Ask Me Help Desk - Chemical smell from dryer

Chemical smell from dryer

there is strong chemical smell coming from my dryer: :eek:
it sort of smells like lighter fluid
the power was turned off the other day, could it of caused something ???
it's not coming from the clothes i put in there
and i guarantee it's not a little varmint, i would think he would smell a little different
anyhoo...i need your help :D

Is this gas or electric? It could be a belt slipping. Or the idler is froze and the belt burning as it goes around it. This would couse a burning rubber type smell

Did you check all of the pockets in the laundry? My wife likes to pick up my stuff and wash when she likes. She just washed and dried a bottle of goof off that was in my coveralls.

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire1

Is this gas or electric? It could be a belt slipping. Or the idler is froze and the belt burning as it goes around it. This would couse a burning rubber type smell

Thanks for the reply esquire1 :o
The dryer is electric and you know what, I also notice the smell when I turn on my stove
(electric)
Like I said maybe when hydro came around, turned off the power for the smart meter, something went wonky- my stove clock blew it's fuse too so I wonder if there is some sort of connection.
Although we have been rechinking the inside wall - could it be fumes?
So confused and slowly going crazy

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Did you check all of the pockets in the laundry? My wife likes to pick up my stuff and wash when she likes. She just washed and dried a bottle of goof off that was in my coveralls.

Sure did check... wishing that was the problem because I could totally find a solution to that problem... NO MORE WASHING... teehee ;)
Thanks for the reminder though

It certainly could be fumes from chemicals you may be using in chinking. Is it Perma Chink, that gives off an odd odor until it cures.

Even latex paint can react when your furnace kicks in while the paint cures. Everything we use that dries or evaporates can react from thye furnace unless your furnace has a fresh air intake.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetleaff

there is strong chemical smell coming from my dryer: :eek:
it sort of smells like lighter fluid
the power was turned off the other day, could it of caused something ???
it's not coming from the clothes i put in there
and i guarantee it's not a little varmint, i would think he would smell a little different
anyhoo...i need your help :D

Did you find out what this odor is? I have the Same problem, both dryer and oven - electric, too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by proson1370

Did you find out what this odor is? I have the EXACT same problem, both dryer and oven - electric, too.

No I've never figured out the problem and I tell you it's driving me crazy... maybe it's me, maybe I'm crazy... I'd like to think so... on some days anyway. :rolleyes:
Did you come up with anything?

I too have this problem first with the dryer and now with the oven and even the mixer. However, I have come to the conclusion that it is due to the adhesive remover that my husband is using in the basement. It reeks up the house like tar and since the start of using it, this problem has been happening. After he finally smelled it, he became concerned and told me to Google it. And here I am. Since there are others in the same boat and all have a history of chemical usage in their homes, I am settling with this answer. Thanks for everyone's help!

I too have the smell of naptha (lighter fluid) coming from my dryer today. Today I used a tile grout sealer spray... said on the label to use in well ventilated areas and we noticed the smell coming from the dryer after the use of this product. I have no idea if this is the reason but I find it odd that it started after the use of the grout sealer. That's pretty scary if this is the case. Who knows what it's doing to our bodies if it reeks our house of lighter fluid smell!!

This is so weird and proof that EVERYTHING is on the Internet. I just had the same issue with my electric dryer and electric stove smelling like charcoal/lighter fluid. I Google it and sure enough... answers. I was staining some boards in the basement today. I guess the chemicals got into the appliances somehow. Crazy. Thanks!!

We were just painting our entire basement (about 700 square feet) and sure enough, yesterday when I turned the burner on (gas) this smell of lighter fluid came seeping out. I am a freak when it comes to fire, but since it wasn't the bad gas smell, I wasn't as worried. I had open paint cans, used paint brushes/rollers, and open paint thinner just chillin in our basement for a couple days. I was definitely a little worried at first, but truly think the smell is just the result of having the chemicals down there. We have a carbon monoxide alarm, so it isn't that. I just wanted to share this since I experienced the same thing. And right not my dryer is going, and I can smell the lighter fluid smell again close to the dryer - but down in the basement just smells like drying paint. If anyone has suggestions for me - please, shoot away, but I think it's the same problem everyone else is experiencing.

I too have the same problem. Whenever my gas dryer or gas stove are used it smells like lighter fluid. The only thing I can attribute it to is the previous week we were out of town and had our hardwood floors refinished. It has to be a reaction of the flame to the fumes from the stain.

I can't believe I googled "my basement smells like lighter fluid" and I actually found an answer! Thanks to the person who posted about the floors, I also had my wood floors done last week and this is the first time I used my dryer.. I was starting to get scared I didn't know what would cause that smell! I never would have thought of that, thanks for the info everyone even though I wasn't the asker :)