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Dryer Smells Like Pee: Reasons & How to Fix? (Quick Answers)

Dryer is one of the most useful electronic machines in our day to day life. It is hard to find any flaw with the mechanism of dryer.

However, it can start smelling foul due to many known and unknown reasons. Today, we are going to discuss about why your dryer might start smelling like pee and find out the solutions to this problem.

Why does my dryer smell like pee?

The dryer can start smelling like pee for a number of reasons. First of all, urine of pet animals can cause the pee smell coming out of the dryer. Drying pee stained clothes can be responsible for the smell of pee inside the dryer. Odor remover can be used to get rid of the pee smell.

There are many reasons why your dryer might start smelling like pee. Let’s discuss in detail about some of them.

If your pet peed in the dryer:

If you have a pet at home that has not been potty trained yet, then there is a high chance that it will end up peeing in places that it is not supposed too.

Cat owners face this problem the most. Because cat are notorious animals when it comes to sticking to their routine.

So if your dryer is at a place that can be easily accessed by your pet animal, then it will relieve itself inside the dryer or on the dryer. That can emit a foul smell that will last for a very long time.

If you dry pee stained clothes:

The smell of pee is very strong and disturbing. That is why drying pee stained clothes in a dryer can make the whole dryer smell like pee.

It is not okay to dry pee stained clothes in the dryer. Pee stained clothes can make other clothes smell like pee too.

If there is something wrong with the dryer:

If your dryer starts to smell like pee, then there can be something wrong with the internal system of the dryer too. The important parts of the dryer can get burned or damaged and it can emit a foul smell.

This foul smell produced by a damaged dryer can often smell like pee. Your dryer should be checked by an appliance expert immediately when this happens.

If there is something wrong with the wiring:

If the wiring system that connects your dryer to the main supply line is damaged in any way, then it can produce a foul enough smell.

This foul smell can be mistaken for the smell of pee. At this moment of time, the wiring system should be checked by a professional electrician to get to the root of the problem.

Tips to get rid of pee smell from the dryer:

Getting rid of pee smell from the dryer might seem like a difficult task. However, there are some steps and methods you can follow to accomplish the task. Let’s discuss in detail about some of them.

Use hydrogen peroxide:

One of the basic ways of getting rid of pee smell from the dryer is by using hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide can lighten the smell of pee effectively. But you can not use hydrogen directly in the dryer.

You will need to take the help of a cloth or a towel to apply hydrogen peroxide inside the dryer.

The towel or the cloth can be used to clean several parts of the dryer. This is an effective step if you consider the ability of hydrogen peroxide as a smell lightener. You will slowly witness the smell fading way after using hydrogen peroxide.

Use vinegar:

Vinegar is another chemical component that can be used to get rid of pee smell. It is very easy to use vinegar regarding this issue.

First of all, you will need to make a mixture of vinegar and water. The mixture can then be used with the help of a cloth or a towel.

The important thing to remember here is that you will need to put the cloth or the towel inside the vinegar-water mixture to soak it. The vinegar soaked towel or cloth can be placed inside the dryer for the next step.

The pee smell can be removed by drying the vinegar soaked cloth or towel for forty five minutes. The setting on the dryer during this process has to be set at high heat.

Use odor remover:

There are many odor removers available in the market that can be used to get rid of terrible smell like pee smell.

Odor remover will also have to be used with the help of a cloth or a towel. The cloth or the towel will need to be sprayed with the odor remover thoroughly.

Then, you will have to start drying the odor remover soaked towel or cloth in the dryer. This process will last for about twenty five minutes. The setting of the dryer has to be at non heat during the drying process.

The process will have to be repeated if it does not get rid of the smell during the first attempt.

Inspect the dryer:

After using all of these methods, you will have to put your head inside the dryer to inspect if the pee smell is gone. The dryer can remain smelling like pee even after applying all the methods above. In that case, the problem lies somewhere else.

Call a professional:

You will need to take the help of a professional if the chemicals above can not get rid of the pee smell.

Because sometimes the internal parts of the dryer can become damaged. In that case, it will be the job of a professional to repair your dryer and get rid of the pee smell.

Check the wiring system:

The wiring system of the dryer and connected electrical supply line will have to be checked too. The inspection should be done by an experienced electrician. This can get rid of the pee smell too if the different chemicals fail to do so.

What to do if my pet peed on my dryer?

Many people face the problem of their pet peeing on the dryer. The smell of pet urine can be difficult to get rid. But you will need to use odor remover to get rid of the pee smell caused by your pet.

You can begin by cleaning the inside and outside parts of your dryer using hydrogen peroxide soaked towel. Vinegar soaked towel can also get rid of the pee smell of your pet from the dryer.  

Additionally, you can potty train your pet to stop it from peeing itself on the dryer in the near future. Pets should be taught what they can and they can not do.

Tips to prevent the dryer from smelling like pee:

Preventing the dryer from smelling like pee might across as a difficult job to do. However, there are some steps and methods you can follow to accomplish the task. Let’s discuss in detail about some of them.

Potty train your pet:

One of the major reasons why your dryer might smell like pee is because of cat or dog urine.

Sometimes your cat or dog might end up relieving itself on the dryer. The smell of cat or dog urine is very strong and it can make your dryer smell terrible for a long time.

That is why it is important to potty train your pet. If your pet knows that it is not okay to pee on the dryer, then it will refrain itself from doing so. Potty training the pet will save the other parts of your house from smelling like pee too.

Placement of the dryer:

You will have to place your dryer someplace safe that can not be accessed easily by pet animals. The laundry room should be kept locked after using it not giving opportunity to your pet to relieve itself on the dryer.

Being denied easy access to the dryer will keep your pet in check and stop it from doing notorious deeds.

Regular inspection of the dryer:

Burnt or damaged internal parts of the dryer can also be responsible for foul smell. This foul smell can be prevented through regular inspection of the dryer. Your dryer needs attention and care on a daily basis.

That is why it is important to get your dryer checked by a professional every once in a while.

The wiring system of your house that is closest to the dryer should also be checked by an electrician. Because burnt or damaged wires can also produce a foul smell that might across as pee smell.

Final Thoughts

Hydrogen peroxide, vinegar and odor removers can be used to get rid of the pee smell from the dryer. These liquids can applied with the help of a towel or a cloth. Potty training pets can be a long term solution against this problem. Damaged parts of dryer can cause the pee smell too.