Vented models: Remove lint and screen residue using the exact guide
For a model that exhausts outdoors, clean lint from the screen after use; softener residue can require additional cleaning. Screen location differs by model, so follow the manual before washing or brushing it. Never operate with a missing or damaged screen.
Vented models: Remove lint and screen residue using the exact guide
For a model that exhausts outdoors, clean lint from the screen after use; softener residue can require additional cleaning.
Maytag DE313 is listed as Natural Gas. Record power-on, tumbling and heat as three separate observations. Start a slow-drying check with the selected program, load and owner-accessible lint path. The supply rating and any burner or heating-circuit diagnosis require the original requirements for this model.
Clean the parts intended for owner access, then trace persistent odor by its location and the dryer’s moisture-removal design.
Owner guide: Cleaning & odor
Category & symptom guidance
Cleaning & odor
4 minute read · Shared guidance for clothes dryers
Identify the odor before cleaning
A warm fabric smell after a normal cycle differs from a sour odor that returns on clean laundry, a burnt smell, or a gas-like odor. Note when it appears: at startup, during heated operation, after the drum stops, or only with particular loads. Check whether damp clothes or a wet item was left inside between uses, since stale moisture can linger in the drum and textiles.
If the odor resembles gas, leave the area and contact the gas utility or emergency services from outside. If it smells electrical or scorched, stop the dryer and do not restart it to see whether the smell clears. Odor location and timing help distinguish laundry residue from a heat or fuel concern.
Clean the lint screen and drum surface
Remove lint from the screen after each load, following the dryer’s instructions for how to remove and reinstall it. If fabric-softener residue has formed a film, wash the screen only in the manner permitted by its instructions and let it dry fully before returning it. A screen that is wet, damaged, or not seated correctly can interfere with airflow or allow lint to bypass its intended collection point.
For a residue film or odor on the drum, use a soft cloth with a small amount of mild cleaning solution allowed by the manufacturer, then wipe with clean water and dry. Keep liquid out of openings and controls. Never use a flammable solvent or spray cleaner into the drum. Run a suitable empty or air cycle only if the owner instructions recommend it for clearing cleaning residue.
Follow the moisture path for your dryer type
A vented dryer sends warm, moist air through an exhaust duct. Clean the owner-accessible lint screen and keep the duct outlet free of visible obstruction; internal or long-duct cleaning should be handled according to the installation and maintenance instructions. Do not push tools deeply into a duct or disassemble the dryer to reach lint.
A condenser dryer collects moisture in a reservoir or drains it, and may have a condenser area designated for owner cleaning. A heat-pump design uses a heat exchanger and filters whose cleaning steps depend on the model. Empty a reservoir when indicated and clean only the named, owner-accessible components. These ventless systems should not be treated as though they have a conventional exterior exhaust duct.
Clean around the opening and the laundry area
With the dryer off and cool, remove lint from the door seal, door rim, and the recess around the lint screen using a soft cloth or a vacuum attachment that cannot damage the surface. Wipe the door glass if detergent or softener residue transfers from damp laundry. Avoid sharp tools near seals and do not pull apart the front assembly.
If odor remains only on certain loads, inspect the washer, laundry basket, and items stored damp before blaming the dryer. Heavy softener use, oily workwear, or garments carrying cleaning chemicals can leave residue or transfer odor. Wash affected textiles according to their care labels and keep them separate from household laundry until the smell source is clear.
Know when cleaning has not solved it
If odor returns promptly after cleaning, or drying time has lengthened, a hidden airflow restriction or a component issue may remain. FlowSense is listed on some LG vented families as an exhaust restriction indicator; treat an alert as a reason to investigate the exhaust path, not as proof that cleaning the visible screen completed the job. Other models use different indicators or no such feature.
Stop use for recurring scorched odor, smoke, unusual heat, or a persistent gas smell. Do not open the cabinet, burner area, heater housing, or wiring compartment to search for the source. Provide support with the odor description, when it occurs, the dryer type, and which owner-accessible areas were cleaned.
What to do with what you find
Odor is mild and tied to damp laundry; owner-accessible cleaning removes it.
Laundry residue or retained moisture was a plausible source.
Keep the drum and garments dry between uses and monitor.
Scorched smell, smoke, gas-like odor, or odor returns with poor drying.
A cleaning pass is not enough to rule out an airflow or appliance fault.
Stop operation and arrange an appropriate safety or service response.
Have these details ready
Odor description, timing, and whether it occurs with all loads.
Dryer type: vented, condenser, or heat pump; and gas or electric heat where applicable.
Owner-accessible areas cleaned and any airflow or filter alert.
Common questions
Can I use a scented spray to cover dryer odor?
No. Sprays can leave residue and may be flammable. Find and clean the source using products allowed by the dryer instructions.
Do condenser dryers need vent cleaning?
They do not use the same exhaust path as vented models. Clean their reservoir, filters, and heat-exchanger areas only as directed.
General background sources
These sources support the shared guide. Exact model specifications and matched family procedures have their own sources above.