Have you smelled something distinctly musty coming from the inside of your dryer lately? You likely know the smell. You have sniffed it in your washer, your bathroom, maybe even in your dishwasher once or twice. It is the smell of mold and mildew, something that can appear anywhere with frequent exposure to water. Your dryer is not one of those appliances you would consider continuously exposed to water, but it really is. Your dryer handles wet clothes just as much as your washer does, but we like to think the high heat makes it immune to mold. It doesn’t.
Over time, particularly if you like to dry your laundry on low or no heat, mold can build up in your dryer. You will find it in the small crevices near the bottom of the drum where the air isn’t circulated as thoroughly. However, the issue is that if you find mold in your dryer, there is almost assuredly more mold in your washer. Mold doesn’t appear easily in a dryer, but transference from your washer makes it more likely. This means if you need to treat mold in your dryer, you need to treat mold in your washer as well.
So how do you remove mold from your appliances? Luckily, removing it from your washer is easy. You simply need to run the longest, hottest load setting with white vinegar instead of detergent. Unfortunately, that doesn’t really work for the dryer. Instead, you will need to get in there with a rag and some white vinegar and start wiping down the interior. You will want to be very thorough and then run a very high dry setting for at least a few minutes. This will quickly dry out those little corners, but high heat alone will not be enough to kill the mold. This is why vinegar is necessary.
FAQs
Fungi thrive in warm, moist areas, and if heat and moisture are not properly vented from your laundry area, mold and mildew may begin to grow in your dryer, dryer vents, on clothing, and in and around the laundry area.
How do you get mold out of a tumble dryer? ›
Make a thin paste of baking soda and soak a sponge in it. Clean the inside of the dryer with the sponge. After a thorough wipe with the sponge, clean the dryer with a soft cloth. Run a normal cycle in the dryer when it is empty for about 10 minutes.
What temperature kills mold? ›
Boiling water can kill mold outright (more on this in the next section), but you can't exactly boil your walls or carpet. However, you may be able to kill mold by heating it enough to dry it out. Most molds can be killed at temperatures of 140 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, but the effect isn't immediate.
Does mold go away after drying? ›
As you can see, mold does not die when it dries out. Instead, it enters a dormant state and can reactivate once moisture is reintroduced. Therefore, simply drying out mold-infested areas is not enough to eliminate the problem. Mold spores can still pose risks even when they appear inactive.
How do I know if my dryer has mold? ›
A dryer, clothing, or a laundry room that smells of mold or mildew can be a sign of poor dryer vent function. If you smell mold or mildew on your clothing, in your dryer, or in your laundry room after running the dryer, it is likely that your dryer vent system is not functioning properly.
How to tell if your dryer has mold? ›
Have you smelled something distinctly musty coming from the inside of your dryer lately? You likely know the smell. You have sniffed it in your washer, your bathroom, maybe even in your dishwasher once or twice. It is the smell of mold and mildew, something that can appear anywhere with frequent exposure to water.
What causes mold in dryer? ›
CLOGGED VENTS CAN CAUSE MOLD BUILD-UP IN YOUR HOME
You might associate mold with your washer, but mold can be a health hazard related to your dryer as well. Clogged vents can encourage mold growth inside the vent line and in your laundry room, producing odor and health concerns.
How do you clean the inside of a dryer? ›
If your dryer is electric, rub the drum with a soft cloth dipped in warm water and dish soap. For a gas dryer, wipe down the inside with a liquid, nonflammable household cleaner. Then, for gas or electric, wipe out the drum with a wet sponge or towel and tumble a load of clean clothes or towels to dry the drum.
What kills mold spores in laundry? ›
Wash your moldy clothes with very hot water and laundry detergent. Hot water will kill mold spores, and laundry detergent will remove any musty smells. Since mold stains are hard to remove, you should also pre-soak your stained garment before washing it.
What 100% kills mold? ›
Yes, bleach is a potent biocide that can be used to kill mold. The active ingredient in bleach, sodium hypochlorite, reacts with water to form hypochlorous acid, which kills mold by denaturing proteins, inactivating enzymes, disrupting nucleic acids, and destroying other cellular components.
Now that we understand what mold is and the conditions in which it thrives, let's delve into the question: Does heat kill mold? The simple answer is yes. High temperatures (around 140 to 160° Fahrenheit) can deactivate mold spores and prevent them from spreading.
Is mold killed by cooking? ›
Yes, molds can thrive in high-acid foods like jams, jellies, pickles, fruit, and tomatoes. But these microscopic fungi are easily destroyed by heat processing high-acid foods at a temperature of 212 °F in a boiling water canner for the recommended length of time.
How do you know if mold is completely gone? ›
“Dead mold has a powdery, flaky appearance. To confirm it is dead, brush the surface with a broom. It is most likely dead if it easily brushes off and becomes airborne.” We don't recommend brushing mold to see if it becomes airborne.
How to tell if mold is active? ›
Active mold is soft and may smear when touched with a fine brush. It may also be slimy and damp. Inactive mold is dry and powdery and will seem to brush off materials readily.
Can mold survive the washer and dryer? ›
If you wash clothes with mold on them, you risk contaminating other clothes in the washer with mold spores. It may lead to a bigger mold issue that is difficult to handle. Also, the heat and moisture from the washing machine can enable the mold spores to spread and develop, making it even tougher to eliminate the mold.
Can a dryer vent get moldy? ›
Mold or Mildew Smells: A clogged vent can trap moisture, leading to mold and mildew growth. If you notice a musty smell coming from your dryer, it's time to inspect your vent.
Why does my dryer have mold on my clothes? ›
Also, heating clothes contaminated with mold in the sun or in a dryer at high heat for 20 minutes can help kill spores that are on clothes.
