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.