Help please! STINKY TIMBLE DRYER!

[goodfornothinggnome]

So long story short is I've had a lot of breathing problems fairly recently, I'd mentioned to a relative that I was considering getting a tumble dryer as I'm hoping that will cut down on the allergens my clothes come into contact with drying outside.

Said relative has offered me theirs, i said no, made excuse after excuse to not have it.

I am going to sound ungrateful, but this relatives home is absolute squalor. I don't use that term lightly. If I've seen this relative the rest of the family say, you saw xxxx today. If I've been to their home the stench of damp, dirt and fag smoke is really noticeable, and I always get Ill.

Eventually yesterday DH went and collected the tumble dryer, and said we could clean it up.

Turns out it wasnt actually working, the dust? Filter in the bottom of it was absolutely rammed with damp dust etc. I spent ages with a dust mask on a Hoover, knife etc. Cleaning that part out, then I cleaned every single part of the machine, I've cleaned every conceivable part, I've scoured the internet for ways that I can get rid of the smell, including damp socks with tablespoons of bicarb in, and comfort soaked cloths with a wash.

It seems to work ok, until they're removed from the drum, then the God awful smell comes back.

Does anyone have any idea how I can get rid of this smell please?

It's so bad that if we go upstairs all we can smell is the relatives house.

I am kicking myself for not being more forceful with not wanting it, but short of saying that their house stinks and I don't want anything from there, I didn't know what to do. I'm quite mad at myself because my house smells really disgusting at the moment. I work so hard to not have my house smell like this.

I have OCD and this is really quite distressing to me to have this smell here.

If anyone has any tips on how to completely oust the smell, I would be eternally grateful, otherwise I think I'm going to have to tip it.

I would tip it and buy a new one. Life is too short and if it's making things and your house stink it's doing the opposite of helping make your life easier. Just tell them it wouldn't work and wasn't economic to repair if they ask.

Is the outlet connected to the drains and does it have an adequate trap fitted?

It sounds awful and wasteful, but I'd just tip it. You're making your house smell and of course your laundry appliances come in to contact with virtually every piece of fabric you own; so eventually your linens and clothes will pick up the scent.

Also the (obvious) fact dryers use no water as with washers and that they get hot will not be helping matters at all in regards to smell.

It isn't worth it.

Sorry for the very late reply, it isn't plumbed in if that makes sense. I think I may have found a solution, I've popped a capsule of zoflora in the water catching reservoir (it doesn't get hot from what I can gauge) washed it through after using the bicarb in a sock trick, wiped over with zoflora on the outside, and using tumble dryer sheets helps. I'll pop it on today, whilst relative visits, then I'll pop it to the tip tomorrow.

Seems massively wasteful to pack off a working machine, but the smell keeps sort of making it's way back.

It's a slight whiff now, but I cant continue to put these strong chemicals on everything, it's making my breathing worse than it is if I just dry stuff outside.

Thanks all.

There might be another filter mine has 2 1 in the dryer and another beside the condenser bottle have a look that might be where the smell is coming from.

Mrsjayy is right, there’s the fluff filter and a condenser in the bottom that also gets fluff on it. It’s metal so you can chuck it in the bath with disinfectant and then shower it off.

Dryers go musty if the doors shut all the time.

Have you got an air purifier? I got a silentnight one from amazon and dh is using his ventolin less now. It’s on all day in the kitchen.