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I had a wonderful morning, the heating unit went out of my dryer! Why
does everything seem to fall apart this time of year!??? The guy that
fixes things went in to the dryer and 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 and ran hot water over it. Now, this thing is
like a mesh - I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like
- WELL......the hot water just laid on top of the mesh!!! It didn't go
through it at all!!! He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that
mesh and that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the
film, but it's there. He said the best way to keep your dryer working
for a very long time (and to keep your electric bill lower) is to take
that filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush
(or other brush) at least every six months. He said that makes the life
of the dryer last at least twice as long!
I just found this on Snopes
Answer:
My hubby just heard that on tv or something a few months back and told me about it. It was completely ASTONISHING to see
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I did not know this. Will wash it tomorrow thanks.
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Yes, I always clean mine...I got that email awhile back. My filter was fine but my sister's was really clogged. So she scrubs it now periodically with a scrub brush. It probably depends on your fabric softener too.
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Wow!! I did not know that....guess what I am doing today??
When I saw the title, I thought you were going to talk about the lint trap on the back of the machine. Does anyone have an idea on how to clean that one?? You know the hose that from the back to outside somewhere (I think)??
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I use liquid fabric softener. Does that affect the dryer at all or only the sheets? I'm going to get to mine this weekend.
I also need to clean the hose from the dryer to the wall. I think that will be a big job. I need one of those brush thingys, I think.
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I started washing my lint screen a few months ago...
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I'm going to wash my lint screen tonight. wow, never heard of that. We use dryer sheets too, so it will be interesting to see....
we just had to get the dryer vent cleaned, and since the way that our house is laid out, it goes out onto the roof, so we had to get a man to come clean it out,...it wasn't too bad a price though..and my dryer worked like new!
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I started doing that a few months ago, it was amazing for the water to just sit there.
I also had dh clean out the vent it wasn't to bad considering we have never cleaned! It is recomended to do at least once a year.
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Kind of on the same idea.
When my first child was born I read somewhere that in Japan they do not allow the sale or usage of dryer sheets. It's because they have the highest ratings for fire safety(think small country and crowded living). The dryer sheets cause a film to occur over clothing over a period of time and affect the flammability ratings of the clothing that is sold in Japan.
I have no idea about fabric softeners in the wash if the chemicals also cause similar build ups.