Did You Know That Using Fabric Softener Can Clog Your Dryer Screen?
By villageanne
@villageanne (8553)
United States
March 3, 2007 1:43am CST
Did you know that using fabric softener can clog up the screen in your dryer and you cant even see it. It is very simple to prevent but since we cant see it, we often over look this simple step. Go to your dryer now, while it is fresh in your mind and pull out the screen. Take it to the sink and run water over the screen. Notice how the water does not pour through like you would expect it too. The fabric softener will build up on the screen and block the air from going through properly, just like it prevents water from going through properly. To clean the screen, take some dish washing liquid and clean the screen. Now put it under water again. See the difference you made. You really need to clean the screen out on a regular basis.
The U. S. Consumer Safety Product safety Commission estimates that in 1998, clothes dryers were associated with 15,600 fires, which resulted in 20 deaths and 370 injuries. Fires can occur when lint builds up in the dryer or exhaust duct. Lint can block the flow of air, causing excessive heat build up and result in a fire in some dryers.
The U. S. Consumer Safety Product safety Commission has offered some advice to prevent these fires. You can find the advice at this link:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/5022.html
This information is free and they also offer other wonderful information at this link
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/pub_idx.html
5 people like this
17 responses
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
3 Mar 07
Well people are at it, it might be a good time to clean the dryer out entirely. I Pikced up a dry cleaning kit. This will cut down the chance of fire. Also, take that house of and clean the dryer from the back and the whole hose to dry more efficiently.
I did that a few years ago and mentioned it to my sister, she cleaned out her dryer and vent. She thought her dry was dying, it ws taking 3 cycles to dry her towels, it went back down to one cycle after the cleaning.
Talk about saving on the electric bill.
4 people like this
@retardedrugrat (4790)
• Canada
3 Mar 07
I had absolutely no idea this could happen. I'm really surprised.
I don't actually have a washer/dryer because I live in an apartment building that has a laundry room, and so we all use the washers and dryers in there.
However, next time I'm in there, I'm going to run the screen under the tap in the sink and clean it out, just to see what difference it makes. I'm really curious as to this.
I guess the next person that uses the dryer after me would be thankful too lol.
Thanks for sharing this tip with us.
4 people like this
@kgwat70 (13387)
• United States
3 Mar 07
This is very good recommendation as I need to do this more often myself. I removed the gray stuff off the screen but I do not run it under water with dishwasher liquid so I will start trying that myself and see how that works. If we do not clean our screen, our clothes will not dry properly and will remain wet so it definitely is important to do this and could help us reduce our electric bills a bit as well.
4 people like this
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
3 Mar 07
Wow! That is very interesting information!
I have often taken the vacuum to my dryer to suck out the extra lint because I have heard the dryer are the cause of many house fires. Since I have seven children, that is something I am not willing to risk.
And since I just started using dryer sheets instead of the fabric softener...this is something that I will put into my monthly practice!
Thanks for the info!!
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (169474)
• United States
3 Mar 07
Because of someone else's post, I have switched to vinegar as a fabric softener. I never cared for the heavy fragrance, anyway. I will be sure to clean my screen in this way though, and the screens on the driers in my client houses, to be on the safe side. They often do not know or remember to clean their dryer screens. Thanks for posting.
3 people like this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
3 Mar 07
Well people are at it, it might be a good time to clean the dryer out entirely. I Pikced up a dry cleaning kit. This will cut down the chance of fire. Also, take that house of and clean the dryer from the back and the whole hose to dry more efficiently.
I did that a few years ago and mentioned it to my sister, she cleaned out her dryer and vent. She thought her dry was dying, it ws taking 3 cycles to dry her towels, it went back down to one cycle after the cleaning.
Talk about saving on the electric bill.
3 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
3 Mar 07
Well guess what I will be doing today! Never thought of that one. People often forget to clean out the door of the dryer too. The lint can build up quite fast.
@Willowlady (10657)
• United States
3 Mar 07
Just shows us once again that the things they sell us are not really needed. We can put conditioner on a washcloth and toss it into the dryer and get softer clothing. No need for these chemcial laden, life threatening dryer sheets. Fire is at issue when you use any appliance with a heating element. Great care of course should be exerted to prevent loss of life or limb. Thanks for sharing this will all of us.
3 people like this
@coolcatzz (1587)
• Canada
3 Mar 07
I have actually heard of that. You can never be too careful. Emptying the lint filter is my worst thing. I always forget and my 9 year old reminds me. I have got to be more diligent where that is concerned because it really can be dangerous.
1 person likes this
@bigpinkmomma (449)
• Canada
4 Mar 07
Thanks for the reminder. I have read about this before, but I had forgotten about it . I will have to clean my dryer screen .
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
3 Mar 07
Ok, I will have you know I did it - yes went down in my cold damp dark basement got my lint filter brought it upstairs and did the test - it's true, scientifically tested my me! I had never thought or heard of this and I always use fabric softener. I am sure this will help on the drying process also! Thank you Thank you Thank you.
1 person likes this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
4 Mar 07
Oh Dear, you went to the dark...cold...part of the world? LOL You didn't think I would lie to you did you?? LOL Now you can feel safer knowing you may have prevented a fire. Remember to do this often though because it will continue to do that.
@Lavera1 (896)
• United States
4 Mar 07
Thanks so much, Villageanne, for the advice. I didn't know that fabric softener clogged the dryer filter. I always would remove the lint from the filter though.
I'd stopped using the fabric softener on my towels because the coating caused the towels to not be absorbent.
1 person likes this
@MrsSgtB (289)
• United States
3 Mar 07
I never knew that...but I have heard of dryer sheets can take the fire protectant off of kid clothes. That is why they recommend not using dryer sheets for their clothes. Though if you used in the load before the film of the dryer sheet is still left in the dryer and can get on kid clothes.
1 person likes this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
3 Mar 07
My columbial parka says to not use fabric soften on it. Using fabric softener can take the water repelant off the parka.
@tarsadawn (350)
• United States
3 Mar 07
In 1995, while getting ready for school one morning, my mom's dryer caught on fire. Luckily it was just the dryer, we got it put out real fast. It was caused from lint that had built up behind the dryer. We now clean our lint screen regularly and once a month pull out our dryer and clean behind it and under it. You'd be surprised how much lint builds up back there....even if it is a new dryer.
1 person likes this
@certified_alice (1854)
• Philippines
4 Mar 07
Thanks for sharing this, I really don't know about our dryer's screen but I guess I can use this information one day. I thought using fabric conditioner will help us regarding our laundry but it seems that it still cause troubles.. Thanks again for this info.
@dfinster (3528)
• United States
4 Mar 07
I have so many problems with my clothes dryer. Partially because it's really old. (I've been pestering my hubby about a new one) Anyway it's something I'll be sure to do from now on. Anything that will help it work better is something useful to me.
