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Dryer Smells Like Lighter Fluid or Chemicals: What to Do
A chemical smell from a dryer needs a careful check. Here is how to rule out gas first, what else it can be, and what to do right now.
Last reviewed October 11, 2026. Written and reviewed by the Plano Dryer Pros team. How we create content
A dryer that smells like lighter fluid or chemicals may have a gas leak, solvent or oil fumes in the laundry, or factory residue burning off a new dryer. Treat it as gas first: if it smells like gas, leave the house and call 911 and your gas utility. Otherwise stop the dryer and ventilate.
Key takeaways
- Rule out gas first: a gas smell means leave the house and call 911 and your gas utility.
- Laundry soaked with lighter fluid, gasoline, solvents or cooking oil should never go in a dryer.
- A faint chemical smell in a brand-new dryer’s first cycles can pass, but a smell that stays should not be ignored.
- Stop the dryer and ventilate the room, then work out the cause.
First, rule out gas
The odorant added to natural gas and propane is a strong sulfur smell that most people describe as rotten eggs. Some describe it as chemical, or like lighter fluid. If you smell it near a gas dryer, treat it as a gas leak.
- Leave the house right away, with everyone including pets
- Do not touch light switches, the dryer or anything electrical
- From outside, call 911
- Then call Atmos Energy at 866.322.8667
- Do not go back inside until you are told it is safe
See what to do if you smell gas near a dryer.
Can a gas dryer smell like lighter fluid?
Yes. The odorant added to natural gas and propane is a sulfur smell that people usually call rotten eggs, but some describe it as chemical or like lighter fluid. If you smell it near a gas dryer, treat it as a gas leak: leave the house and call 911 and your gas utility.
If it is not gas: other causes
| Likely cause | Clues | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Fumes from the laundry: lighter fluid, gasoline, paint thinner, stain or solvents | The smell started after a particular load | Stop the dryer, air out the room, and keep that load out of the dryer |
| Cooking oil or oily rags in the laundry | A hot, oily smell | Stop the dryer: oil-soaked laundry can heat up and ignite |
| A brand-new dryer’s first cycles | A faint oily or chemical smell that fades | Run an empty cycle as the manual directs, and it should fade |
| Lint or dust burning near a heat source | A hot, dusty smell with a long cycle | Clear the vent: dryer smells like burning |
| A plastic or rubber object in the drum | A sharp melted-plastic smell | Stop, unplug and check the drum |
Is it dangerous to dry clothes that smell like gasoline or lighter fluid?
Yes. Flammable vapors and oil residues can ignite in a hot dryer. Do not machine-dry laundry soaked with gasoline, lighter fluid, solvents or cooking oil. Hang it outside to air out, and wash it more than once before it goes near the dryer.
What to do right now
- Decide if it smells like gas. If it does, leave and call 911 and your gas utility.
- If it does not, stop the dryer and unplug it, or switch off its breaker.
- Open windows and let the room air out.
- Take out the laundry carefully, and look for anything that could have caused the smell.
- Run the dryer empty only after the smell is gone, and never with oil- or fuel-soaked items.
- If the smell returns with nothing in the dryer, stop using it and have it checked.
Why does my new dryer smell like chemicals?
A faint oily or chemical smell during the first few cycles can be factory coatings and residue burning off. Run an empty cycle as the manual directs and ventilate. It should fade quickly. If it stays, gets stronger, or smells like gas or burning, stop using the dryer and have it checked.
When to call
Call 911 and your gas utility for any gas smell. Call a technician if the smell returns with nothing in the dryer, if a gas dryer smells of fuel, or if the dryer overheats. See the carbon monoxide and gas dryer guide, the vent safety guide and typical costs in the cost guide.
Sources
- Atmos Energy gas emergency guidance (866.322.8667)
- National Fire Protection Association, Clothes Dryers and Washing Machines fact sheet
- Your dryer’s installation and service manual, which governs over any general guidance on this page
- Plano Dryer Pros estimates of typical local repair pricing. See our Editorial Policy.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my dryer smell like gasoline?
Possibly gas or fuel vapors: if it is a gas dryer, treat it as a gas leak and leave. If you washed fuel-stained clothes, the vapors may be coming from the laundry, which should not be machine-dried.
Why does my dryer smell like paint thinner or solvent?
Usually fumes from something in the load. Stop the dryer, air the room, and keep solvent-stained items out of the dryer until they are washed and aired.
Can a dryer smell like chemicals and be fine?
Only in a new dryer’s first cycles, when coatings burn off. A smell that persists, grows stronger, or smells like gas or burning is not fine.
What if I smell gas but cannot find the source?
Leave the house and call 911 and your gas utility. Do not search for the leak yourself.
Get your dryer working again
Call and a person will answer, or request a repair online. You get the full price in writing before any work starts.