Dryer lint filter

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I learn something new every day.

Please read;
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Subject: Fw: Dryer Caution
I had a wonderful morning, until the heating unit went out on my dryer!

The repair man went in to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It
was clean. We always clean the lint from the filter after every load of
clothes. He told us that he wanted to show us something.

He took the filter over to the sink, ran hot water over it. Now, the
lint filter is made of a mesh material - I’m sure you know what your
dryer’s lint filter looks like.

WELL…the hot water just sat on top of the mesh!!! It didn’t go
through it at all!!!

He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over the mesh and that’s what
burns out the heating unit. You can’t SEE the film, but it’s there.
This is also what causes dryer units to catch fire and potentially burn
your house down! He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a
very long time (& to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that
filter out & wash it with hot soapy water & an old toothbrush (or other
brush) at least every six months.

He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long! How
about that!!! Learn something new everyday!

I certainly didn’t know dryer sheets would do that. So, I thought I’d
share!

Note: I went to my dryer & tested my screen by running water on it.
The water ran thru a little bit but mostly collected all the water in
the mesh screen.

I washed it with warm soapy water & a nylon brush & I had it done in 30
seconds. Then when I rinsed it and the water ran right thru the screen!
There wasn’t any puddling at all!

That repairman knew what he was talking about!

PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK.
NOT ONLY COULD IT SAVE SOMEONE’S HOME, BUT IT COULD SAVE SOMEONE’S LIFE .

It was so ironic that the same evening someone sent this to a recipient, the fathers house smoke alarm went off late night and the cause was the lint filter. Weird :shock:

Stephen,

Great information. Can I give this to my locale News Media as a PSA? I would also like to post this on my inspection blog also. Thanks again for this information and I Await your feedback. :smiley:
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http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/dryer.asp

Great info

http://www.hoax-slayer.com/dryer-lint-filter.html

http://www.vbg.org/enTouchCMS/app/viewDocument?docID=995&parntCatgId=115

Excellent information… thank you!

From the Buffalo Grove article:
“Leaving damp clothes inside the drum may have adverse effects. A chemical chain reaction may occur when and if the conditions are right. Spontaneous ignition has proved to be the source of numerous laundry fires. The damp cloth plus the hot dry environment creates the conditions that support unassisted combustion.”

Does anyone know why damp clothing inside the dryer would be more likely to start a fire? This does not make sense to me unless the dampness was caused by a flammable liquid. I would think that the main reason not to leave wet clothes in the dryer is beacuse it would be a prime environment for mold and mildew to grow.