I'm Wondering If Age Is A Factor?
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
November 23, 2011 7:57am CST
Thankfully (despite being quite old for a washer/dryer) it still works perfectly well.
However, drying stuff from wet (a rare occurence due to the cost) can be a pain because there is always a "funny smell" whenever I take out the bone dry clothing, bedding or whatever out of the machine.
Now, this only happens if I have the dryer setting on the maximum 2 hours. If I dry clothing, etc, that's just slightly damp (therefore in less time) I don't have this problem. I never overfill the machine either.
The question is; why the funny smell?
The only thing I can think of is drying things like tea-towels that were quite mucky when washed..could that be affecting other things going in there afterwards? The tea-towels themselves are getting on a bit but are good-quality, thick ones so last a very long time. They have to as the Christy shop has shut down!
The washer/dryer itself is about 7/8 years old and a manual Hotpoint, rather than one of those computerised versions.
As a footnote to all this; the reason why we have a washer/dryer is due to space. Mum has the space to have seperate appliances and, as far as I know, she doesn't have this problem but, there again hers are relatively new compared to ours.
I'm also wondering if this problem is limited to ALL washer/dryers, not just the older models?
However, drying stuff from wet (a rare occurence due to the cost) can be a pain because there is always a "funny smell" whenever I take out the bone dry clothing, bedding or whatever out of the machine.
Now, this only happens if I have the dryer setting on the maximum 2 hours. If I dry clothing, etc, that's just slightly damp (therefore in less time) I don't have this problem. I never overfill the machine either.
The question is; why the funny smell?
The only thing I can think of is drying things like tea-towels that were quite mucky when washed..could that be affecting other things going in there afterwards? The tea-towels themselves are getting on a bit but are good-quality, thick ones so last a very long time. They have to as the Christy shop has shut down!
The washer/dryer itself is about 7/8 years old and a manual Hotpoint, rather than one of those computerised versions.
As a footnote to all this; the reason why we have a washer/dryer is due to space. Mum has the space to have seperate appliances and, as far as I know, she doesn't have this problem but, there again hers are relatively new compared to ours.
I'm also wondering if this problem is limited to ALL washer/dryers, not just the older models?3 people like this
12 responses
@derek_a (10873)
•
23 Nov 11
Hi Janey, My Dad used to own a Domestic Appliance service workshop and this was often a problem with the washers back then.. I am going back to the mid 80s here though... Because of all the detergents etc going through the washers, soap and other stuff would get stuck to the side of the piping and when the dryer was used it used to heat up and this would cause steam consisting of this old soap. Putting the machine through its cycles without clothes in it, but just pouring disinfectant (such as Jays Fluid or something you prefer the smell of), would often do the trick. He used to rent washers and often get call outs from customers because they machines had got bunged up inside with soap powder residues etc causing a smell. That's all we used to do, and often then he would leave the bottle in the customer's house and tell them what to do if it happened again. I am not saying that it would work on modern machines - I don't know, but maybe it's worth a try.. 
_Derek
_Derek
@derek_a (10873)
•
24 Nov 11
Hi Janey... I have heard of Calgon, but have not used it. I guess it would be experimentation. I imagine you would need something strong enough to clean out the detergent residue. I can remember in my Dad's workshop pulling all the hoses from one machine because the pump was not working. When I looked at the pump though it was bunged up with sludge. The hoses were almost solid inside with soap scum and the smell was attrocious - so bad that I put them all in a bucket of water with a good dollop of domestos in it. That did kill the smell so that I could scoop out all the sludge. 
_Derek
_Derek
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
23 Nov 11
I did use the washer without putting clothes in it but I suppose if the detergent is the problem that wouldn't work lol.
Have you heard of that Calgon stuff? Was wondering what that's like.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (17239)
• China
24 Nov 11
You mean the seperate washer/ dryer like your Mum's is better than one appliance,But I consider it to be too old.My washer is very old.As soon as we put it into operation, It produces a strange sound which sounds like an old man who suffers from asthma.It will soon have to be scrapped.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
24 Nov 11
Oh dear.
Does it move across the floor when in operation as well? Mum had one like that when I was little and I was frightened of it. It was a top-loader. They're all front-loading machines now.
I remember my Nan's mangle but we won't go there lol.
Does it move across the floor when in operation as well? Mum had one like that when I was little and I was frightened of it. It was a top-loader. They're all front-loading machines now.
I remember my Nan's mangle but we won't go there lol.@changjiangzhibin89 (17239)
• China
25 Nov 11
Mine is also a top-loader one which is several generations behind .We are ones make everything do.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
23 Nov 11
Do you need filters if it has one of those connection thingys?
@bounce58 (17380)
• Canada
2 Dec 11
Would dryer sheets solve this problem?
We don't dryer wet clothes anymore too. Usually, all our laundry are hanged all over the house, and then we just put them on the dryer for 10 minutes per load just to remove the wrinkles. This saves so much in the utility bills and ironing time.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
2 Dec 11
I keep forgetting to look for dryer sheets to be honest but I know they exist.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
24 Nov 11
Yes I have. However, it's really mild at the moment so the tumble dryer part of the machine doesn't need to be on at present.
Hoorah! Long may it continue!
@shaggin (74988)
• United States
23 Nov 11
Thats awesome that you've been able to keep one running for that long. Mine only last about 2 years or so. My parents with one of their washers they had in the past it would grow mold all along the inside of it so they would have to take it apart and bleach it quite often. If not the clothes would smell terrible. I've never had that happen with any of mine. Now once I did have a dryer that was in my father in laws basement when we went to hook it up at our house the smell of the clothes after they dried was so musty and terrible that I couldnt use it. I put it out on the curb and we sold it for a low price and then went and bought a new one.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
23 Nov 11
With ours it's a more subtle smell but still annoying lol.
I know what you mean about washers not lasting 5 minutes. Mum's been through about 3 of them to our one and the more buttons, etc, they have on them the worse it gets (more to go wrong) so I guess we've been lucky.
In fact this model John bought is the same as his previous one, which lasted about 3 years. Usually, it's notorious for breaking down but we've been lucky this time round.
Watch it break after saying that!
@ebuscat (5935)
• Philippines
24 Nov 11
For me yes because here in our country Philippines if you get old you never go into work if you have a pension you have good life to survive but if not then you get so much old to continue without money.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
24 Nov 11
Please read the rest of my discussion, not just the title, you might be inspired!
@inertia4 (27978)
• United States
30 Nov 11
Well, I can think of two things that could be causing that problem. One of them is that if the clothes are damp, they probably have been laying around a bit and putting them into the dryer might cause a funny smell. The other one is, in the back of the machine, or inside where the filter is, clean it out. Not just the filer, but the inside of the filter casing. I had a dryer that did not dry well, then I looked behind it and found a small amount of lint on it. Not much. But when I started to clean it, there was more then I thought at first. I think it was burning. So, be careful and make sure you cleaned as much of that lint off as possible. Inside and out.
@nezavisima (7408)
• Bulgaria
23 Nov 11
age is a factor that I honestly think, and yes and no.
but in cases where you think that talking is a factor that has a huge impact you just replace it.
success.
nice day!
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
23 Nov 11
Hi Janey,
Maybe they just get too hot? I am not aware of any smell when I dry clothes. Is the smell a sort of sour smell, or does it smell like a kind of burned smell? If it is a sour smell, there might be germs growing in the drier? I almost can't believe that though, because the heat from the drier should kill any germs. I can't figure this out Janey.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
23 Nov 11
Hello! Thanks for pondering over this in great depth, I appreciate it.
No, it's not a burning smell, more of a damp smell. It's weird and only happens with clothes that have been in for the full cycle. Half an hour to air clothes is fine.
I might purchase some of those sheets you can put in the dryer. Also, the drum sizes are much bigger than the one we have (as it's an older model) so clothes have more room to move around..provided it's not too full of course.
Oh well, at least we have one of those wooden clothes maidens so the dryer isn't on all the time.
No, it's not a burning smell, more of a damp smell. It's weird and only happens with clothes that have been in for the full cycle. Half an hour to air clothes is fine.
I might purchase some of those sheets you can put in the dryer. Also, the drum sizes are much bigger than the one we have (as it's an older model) so clothes have more room to move around..provided it's not too full of course.
Oh well, at least we have one of those wooden clothes maidens so the dryer isn't on all the time.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
23 Nov 11
Fair comment my friend. I must admit, it doesn't happen all the time so you could be right there.
Thanks.
