Why IPs typically get listed
The core cause is the same across all three zones: mail landed in the operator's spam trap.
Spam traps are addresses that never signed up to receive mail.
Any message sent to one signals a list hygiene problem.
Common triggers include sending to purchased or scraped email lists.
Old, dormant addresses that were never cleaned out can also trigger a trap hit.
A compromised mail server or an open relay sending unsolicited bulk email is another common cause.
Missing or broken email authentication, like SPF, DKIM, or DMARC, doesn't cause a trap hit on its own.
It does correlate with the same sloppy sending habits that lead to one.
For the URI zone specifically, the trigger is different.
It's the domain or link inside your email, not your sending IP.
Your message might contain a link to a domain already flagged as spammy.
That link alone can get your content listed there.
How to check if you're listed
Start with a DNS lookup against each zone that matters to you.
You can query blacklist.woody.ch and ipv6.blacklist.woody.ch directly with a reverse-IP DNS lookup.
If you're comfortable with DNS, reverse the IP octets and query them against the zone with dig or nslookup.
For the URI zone, you check the specific domain name, not an IP address.
Most admins use a multi-blacklist checker instead of querying each zone by hand.
These tools check dozens of DNSBLs, including all three Woody's zones, in one pass.
Confirm which of the three zones lists you before you start the removal process.
The fix and the process differ depending on which one flagged you.
How to get removed
Fix the underlying cause before you request removal from any of the three zones.
For the IP zones, that means finding and stopping whatever sent mail to the spam trap.
Check your sending logs around the time of listing for unusual volume or unfamiliar recipients.
Clean your list of unverified, scraped, or long-dormant addresses before you request delisting.
If a compromised account or open relay caused the listing, lock it down first.
Once the cause is fixed, submit a removal request through the operator's site for the matching zone.
For the URI zone, the fix is different. Remove or replace the flagged domain or link from your sending templates.
Then request removal for that specific domain through the same operator channel.
Because this is a small, independently run list, the process is manual rather than automatic.
Expect to submit details about the fix, not just a bare request.
Try our Blacklist Monitoring tool for free today.
How long it typically takes
Processing time for a manual, independently run list like this one varies.
Larger commercial DNSBLs often publish fixed automatic delisting windows. Woody's does not appear to follow that pattern.
Treat the timeline as unpredictable and plan around it rather than against a fixed deadline.
Submitting a request without fixing the root cause is likely to result in relisting.
That resets the clock and adds another round of waiting.
If a campaign is time sensitive, build in buffer time rather than assuming a fast turnaround.
FAQ
How do I check if I'm on Woody's SMTP Blacklist?
Run a DNS lookup against blacklist.woody.ch for IPv4 or ipv6.blacklist.woody.ch for IPv6 addresses. For domains, check against uri.blacklist.woody.ch instead. A multi-blacklist lookup tool can check all three zones at once, which is faster than querying each one by hand.
How do I remove my IP from Woody's SMTP Blacklist?
First confirm which zone listed you, since the IP zones and the URI zone flag different things. Fix the cause, whether that's a compromised sender, a dirty list, or a bad link in your content. Then submit a removal request through the operator's own site for that specific zone.
What's the difference between Woody's three blacklist zones?
blacklist.woody.ch and ipv6.blacklist.woody.ch both list sending IPs caught by the same spam trap, split by IP version. uri.blacklist.woody.ch is different. It lists domains and links found inside message content, regardless of which IP sent the message.
Will a Woody's SMTP Blacklist listing stop my mail from reaching Gmail or Outlook?
Probably not on its own. Large providers like Gmail and Outlook rely mainly on their own reputation signals rather than third-party DNSBLs. A listing still matters, since some smaller mail servers, corporate filters, and email service providers do check it.
Will I get relisted after removal?
Yes, if the underlying sending problem isn't fixed first. Requests submitted without addressing the root cause commonly result in the same IP or domain getting listed again. Clean your list, secure your sending infrastructure, and remove flagged links before you request delisting.
