SPOKANE, Wash. — Many fires in homes start either in the kitchen or due to clothing dryers. There are specific safety measures household need to take into consideration while they are running their dryer.
Laundry is part of some peoples everyday routine, bur there are important things to keep your home safe while you are drying clothing.
The National Fire Protection Association reports that the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires is the failure to clean them. In Washington State, clothes dryers were the tenth leading cause of fires in homes.
Here are simple steps to prevent clothes dryers from catching your home on fire:
Clean the lint filter before each use.Maintain the dryer’s drum clear from accumulation of lint.Clean lint out of the vent pipe quarterly.Make sure the air exhaust vent pipe is not restricted and the outdoor vent flap will open when the dryer is operating.Make sure the correct plug and wall outlet are used.Keep dryers in good working order. Gas dryers should be inspected by a professional.Turn off the dryer when you leave the home or go to bed.Choose a dryer that is listed by a qualified testing laboratory.Rigid or flexible metal venting material should be used to sustain proper airflow.Follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions, and don’t overload your dryer.Fabrics that have been exposed to flammable cleaning agents should be air-dried after they have been washed.
For more information, you can contact the State Fire Marshal’s Office at (360) 596-3929.
