The three spots in your tumble dryer you NEED to keep clean – and it’s a huge fire hazard if you don’t, warns pro
YOU probably already know you should be cleaning your tumble dryer regularly, but it turns out there are actually three spots you should never miss.
Mary Futher, who is otherwise known as Madame Sweat, often uses her social media account to share her top tips and tricks when it comes to all things clean.
Her recent advice is vital if you’ve got a tumble dryer at home, and forgetting certain spots could potentially lead to a fire.
“There are three areas you’re responsible for cleaning, it could actually cause a fire,” she said.
First up is the spot you’re probably already aware of, the lint trap.
This is usually located right at the front of the drum when you open the door.
In most machines you can simply lift it up and remove any lint by hand before sliding it back down.
“This has to be kept clean, actually your dryer won’t even function properly if this isn’t kept clean,” Mary said.
The next spot you should keep clean is the exhaust vent, which in most homes goes outside.
And finally, if you have a tumble dryer in your home don’t forget to clean the compartment the lint trap is housed.
Although you might’ve removed the lint from the trap itself, there’s more than likely still some lint in the compartment itself, Mary explained.
How often does each section need to be cleaned?
The lint trap itself needs to be cleared every time you use the dryer, Mary said.
The exhaust should be cleared once per year, and the compartment should get a clear out once every month for good measure.
The dangers of not cleaning your tumble dryer
Although using a tumble dryer at home is generally very safe, there are a few precautions you should take to reduce the risk of fires.
Which recommends never running your tumble dryer overnight when you’re sleeping.
The explained: “The risk of fire is thankfully small, but you should keep safety in mind when you use your dryer. So, only use your dryer when you’re at home and awake and if you use your dryer’s delay timer, again make sure to only set it for when you’ll be at home and awake.
“If you smell burning or see smoke coming from your dryer stop using it immediately and unplug it from the mains.”
You should also avoid drying anything with oil on it in your tumble dryer, as this is also a fire risk.
And finally, don’t overfill the drum of your machine.
” If the drum is too full, drying clothes will take longer, the quality of drying will be reduced and heat could build up in the drum,” the experts said.