- Area
- South Tampa
- Unit
- Dryer
- Symptom
- Dryer leaving black, greasy marks on clothes after drying
- Found
- No clear source. Inside the dryer was mostly clean, with only minor contamination
- Outcome
- Cleaned every accessible part with any contamination and recommended watching the next few loads
Report by Sam Ralin, owner and senior technician
The manager of a South Tampa apartment building called about a dryer that was leaving black, greasy marks on residents' clothes. The technician took the dryer apart and checked everything that could leave a mark: the drum, the drum glides and seal, the rollers, the belt and the lint path.
Most of the inside was clean. There was only light contamination, and no single part that clearly explained the marks. Rather than replace parts on a guess, he cleaned every area that showed any residue and recommended watching the next few loads.
What usually causes black marks
- Worn drum glides or a worn front seal, which leave dark streaks where the drum rubs
- Pens, lip balm or crayons left in pockets and melted onto the drum
- Grease from a failing roller or bearing
- Marks that come from the washer, not the dryer
If marks come back, note which loads they appear on. It narrows the cause quickly.
