Clothes Dryer Info...

[Shaker™]

Just had this sent to me by my sister...can't speak for its validity but thought it worth passing on and will test it out...

INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS

I had a wonderful morning - the heating unit went out on my dryer! Why does everything seem to fall apart this time of year!???

The guy that fixes things went in to the dryer 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, 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 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!

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 the water ran right thru the screen! There wasn't any puddle of water 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.

[Frogy]

That's exactly how those dryer sheets work and washing the lint filter is esential.

I remember the older comercials with towels, see how tall the softened ones are (pile of folded towels) compared to the unsoftened ones! Unfortunately, that same film stops the towels from absorbing the water as they should.

[Tim]

interesting. I'll test this out too.

[Shaker™]

...just tested mine under VERY hot water...there was some initial pooling for a few seconds then it seemed to flow through freely...washed it with soap and a brush nonetheless...quick and easy and worth the effort IMO...

[reiver]

I always like to check these things out on snopes...

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/dryer.asp

Apparently it's true! Although, it's interesting that the email your sister sent is word for word. :)

[Ken_ver_1_5]

yep its true.

[sparky77]

i just bought a new dryer - Whirlpool - and it says NOT to use dryer sheets... i guess for that very reason.

[reiver]

i just bought a new dryer - Whirlpool - and it says NOT to use dryer sheets... i guess for that very reason.

So do you peel a lot of socks off your sweaters? Or is static cling not an issue?

[sparky77]

not really an issue

[Taz]

So do you peel a lot of socks off your sweaters? Or is static cling not an issue?

liquid fabric softener added to the wash works well

[AMD]

Better yet avoid those drier sheets to begin with.

[Dr.Dan]

So do you peel a lot of socks off your sweaters? Or is static cling not an issue?
The only reason you'd get that is over-drying your cloths.
I don't use anything at all and don't have a static problem... unless I set the dry time too long

[Mouse]

Same here. No additives at all.

[reiver]

We've used the dryer sheet for as long as I can remember...I'll try it without. It's just one of those things I do reflexively.

[T_Totler]

I've never used a full sheet. I cut it in half and get just as good results as sticking a full sheet in - regardless of load size.

I've learned a long time ago that manufacturers want you to use up their product as fast as possible so you can replace it more often (which equates to more $$$ for them), so they package their products and "instructions for use" accordingly.

Same for laundry detergent... I use half of what they "recommend" on the box, and I still get great results.

[Tess]

liquid fabric softener added to the wash works well

It sure does, I use Downy fabric softener, my washer has a dispenser for this.. I have never used the dryer sheets, the dryer is 14 years old and the lint trap screen is still free flowing and I have no static cling.

[Lesster]

Just another opinion: Our daughter-in-law won't use liquid fabric softener on the children's clothes, sheets, etc. because it supposedly adds to the flamability of the fabric. She says dryer sheets are OK. Can any one either refute or substantiate this opinion?

We use either the sheets or liquid softener very sparingly, for all the reasons listed above - absorbency, expense, etc. I also feel that it makes most fabrics too soft and detracts from the appearance of most clothing, it's just for towels, sheets or some jeans in our house.

[Otis]

Oh ****...I never knew that. I always figured that rinsing it off every now and then would be good enough..

~Rushes downstairs with soap and old toothbrush~