No dryer lint fire but

[fisherpaykel]

Problem-Mother in law's dryer not working well-she needs a new dryer-takes 2 or 3 cycles to dry a load of sheets. I suspected fabric softener clogged lint screen and/or clogged venting, noticed she has big supply of BOTH liquid softener and dryer sheets, DOWNY and BOUNCE,-we had both problems-hot water detergent scrub and forcing brush bristles through the screen mesh fixed the screen. Disconnecting the exhaust I found dryers outlet TOTALLY lint plugged-compressed it made a softball sized piece of softener infused nastiness. After 4 or 5 rounds of electric leaf blower in the vent ducting, + or - 25 feet, alternating with pulling wads of lint from the exterior hooded vent-one of those 45 degree max opening flaps, we finally have air flow to the outside. Altogether there was about 1 1/2 gallons of lint. No need for a new dryer now but I still smell like fabric softener. I hope it isn't the 2 weeks of freshness variety!

 

[arbilab]

Fabric softener should come with a list of side effects like toxic drugs do.

 

[whirlcool]

I've seen all kinds of impacted lint in dryers and in the ductwork within the dryer. One case I saw had the dryer duct before the fan blades completely blocked off by lint that was hard as a brick. I had to use a hammer & screwdriver to break it up before it could be removed. Then the inside of the duct was as sticky as if someone had poured honey in there. I had to pull the duct and soak it in Dawn and hot water for a couple of hours before it was clean again. Once again the woman who owned it was a Fabric Softener addict. She never had her dryer cleaned because she didn't know it needed cleaning. She obviously never read the owners manual. The manufacturer tells you to clean the interior out every couple of years. So now whenever I read about a dryer fire I always forward the news story to her.

 

[murando531]

I had to clean out my Papaw's dryer and ducts outside one time. His thankfully was only a short distance of tube that ran directly out the back wall behind the dryer, but it was still a mess. He liked using fabric softener too, but it was the cheap Dollar General stuff, which is even worse.

I use fabric softener every few loads, but only a tiny bit; the bottom line of the cap in the dispenser with water filled to the max line. And that's only with full loads, and my washer still fills to the top for wash and rinse so it's just enough to lightly scent the clothes without over doing it. So far my dryer and ductwork are fine. I try to clean the dryer every year at least.