View Full Version : Smelly laundry drain
angele47
Sep 1, 2008, 08:59 PM
Smell comes from washing machine drain pipe during machine use only
What's that about??
My two children work at Mcdonalds. Their clothes contain a lot of grease ( you can smell it in the fabric) could this cause a build up in the trap or laundry drain as the uniforms are washed and the residue goes down the drain?
Could this in turn cause a smell to be released from laundry drain pipe? If so, how to remedy? Can the grease cause damage to my washer?
icanhelp
Sep 1, 2008, 09:20 PM
The smell could depend on whether your water is on a septic tank or city. If you are on a septic system, it could just be time to have your tank pumped. If on city water, run a load of hot water, baking soda, and lemon juice through a cycle with no clothes.
Fast-food grease will not clog your washer; but if you are losing sleep over this whole thing, simply have them wash their uniforms at a laundry mat or give them a pre-wash by hand in the hose and have them use a good grease cutting detergent like Dawn, then throw them in the washer as normal. Hope this helps.
Flying Blue Eagle
Sep 1, 2008, 10:08 PM
Angele47 - First of all I would Check to see if they put a Trap in the drain line. It sounds to me like you are getting sewer smell back out your drain, You need to have a trap in line that stays full of water so that the sewer gases don't come out, Good luck and GOD BLESS ;;; F.B.E.
speedball1
Sep 2, 2008, 05:01 AM
FBE had a good point when he said,
First of all I would Check to see if they put a Trap in the drain line and how you do that is to place a broom stick down the washer stand pipe. If the stick comes back with 2 or 3 inches of water on the end you are trapped. If it comes back dry then you are not and a trap should be installed ASAP. Good luck, Tom