will a smoker's washer/dryer make my clothes smell?

March 17, 2012 9:57 AM

Should I buy a washer/dryer from someone who smokes?

my neighbor is moving and has offered to sell us their washer/dryer. This would be great as we don't have one. My only concern is I have seen them smoking outside their apartment before.

What are the odds that their smoking has, through their clothes, imparted a smokey smell to the washer/dryer, which would come off on my clothes?

If the washer/dryer does have this problem, what's the best way to clean them?

posted by rebent to clothing, beauty, & fashion (8 answers total)

What are the odds that their smoking has, through their clothes, imparted a smokey smell to the washer/dryer, which would come off on my clothes?

None. Previously.
posted by desjardins at 10:08 AM on March 17, 2012 [2 favorites]

I use a washer and dryer in anlarge apartment building that's full of people who smoke in and out of their apartment and I've never had a problem. However, those are industrial units; a home unit is probably built differently.

If you're really worried, and unless they're weird about this sort of thing, ask your neighbor if you can wash and dry a single undershirt (or some other cheap, easily-replaceable article of clothing) as a test run. You don't even have to tell them it's about the smoke. An appliance like that is a significant purchase and it doesn't seem too off-the-wall to find out firsthand if it works okay.
posted by griphus at 10:09 AM on March 17, 2012 [1 favorite]

Washing appliances are, by necessity, made out of non-porous material. Washing machines are routinely cleaned with detergent and then rinsed, and dryers are scoured out with clean wet clothing.

No, the washing appliances of smokers do not make clothes smell like smoke. If they do, you have an electrical problem and a fire hazard that has nothing to do with cigarettes.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:15 AM on March 17, 2012 [2 favorites]

The washer/dryer won't smell like smoke or import smoke smell to your clothes.
posted by J. Wilson at 10:19 AM on March 17, 2012

Where do you wash your clothes now? If you use a laundromat, I can pretty much guarantee that the machines there have been used by smokers.
posted by trip and a half at 10:24 AM on March 17, 2012 [3 favorites]

Thanks everyone, that makes me feel a lot more comfortable with buying these! :)
posted by rebent at 10:58 AM on March 17, 2012

Bleach it. I don't remember the appropriate amount for a top-load washer. For my Whirlpool Duet front-loader, it has a cleaning cycle and I add a 1/4 cup of bleach at the appropriate (the washer prompts for the bleach to be poured in) time.

My father lives with us, and was a heavy smoker. I'd wash his clothes in a load by themselves. After that, I'd run the cleaning cycle and let it dry out. Never had a problem with the smell getting into the rest of the clothes.
posted by narcoleptic at 2:44 PM on March 17, 2012

The clothes themselves won't smell of smoke, but if there is any insulating material within the washer/motor itself, there may be a bit of off-gassing when you bring it into your house. (I am a daughter-in-law of a mega chain-smoker.)
posted by muirne81 at 7:23 PM on March 17, 2012