Why You Need to Remove Dryer Lint From Your Home

One of the most convenient appliances you can have in your home is the clothes dryer.

This bad boy is going to dry your clothes, towels, and anything else that’s allowed inside of it in a fraction of the time — but you already knew that.

What you didn’t know is how dangerous all of the lint is that builds up inside of the dryer…

Why is Lint So Dangerous?

Lint is a collection of small fibers from your clothes that break off and come together to form that fuzzy stuff that ends up everywhere. Within every dryer is a lint trap and a filter that collects most of the lint that is in the dryer.

The reason lint is dangerous to your home is because a buildup of it can restrict airflow within your dryer and its vents. A blockage of airflow can result in overheating, which can spark a fire in the highly flammable “fuzzies” you’ve come to know and hate.

How Does Lint Build Up?

A small piece of lint here and there isn’t going to cause anyone any harm, but a buildup of lint can be a fire hazard. Here are the common ways lint can build up in your dryer:

• Failure to remove lint from the lint filter after each and every load of laundry.
• Failure to clean the lint trap (monthly basis).
• Having the dryer placed too close to the wall where airflow can be prevented.
• Having too long of dryer vents. Any kinks or curves can be areas of the vent that can easily collect this hazardous lint.

What to Watch Out For

If you clean the lint filter and trap but are still afraid that there might be a buildup of lint within the dryer or its vents, watch out for these signs:

• Your dryer is taking longer to dry your clothes than it usually does.
• The dryer is hot to the touch, rather than just being slightly warm.
• If there’s a burning smell in the air when the dryer is on.