Dryer Care and Maintenance

Tips that will Save you Money on your Electric Bill

Dryer Energy Saving Tips

Get your Dryer Vents Cleaned

It doesn't matter how clean you keep you lint filter on your Dryer.  Lintstill gets through the screen and makes its way through the venting system of your Dryer.  Over time the lint builds up and causes restrictions in the air flow.  When you start to have restrictions in the air flow from the Dryer to the outside vents, your clothes will start taking longer and longer to dry.

How often do vents need cleaning?

The better a dryer vent blows, the less lint builds up in it. Short vents blow better than long ones. Full size dryers blow better than smaller stack dryers or older dryers. Vents with a lot of turns and elbows blow worse and build up more lint. Very short vents attached to full size dryers may never need cleaning.  Most vents, however, need cleaning every one to two years, depending on certain factors.

Are dirty vents a fire hazard?

A plugged vent will certainly cause a dryer to run hotter and increase the chance that something could catch fire. A dirty vent, however, is only one link in a chain of events that must occur for a fire to start. Other events may include: failure of thermostat and limit switches in the dryer, lint inside the dryer, a missing or damaged lint screen, and a crushed hose behind the dryer.  Though fire hazards may be exaggerated, many fire departments and insurance companies do require that dryer vents be inspected and cleaned regularly.

Do not Overfill your Dryer

When you overfill your Dryer it puts a lot of stress on the Motor and Belt.  Also by having the it crammed full of clothes the air inside cannot properly circulate.  The air coming into the Dryer needs to be able to flow back out.  Having it too full will prevent the air from freely entering and exiting the dryer.  If the air cannot get out, neither can the moisture in the clothes.  Add this too dirty dryer vents and your clothes will never get dry. 

Cleaning the Lint Filter

The Lint Filter needs to be cleaned before every load of clothes you put into your dryer.  If the lint filter is clogged with lint the dryer will not dry properly and this will increase the amount of time it takes to dry a load of clothes.  With Energy Costs the way they are today, this could save hundreds of dollars each year just by keeping it clean.

Check Clothes and Labels

Check the labels on garments and other textile items and never dry with heat, those items which warn against such drying could start a fire. Never dry items used with solvent or waxes for the same fire hazard reason.

Check loads before drying to remove any crayons, or other items which could soften with heat and stain clothes and or dryer drum.

Follow manufacturer’s instructions in manual on using fabric softeners in your dryer and do not use any type they warn against. 

Cleaning the Dryer Drum

If a crayon gets into the dryer and melts onto the drum, remove as much as possible with non-flammable household cleaner. (READ LABEL TO BE SURE). A flammable cleaner could cause a fire in the dryer. Apply cleaner to a sponge or cloth and wipe the stain. Do NOT spray or pour the cleaner in the interior; it might get down inside dryer. Wipe off with rags or paper towels. Then tumble old rags to remove any residue left, until no more comes off. A colored stain may remain on the drum.

If a drum is spotted by starched or tinted articles, wipe the interior with a cloth moistened with a diluted bleach solution. Use a sponge or clean cloth, dipped in suds, to remove the bleach solution from the drum. Rinse well and dry.

If dryer is used to dry unlaundered clothing, such as children's snow pants between outings, wipe the drum with suds and rinse. This will remove any dirt before clean laundry is placed into the machine. Wipe the door opening occasionally. Clean the exterior with suds and rinse. To protect the finish, polish with an appliance wax. 

White Clothes Turning Blue

New jeans had been washed and then dried in that dryer just before. Sometimes dye will come off new blue jeans and dry on the inside of the dryer drum, and then transfer to the next batch of wet clothes put inside. Good to check dryer drum after load of brand new jeans. If the drum dye coated, clean all inside with soapy water until no color comes off on the cleaning cloth. Wipe off all soapy residues with a clean wet cloth.

Ink on the Dryer Drum

Use all purpose cleaner. After the drum is cool, put undiluted cleaner on a cloth or pad of paper towel, and rub area. DO NOT apply the solution directly on the drum. Wipe drum thoroughly with a damp cloth or paper towels to remove all solution. Let the dryer stand for several hours with door open before using, to be sure all the solvent vapors from the cleaner have evaporated into the air, as these are flammable. This should remove most ball point or felt tip marker inks.