skip to main content

Laundry Room Heating & Air Conditioning Other

Dryer sheet smell in my house when wall-sharing neighbor does laundry?

5 years ago

I've lived in my townhome for nearly 10 years, and my neighbor has been here even longer. Why, all the sudden, am I getting a very strong scent of dryer sheets in my home when my neighbor runs their dryer?! We don't use dryer sheets (we have a baby and are sensitive to the smell). I get strong whiffs of dryer sheets near my furnace closet (which has air flow from the crawl space) and it permeates my entire home.

Some additional info- Her dryer vent is located in the back of her house, which is not where the smell seems to be coming from. The smell seems to be coming from the floor around my furnace. Also, it only just started a couple of weeks ago, so it's not been going on for any amount of time. She claims to have cleaned out her vent annually.

Any advice? I can't stand that this smell sticks in my house for the whole day. I hate having my daughter breathing these fumes. :(

Thanks!

Featured Answer

dadoes

4 years ago

Detergents are scented, and there're those scent-crystals products that are horrifically strong.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

Elizabeth
5 years ago
Something has changed in the way her dryer is venting and the hot air seems to be going into a ( perhaps ) shared crawl space. I would talk to her again and tell her that her dryer is not operating correctly. Perhaps you could use some spray foam insulation to seal any cracks/openings in your furnace closet floor?
Nikki H thanked Elizabeth
Michael
5 years ago
Is her vent located close to your door or window?
Related Discussions
Neighbor's smell entering our apartment!!!
Q
Comments (25)
I just went through something like this at my place. I got these new neighbours on both sides of me a couple of years ago, and I swear the food they cook smells like dead bodies. No joke. At first I thought they were cooking drugs. For the last year it has been really bad during the pandemic. About a dozen times there was a smell coming into my apartment, and one day I just had enough. I called the super and complained. It was ok for awhile and then it started again. Its obvious they dont care about what the supers say so I let it go for a few more times, and then I called the head office. I spoke with the main secretary of the head office and told him what is going on. Then he told me to send him an email, and the owner responded. Since I have complaint its not that bad. Like, I understand its hard to complain about this issue because it is a sensitive one. However, if you work hard to pay the rent and you follow all the rules, why should you have to put up with a smell that is going to ruin the contents in your apartment to a point where you will have to throw out your furniture when you move out? Its not right. If you feel annoyed, say something and stick up for yourself. Who cares what they think! If they had respect for your in the first place and/or the property, they would of boiled water and vinegar on the stove while they were cooking it.
...See More
Fresh smelling laundry one day, oderless laundry next day...
Q
Comments (44)
Use Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day lavender (they have other fragrances). I use a laundromat and have asthma, COPD, and very sensitive skin (I break out in hives and wheeze with most detergents. I use a three load washer and it calls for a tablespoonful a load but I use a bit less, and Downy free and gentle softener. The lavender smells good, but it's not overpowering and doesn't 'linger' like chemical fragrances, it just smells clean. In fact the clothing I wash only smells very faintly lavendery a few days later.
...See More
will my new first floor laundry room have a "laundry " smell?
Q
Comments (9)
the basement laundry smell might have more to do with insufficient air movement ..... every basement i was ever acquainted with... lacked a cold air return at floor level ... so the furnace never really moved air down low .... leading to that wonderful basement scent ... maybe its just a MI thing ... but i am thinking upstairs.... you just arnet going to be dealing with that kind of dead air ... also.. if it does start bugging you ... something like a bathroom exhaust fan would be simple to install in the ceiling... unless you have a second floor ... also ... the dryer will be sucking air outside.. and it has to come from somewhere ... so it will probably exchange the air also ... one thought for sure.. i wouldnt close the door to the cubby while doing laundry .... good luck ken
...See More
icky smell when doing laundry
Q
Comments (10)
I had the same problem - not only in the laundry room, but also outside the house. Smelled like a septic system problem, and I couldn't tell if it was mine or my neighbor. By chance my wife happened to notice that the air return vents (to the ERV) were looking dirty; she pulled a filter out and it was gnarly, totally blocked with nearly decade old dust. I hadn't changed the filters since building the house (I didn't even know that there were filters in every return). I replaced the filters and presto - the AC system no longer makes booming sounds when it starts & stops, no loud air whooshing sounds when the AC runs, no smell in the basement, no smell outside the house. I think what was happening was that there was an overpressure condition being created in the house, which is well sealed, and it was pushing air out however it could - in this case, through the sewage vent on the roof. I hope this helps you, because it was driving me CRAZY.
...See More
Nikki H
Original Author
5 years ago
Her vent is near my back door, but it wasn't open and I don't smell anything back there. Our crawlspace is not shared, but I wouldn't be surprised if airflow goes between the two, as we are sharing a large wall. I don't know for sure. She is not very concerned about her dryer, per our conversation yesterday. Any idea what I could suggest she checks? She says it's working fine and her vent is clean.
sparky823
5 years ago
Maybe her vent is leaking somewhere in the crawlspace. Depends on what kind of material it is and if it has any joints.
Elizabeth
5 years ago
I would be concerned that a vent leak would add a lot of moisture to the crawl space or shared wall.
hcbm
5 years ago
If it's a gas dryer I would be very concerned. The carbon monoxide produced is deadly.
kurtchel
4 years ago
Did you find a solution? This just started to happen to me in my semi-detached house. I think it’s a fabric softener smell though because my neighbour says she doesn’t use dryer sheets.
twebbz
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
If your town house is a condo, talk with your condo association. Some venting repairs may be in order, regardless.
HU-126451252
last year
Did you ever find out what caused this, Nikki? This just started happening in my duplex yesterday and I need to talk to my neighbor about it. Thank you!
luna123456
last year
can you access the crawl space? if you can than get under there and take a look at the dryer vent. i would be eilling to bet that whomever ”cleaned” her duct either loosed or disconnected a piece of ridged vent pipe OR if the fleixble corrugated was used then a hole was poked.

Either way sudden changes in smell are usually due to leaking vents OR a large change in building pressure that is causing air to be pulled into the space to equalize the pressure.

Related Stories

MOST POPULAR When Does a House Become a Home?

By Laura Gaskill

Getting settled can take more than arranging all your stuff. Discover how to make a real connection with where you live

THE POLITE HOUSE The Polite House: How to Handle a Grievance With a Neighbor and an HOA

A condo resident complains about noise from a toddler out with her mom on a 7 a.m. dog walk. Does the mother have any recourse?

LIFE The Polite House: How to Deal With Noisy Neighbors

Before you fly off the handle, stop and think about the situation, and follow these steps to live in harmony

BEDROOMS What to Look for When Buying Sheets

By Georgia Madden

An expert shares her insight on fabrics, finishes and signs of quality, and on how to keep bed linens looking their best

LAUNDRY ROOMS Freeze-Dried Clothes? Houzzers Share Their Winter Laundry Tales

By Erin Carlyle

Air-drying the wash in chilly temps can be a challenge, but Houzz readers find a way

LIFE 6 Tips for Teaching Your Kids to Be Good Neighbors

By Alison Hodgson

Everyone wins when your children learn to respect boundaries, get help when they need it and show others they care

HOUSEKEEPING Another Independence Day: When Kids Can Do Their Laundry

By Alison Hodgson

Set yourself free and give your child a valuable life skill at the same time

REMODELING GUIDES 11 Reasons to Love Wall-to-Wall Carpeting Again

By Judith Taylor Designs

Is it time to kick the hard stuff? Your feet, wallet and downstairs neighbors may be nodding

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Neighbors, a Love Story

By Tamara Armstrong

Australian neighbors find each other a perfect match. Now the 1940s home they share is a family haven

LIFE How to Get Along With the Neighbors — and Live Happier at Home

By Laura Gaskill

Everyone wins when neighbors treat one another with kindness, consideration and respect

Sponsored

Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

233 Reviews

Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

More Discussions

Bosch ventless dryer questions…

3

Second Floor Laundry - Water Shutoff/Leak Protection

8

Need help, washing machine problem

3

New Miele Washing Machine- WXR860- Need Help

5

Change my house layout Help needed

11