Remove Dog fur and Smell from Tumble dryer?

2319WeHaveA2319

Hello, 
I have a condensing tumble dryer, and when it is on it can smell like a burning, or wet dog.. smell. 

I have a labrador and regardless of how much I try and clean the very furry condensor or other parts my arm will reach I can't get rid of the smell. 

Apart from taking the tumble dryer out the kitchen and opening it up to try and clean, is there any tips I can try? 

Thanks

2319WeHaveA2319

My "excitement" got the better of me, I have tried to open the tumble dryer and take it apart the best I can, Managed to take a lot of burnt fur out the heating elemenet, but any cleaning products I could wet my dryer with that wouldnt blow my house up with be a welcome suggestion. 

SaverRate

When we had a damp smell in our tumble drier we were advised (by google!  ) to put bicarbonate of soda in a sock and tumble dry it. 

It did get the smell out of the tumble drier. and hasnt returned.

A few days later the heating element kept tripping the electrics, so we replaced the heating element. Not sure if this was a coincidence or was due to the bicarb. 

We found keeping the door open and letting the tumble drier air (we kept the door closed before) has helped and the smell hasnt returned since. 

Nobbie1967

Are you sure you’re not missing a filter somewhere? Fur getting onto the heating element sounds like an accident waiting to happen.

twopenny

Had to chuckle. The title sounds like you tried to tumble dry the dog 
Had to pop in and check. 

2319WeHaveA2319

twopenny said:

Had to chuckle. The title sounds like you tried to tumble dry the dog 
Had to pop in and check. 

Yeah, it just managed to get in past the main filter and along the way to the back. I have a very hairy dog, I don't think a filter will work 100%

Brie

How is the dog hair getting in there?  The hair's all over your clothes?  Or you're washing the dog pillow cover?  

Either way is there something that can be done with the washing machine as it should hopefully be keeping some of the hair from getting as far as the drier.  Maybe something as simple as brushing things off thoroughly before washing??  Or using the local laundremat and make it their problem??  (expensive obviously but maybe just for the dog pillow cover??)

It does sound like a bit of a fire hazard frankly so hopefully you'll find a solution other than getting rid of the dog or never doing any washing ever again.

Emmia

I'm not sure if this would work for drying, but you can get pet wash bags (like giant delicates bags) intended to stop pet hair escaping into the washing machine, which you put the item(s) e.g. the dog bed cover, inside before washing...