General Chat

I used to have a tumble dryer. It was rarely used, and the filter was cleaned quite often. However, it caught fire one evening, when it wasn't on!
Fortunately, it was near to the back door, so I heaved it out onto the path,

I've managed very well without one since - that's about 25 years!

Now I think about it - the microwave also 'randomly' caught fire not long after - and both the microwave and tumble drier were both plugged into the same double socket.
Perhaps the socket was faulty.

I've since moved, and I bought a new microwave at Christmas.
I've just realised it's plugged in near the back door...

Well I can say that my sheets don't wear out more easily I never line dry these days and don't find any difference in the length of time things last.

I’ve never heard that about things wearing out more quickly Andysmum but I’ve not noticed it and wonder if it’s really true.

There’s a risk of fire with any electrical equipment but used properly the risk is minimal. The trouble is people don’t use things according to instructions. I was shocked this morning to see figures that said 1 in 7 people admitted to using their tumble dryers overnight when they are asleep and 1 in 20 said they had never cleaned their filters. Thank goodness we seem to be a sensible bunch on here. :-)

This thread did make me go and recheck my instruction book. My dryer is the condenser type and I thought I had 2 filters. I clean one every time I use it and the second one periodically. I’ve now discovered that the second one is actually the condenser unit but I am doing the right thing by taking it out and flushing it through from time to time.

The more I read of this thread, the more glad I am that I haven't got a tumble dryer.

I got the impression from the original article that the fluff was harmless as long as it stayed in the filter, but that it sometimes escaped and got into the machinery and then caught fire!

I also read, ages ago, that all the fluff comes off the items being dried and that sheets etc wear out much faster. :-(

Mine is a condensing heat pump type. I have to empty the water collecting container regularly. But the machine won't run if that is full. I realised after I last posted that there is a type of second filter which I also check but the main filter collects the fluff. I never leave any of the machines running when I go out or to bed. Washing machine, dishwasher, tumble drier.
I can't switch the dishwasher or washing machine off at the plug as both are behind the machine and for the dishwasher I have to remove a large drawer.

:-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

Yes I do a rinse with soda crystals and an empty machine every now and then to clean all the pipes. My plumber recommended this.

Namelessone and Florence

I take the washing out !!

Do a rinse with an empty drum
:-D

Surely, you mean once all your washing is washed and dried and removed, you give the machine a rinse?

Our tumble dryer is vented and we always clear the collector but when we replaced it were a bit shocked to see how much was lining the venting tube.

Shirley, I’m confused. Why do a rinse after the dryer program? Your washing will be all wet again.

Mine is a built in washer dryer and have no idea if it has a filter as never seen one

The dryer program does a cool down at the end of a cycle

Plus I will do a rinse cycle after using the dryer program

Only really use it to dry my underwear on a warm cycle and towels on the hotter cotton cycle

Leave the door open for a couple of hours after too so it’s drys out

Had more of a problem one time with a smell of mould which took ages and many different wash cycles with cleaner etc to get rid


I stopped using washing pods and fabric softener as washing machine engineer said they don’t fully dissolve on the cooler washes

Most time I use the 40deg. Wash so doesn’t get hot enough

I always clean the filter after each use and don’t go out with it running, but it isn’t possible to switch it off at the socket because the switch is behind the machine. It only has the one filter at the front, but even taking the filter out each time, you can see a lot if fluff in the machine, so we use a skewer to get as much out as possible. It is a vented type and as we have just moved OH disconnected it and took the flexible hose off the back. He was quite concerned because he said that he could see a lot of fluff in the back of the machine. He got out as much as he could, but there is still more inside. We are just about to have a new kitchen in the new house, so are going to change the tumble dryer to a condensing heat pump type, so there will be no tube to collect the fluff

Gwyn, yes mine has a 10 min cooling down cycle so its never hot once its finished.

Maybe she had opened the dryer halfway through so it would have been hot and didn't switch off at the mains. Was the filter overfull? Whatever the cause, its a reminder to everyone that uses a tumble drier to take care.

Like Ann, I was hoping to read what had caused the fire.
I didn't understand about opening the machine door to let it cool.
My dryer cools before it finishes a cycle.
By folding or hanging garments straight away, I can get away with no ironing. :-D
Like the others here, I rid the filter of any fluff / lint every time I use it and never run it at night or leave it on when I go out.

After the disaster with my washing machine last Sunday, I'm glad I never go out and leave it on!

I never have mine going unless I am in. If, on the odd occasion I have to pop out I turn it off and open the door.

I don’t leave my washing machine going either.

If it had 'only' been the fluff it might have burnt out with less damage if the door had been shut even, but it appears it was further fueled by the contents and some materials may have been particularly flammable? once it hits the plastic parts that's it.

That is concerning. Mainly because it actually doesn't say why the machine in this case caught fire. She says she turned the machine off. I wonder if she switched it off at the plug as well.

I do clean my filter and think I only have one filter. I had my machine checked over last year. I also always switch mine off at the plug when it is finished

I have heard of them catching fire when left on but not when switched off. And I wonder what make it was as there was a lot about certain ones catching fire a while ago.

Thanks for the info Andysmum. I also have a tumble drier and clean out the filter every time I use it. I turn it to off at the dial and also switch off at the mains once I have finished with it.

I would never go out and leave it on though and I know of some that have and also leave it on at night!!! No not worth the risk.

If you are drying woollens or towels, it is amazing how much fluff accumulates in the filter.

Florence in the hebrides

Thanks for the link Andysmum,
I do have a dryer and clean the filter every time, mine has 2 filters and it amazing how much fluff is in there .