Your Tumble Dryer Has A Musty Or Burning Smell

Tumble dryers are very useful appliances as they enable you to quickly get clothes dry after you've washed them. Over time and with use, however, they can begin to give off an odour, and this odour can quickly become unpleasant. Here, we explain where this bad odour comes from and how to get rid of it.

THE POTENTIAL CAUSES FOR THIS ISSUE:

• Mould has built up

• There is a fault with the water extraction system

• The appliance is being used for the first time

• The tumble dryer's filter has a hole in it

WARNING
Before you do anything to your appliance, make sure you disconnect it from the power supply.
There is a risk of electric shock.
Wear suitable protective gloves if you need to dismantle anything.
There is a risk of getting cut or injured.

Mould has built up

Tumble dryers come into contact with the moisture and wetness from clothes that have just been washed in the washing machine. If mould has built up in your washing machine, it will contaminate the items you wash and, through a process of transferral, create an unpleasant odour in your tumble dryer. To get rid of the unpleasant odour coming from your tumble dryer, clean the interior of the appliance with a cloth soaked in white vinegar. The condenser can also be cleaned using water and vinegar.
Important: it is essential to clean and remove all traces of mould from your washing machine to prevent a) your clothes getting contaminated, and b) your clothes then contaminating your tumble dryer.

There is a fault with the water extraction system

Condenser tumble dryers need to be kept very clean. The water tank must be emptied after each use to avoid it overflowing. A blocked or improperly connected drain hose can be a cause of unpleasant odours (i.e. smells of dampness or stale water, etc.). The presence of stagnant water in the water tank is a common cause of bad smells. Clean all parts that have any traces of dirt on them to prevent this problem occurring.

The appliance is being used for the first time

Is there a slight smell of burning plastic coming from your brand new tumble dryer? As long as it goes away after the first two or three uses, this is not something to be concerned about. Appliances can sometimes give off these kinds of smells when being used for the first time. However, if your appliance continues to give off burning smells even after it has already been used several times, it's worth checking the filters and the condenser to see if they're clean: textile fibres or bits of fluff and lint can sometimes end up coming into contact with the heating element, resulting in a burning smell being produced. If the smell persists, we recommend calling the manufacturer's after-sales service and stopping using your appliance until the problem has been identified.

The tumble dryer's filter has a hole in it

The filter on your tumble dryer catches dirt and bits of textile fibres. If the filter has a hole in it or is damaged in any way, it could allow bits of fluff and lint to get through to the heating element. This will cause a smell of burning to be given off. Never use a tumble dryer if the filter has a hole in it or is damaged in any way: there is a risk it could cause a fire. Stop using your appliance and do not use it again until the filter has been replaced. Modern tumbler dryers are often equipped with a warning light that tells you when the filter needs cleaning. However, do not wait for this light to come on before cleaning the filters. It is essential to clean the main filter after each use and the condenser at least once per month.