Electric Dryer Leaving Black Marks On Clothes: Top 5 Problems and Fixes (With Video!)
Matthew M / Wednesday June 2, 2021
If you own an electric dryer and it seems to be leaving black marks on your clothing, there are a few components that could be causing the issue. Before you start troubleshooting what is going wrong, make sure the workspace is safe. First, make sure your dryer is unplugged or the circuit breaker is turned off so there is no chance of electrocution. Follow this easy guide to diagnose which part or parts may be causing the black marks on your clothes.
Once you have identified the part needed for your electric dryer, search below using your specific washer model number to identify the exact part needed:
- Drum Felt Seal
When an electric dryer is leaving marks on clothes, the first component that might be contributing to the issue is the drum felt seal. It’s responsible for holding in the hot air inside the drum. If the seal in your dryer is worn out, it can lead to black marks on your clothing. When this problem is occurring, the drum might be lifting up while it turns and the clothes can be pinched between the bulkhead and the drum.
Some of the electric dryers on the market have one drum felt seal on the front and one on the back or only one on the front panel. Some dryers are also made with two seals that connect directly to the drum. In order to inspect the drum felt seal, the dryer will need to be taken apart. Visually inspect the seals to determine if any of them are damaged or worn out.
If these seals are not working correctly, you’ll want to replace them for your specific model number. This should stop the issue of having black marks showing up on your clothing. If not, you should move on to the next reason that this problem might be happening. Replacement is relatively simple but will take a few minutes to complete. Search in the box above to find the exact part needed for your dryer.
To replace the felt seal, open the cabinet, take out the drum, and find the seal. The seal can be removed from the dryer drum and a piece of sandpaper will remove any bits and pieces that are left. Take the new drum felt seal with the stitched part facing the body of the drum. Use high-head adhesive between the drum and seam. Next, reinstall the new felt seal and reassemble the dryer.
- Front Drum Glides
Assuming the drum felt seals are still in good condition, the next part to look at are the front drum glides. These are the parts that the dryer drum front rides on when a load of laundry is spinning. Different styles of drum glides exist, and while they look different, they all do the same thing. Most of the time, drum glides are located on the front panel, on the bulkhead, or on the dryer drum itself. Similar to the felt seals, if the glides have started to wear down, the drum can start to lift up when it turns and pinch clothing to leave unsightly black marks. If you do a visual inspection of the part and they seem to be worn out, these will need to be replaced to avoid further marks on clothes.
When replacing the glides, take note of how they are held into place. Sometimes there will be screws while other situations may have rivets that require a drill to remove. There are others that slide in. Once you take out the drum glides, replace them with the new ones. Reassemble the dryer and run a cycle to see whether it is working correctly.
- Lint Screen Housing
If the first two components work well, it’s time to look at the lint screen housing. This is a component that lets warm air pass through the lint screen. You’ll find the lint screen housing on your dryer in the same place where the lint screen is found in the front door. To get access to the lint screen housing, open up the door and visually inspect the housing.
If there are any cracks or other damage to the lint screen housing, the clothes might snag on it when the dryer is running. This can create black marks on your clothing. If you notice damage to the housing, this part will need to be replaced to prevent the problem from continuing or getting worse.
- Drum Rollers and Axles
After checking the lint screen housing, the next component that might be causing the problem are the drum rollers and axles. The axles and drum rollers are what support the drum in the dryer when it turns. Each of the rollers has bearings inside of them, which will ride on the axles. Some electric dryers have two of these in the back and two in the front, while other dryers only have two in the back. If the bearings in the rollers have failed, it can be a cause of dark marks being left on your clothes. This can make the drum bounce up and down while it is turning.
If this is the case, the clothing might get pinched between the drum and the bulkhead. Inspect the rollers and axles and be sure that the rollers spin freely on the axles. If the bearings are just beginning to fail, the axles might be in decent shape and only the rollers will need to be replaced. However, if any rollers need to be replaced, it’s best to replace them all at the same time. If the axles have scratches on them, those may also need to be replaced.
If you need to replace the axles, unscrew and remove the supports to the axles. Next, the roller shaft can be removed and may also require replacement. Attach the roller onto the shaft and screw it into place. Make sure that it turns smoothly before you start putting the dryer back together.
- Drum Baffles
If none of the other components are broken or malfunctioning, the last thing to look at are the drum baffles. In most cases, three of them are going to be mounted inside the drum. The baffles are there to help with tumbling clothing when the dryer is in use. If marks are seen on your clothes after drying, screws may have loosened in which the clothing is being caught on. If this is the issue, lift the top of the dryer up and tighten all of the screws. However, if the baffles are damaged themselves, they are going to need to be replaced.
Release the seam above the dryer door from the clips using a putty knife and then push the clips in until the top can be moved up. Next, raise the dryer top and rest it on the wall. The dryer drawer should then be opened and rotated until the screws that hold the baffles are located. Take out the screws and then remove the baffle from the drum. Place the replacement baffle, secure it, and lower and clip the top back on.
Still have questions after reading this guide? Please reach out to AppliancePartsPros.com, we are always happy to help you fix your appliance yourself. Since 1999, AppliancePartsPros.com has helped millions of people repair their broken appliances by providing high-quality original parts at well below retail prices, free tech support and troubleshooting, and award-winning customer service! We’re open 7 days a week. Visit our site at https://www.appliancepartspros.com or call us at 877-477-7278. Over 90% of orders delivered in 1-2 days with guaranteed overnight shipping available! 365 days to return any part. Expert, friendly, US-based customer support team.
Matthew Mayo is a creative mind with quick wits and an eye for detail. He has been working for AppliancePartsPros.com for almost 3 years. He previously attended college for journalism and social media marketing, putting that experience to work on the APP blog. He is experienced in SEO and online content writing and applies that daily by writing troubleshooting blogs. Working with APP has helped him open up a career path and has given him the tools he needs for success, all while having fun while doing it.
Matthew has a passion for helping and educating others to make life easier while making them laugh along the way. His main mission is to help others save money through appliance repair while also providing top quality content.