valve may not shut off if you ever smell that same kerosene while your dryer isn’t running. In this case, turn off the gas at your home and call the appropriate services immediately.
5| Smells like a Dead Animal
I hope you never experience this smell. But if you’ve found yourself in this smelly situation, we’re here to help. While you will (hopefully) never open your dryer to find a dead rodent inside, you may find one in the dryer vent or behind your dryer panels.
The reality of this problem is that the smell won’t go away until the rodent is found. We suggest getting the entire vent system cleaned. Starting with the hose on the back of the dryer and ending the cleaning with the outside vent.
Locate the animal by inspecting the interior of the dryer. If you still can’t find the rodent, disconnect the dryer from power and remove the front and rear panels.
Washing Machine Appliance Odors
Why does my washing machine smell sour?
Washing machines smell sour when washer tubs remain damp, offering a warm, dark environment for mold and bacteria. There are varying methods of getting rid of the odor, but cleaning out built-up gunk and dirt is a good start, followed by killing the mold and bacteria with bleach and deodorizing with white vinegar.
Dishwasher Appliance Odors
Why does my dishwasher smell bad?
A clogged or slow dishwasher drain is a breeding ground for stinky microbes. Standing water can spew rotting food particles on your dishes. Clean the dishwasher interior and replace the filter to eliminate the problem.
If you let them build up over time, these food particles start to smell fishy and other funky odors. These smells can transfer onto your dishes. Bacteria builds up, and your dishwasher becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and mildew.
- If your dishwasher smells damp and musky, you may have a kinked hose or clogged dishwasher drain. We will slowly pull the dishwasher slowly out from its place and inspect the hose for damage and the surrounding areas for water.
Refrigerator Appliance Odors
Refrigerators are notorious for collecting dirt and odors. Here are some appliance maintenance tips for dealing with this ongoing challenge.
1| Drip Pan Odors
When condensation builds up around a refrigerator, you do not want moisture and water leaking onto the kitchen floor. To help prevent leaks, many refrigerator companies have implemented a drip pan system in the fridge.
Over time, the drip pan may fill with water. Depending on the presence of other germs and bacteria, mold could form on the pan and create harmful odors in the kitchen. If you believe the drip pan may cause the smells, consider hiring an appliance repair technician to empty and clean the drip pan.
The drip pan location may be hard to reach, and a trained professional will ensure no other problems leading to excess condensation or drip pan issues. Once clean, the odors should dissipate, and the technicians may give you trips to prevent the same thing from happening again.
2| Dead Animal Smell
If your fridge smells like a dead animal, raw meat drippings might seep under drawers and into cracks. Put food in containers, wipe up spills quickly and consider a monthly deep clean.
There can be a few different reasons why your refrigerator smells bad. The most common problems are:
- Spilled food: If you’ve recently had a spill in your fridge, the smell is most likely coming from the spill. Even if you think you got it all up well, little pieces of food can get into cracks and cause a nasty smell.
- Mold or mildew: If mold and mildew are growing in your fridge, it can cause the entire appliance to stink.
- Poor ventilation: If your fridge doesn’t have good ventilation, it will cause odors to build up over time. Poor ventilation is usually because of a dirty air filter or a blockage in the vents.
How To Clean A Stinky Refrigerator
Now that we’ve covered the common reasons why your refrigerator stinks, let’s get to work getting rid of the smell with these simple steps.
- Clean up spills and stains; Use mild soap and warm water to scrub your fridge from top to bottom, then dry it thoroughly.
- Remove mold or mildew: If you see mold or mildew growing in your fridge, you’ll need to remove it immediately. Scrub the area with vinegar and water, then dry it thoroughly.
- Throw out old food.
- Clean the vents.
- Replace the air filter.
Garbage Disposal Appliance Odors
Garbage disposals are excellent tools for breaking up food waste so it can be ground up and disposed of through your drain. Over time, this process can cause smells to form and linger in your kitchen. This odor usually results from old bits of food that have gotten stuck in the grinding process.
While these machines are very efficient at what they’re made to do, food particles are often left behind when they get stuck to the machine’s blades or inner piping. These particles caught in or around the appliance will begin to rot quicker than you think, creating an unpleasant smell.
Some foods are more likely to stick or develop a strong odor over time compared to others.
When leftover food particles build-up, it may even cause a partial or complete clog. Clogs that prevent proper draining make the odor seem even more potent. It allows mold or mildew to grow and start creating smells of their own.
Contact Us About All Those Appliance Odors
Reach out to Atlanta Appliance Services today so we can help you catch up on some household needs while providing family-friendly service. Book here for your appliance repair, or give us a call. We’re happy to help with appliance odors and so much more!