Cool tip on keeping your dryer working longer
By Lakota12
@Lakota12 (42600)
United States
February 18, 2008 5:18am CST
INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS
The heating unit went out on the dryer! The gentleman that fixes things
around the house for us told us that he wanted to show us something and
he went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean.
(I always clean the lint from the filter after every load clothes.)
He told us that he wanted to show us something; he took the filter over
to the sink, ran hot water over it. 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 that mesh
that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film, but it's
there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and
static free -- that nice fragrance too, you know how th ey ca n feel waxy
when you take them out of the box, well t his stuff builds up on your
clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to
catch fire & potentially burn your house down with it! 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!
4 people like this
10 responses
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
18 Feb 08
Had to let you know I tried it out and not one drop of water got through the mesh so I washed it as you recommended and now it lets all the water through. Thanks again Lakota!
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
29 Feb 08
very handy information to have, I read a similar account from someone at another website some time ago - sounds like the repair men are getting the word out - and so are you! thanks!
We do not use a dryer, but certainly know a lot of people who do.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
22 Feb 08
I did not realize that either. I did know that dryer sheets made a film on the screen, but never knew what to do about it. Thanks.
@Cajunhellcat (2073)
• United States
21 Feb 08
I do mine at least every 3 months and thanks for the info
@shaggin (72288)
• United States
19 Feb 08
Wow what awesome information. I never would have thought about that but now that I read that it does make sense and makes me wonder why I didnt think of it before. We just got a new dryer less than a week ago so now I know a little better way to take extra care of it. I also read in a magazine that dryer sheets are bad for the enviorment and that static is causes by drying clothes together that are made of different materials. So supposedly if you dry all your 100% cotton together it wont cause static or if you dry all your 100% polyester together it wont cause static. I wonder if thats true. I want to give it a try sometime. I dont really have the time to check all the labels but if it works it'll save money on the dryer sheets and help the environment.
@chillymullet (181)
• United States
23 Feb 08
I hope this do keep my dryer working longer, actually im going to go do it right now. It would suck if my house was to burn down. That would really suck for someone who doesnt have insurance.
@babystar1 (4233)
• United States
18 Feb 08
I always use dryer sheets,but I clean out the lint filter all the time. Now I have to go and take out the filter and wash it. Thanks a lot for the tip.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
18 Feb 08
I do not use dryer sheets because I am allergic to the perfumes used in them, so I do not have that problem. What I do is to use vinegar in the fabric softener cycle of the washer. And I also clean the lint filter, but when we had our old dryer, the motor went out but it was because the filter was at the back and the boys did not take the coins out of their pockets and it caused a short. The dryer we have now has a heating element that you have to replace every seven years or so, but if someone leaves coins in their pants, there is a large clink and I can find it.
So I would say use something in the washer rather than fabric sheets in the dryer.
@mummymo (23706)
•
18 Feb 08
I knew there was a good reason not to use those conditioner sheets form the tumble dryer, besides how expensive they can be! Thank goodness I have stopped using them just before I got my new dryer last year!
Thanks for shring this info Lakota honey - those driers (not to mention electricity) are expensive enough and anything that helps us use them as efficiently as possible for as long as possible is fantastic! Hugs sweety xxx
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
18 Feb 08
Thank you for the great information. I will do that as soon as I get home from work this morning. Keep the great tips coming. Smiles
