Clean Your Tumble Dryer Now To Save Money
Top tips to clean your tumble dryer so that you save money each time you use the machine.
We all know that tumble dryers are amazing and often only used in an emergency because of the costs involved.
However, there are ways in which you can run your tumble dryer in a way that can and will save you money each time you turn on the appliance.
The idea is to make your machine run effectively as possible costing you the smallest amount to get your clothes dry.
Cleaning Your Tumble Dryer To Save You Money
Using your appliance effectively is going to save you the most money and one of those recommendations is to clean this fluff filter.
Affiliate links are included for your convenience. (This means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission which won’t cost you a penny more!) Click here to read my full disclosure and privacy policy.
However, there are more serious reasons that you should keep on top of your tumble dryer cleaning schedule, a poorly ventilated tumble dryer can potentially cause a fire in your home.
The fluff in the tumble dryer is dry and this can catch fire if you aren’t emptying it on a regular basis.
Cleaning Tumble Dryer Fluff
When it comes to the fluff collection units in a tumble dryer they are all different as different manufacturers shape the units depending on the position in their dryers.
But with each one, you must get into the habit of removing the fluff each time you empty the dryer of clothes.
This becomes a habit and you will do this without thinking, helping to prevent fire and for your tumble dryer to work harder to get the moisture out of your clothes.
But There’s More Fluff To Clean
Yes, you need to clean the fluff collecting filter but you also need to clean any fluff that misses the filter and accumulates in other areas of your dryer.
If you have a vented tumble dryer, you will have a hose and that hose needs cleaning at least yearly, if not every six months.
Don’t worry you don’t have to put your arm down the hose there are special tools that you can purchase that will do this for you.
Cleaning My Condensing Tumble Dryer
I currently have a condensing tumble dryer, this means that it doesn’t have a hose going to the outside but has a condensing unit.
The condensing unit turns the hot air into water and this is collected in a special container.
There is a fluff filter and you do need to keep this clean too.
I clean my condensing unit about once a month, if I miss this I know, as items take longer to dry, any increase in drying time means an increase in electricity and cost to me.
I find this a simple process, I follow the directions from the manufacturer’s handbook and the only difference is using an old towel to prevent any drips.
Water In The Tumble Dryer
With a condensing tumble dryer, you do need to empty the water container.
After each use you must empty the water, if you don’t you could damage your machine and home with water spilling everywhere.
The water from the tumble dryer is removed from your clothes, it is not drinkable, but I do use this water for watering my plants and in my steam cleaner too, I let it cool down first, though.
Vented Tumble Dryer
In the past, I had a vented tumble dryer; these have the hose connected to the tumble dryer that vents the hot damp air outside.
These hoses can and will become blocked with that same fluff you find in the filter, it gets into these hoses and starts to block them.
Not only does this affect the dryer, but it can’t vent out the air properly, so it is not as effective in drying your clothes, but this fluff is also a fire hazard.
Use these types of tools to get the fluff out of the hard-to-reach places.
A fire in your tumble dryer is not something that you should ever have to deal with and with regular cleaning; you can help to prevent a fire in your home caused by a tumble dryer.
How Often Should I Be Cleaning My Tumble Dryer?
I think this question isn’t answered deeply enough and I mean yes you need to clean the fluff filter after each use and if you have a condensing tumble dryer but it doesn’t stop there.
You should be checking your tumble dryer all the time to make sure that there isn’t a fluff build-up anywhere.
Dry fluff from the tumble dryer is dangerous and the game you should be playing is trying to find it as often as possible so that it doesn’t build up anywhere inside your machine.
But there’s more if you use fabric softener in your wash then you will need to remove the residue from the fluff filter as this can stop the fluff filter from working properly.
How Do You Clean The Fluff Filter
It’s best to check your manufacturer’s instructions, but on mine, I was told by an engineer to just wash it under cool water and to dry it before using it again.
This is because the softener can coat the fiber on the fluff filter and not allow the air to flow properly.
If the airflow isn’t adequate it can lead to high temperatures in your tumble dryer and could potentially start a fire.
Unattended Use Of Tumble Dryer
Never switch on your tumble dryer and leave it unattended, you should always use this appliance if you are in your home, and you should never leave them running when you go out.
If there was a malfunction, being home could prevent it from starting a fire. You are also more able to check the contents on a regular basis and this can prevent clothes from getting too dry and wasting the heat and electricity, too.
If the clothes were to get too hot they could start to burn and if you are home then you are going to be able to deal with the problem straight away if you have left the tumble dryer on and this happens when you aren’t home then you might have a house fire.
Resources To Help You Around The Home
Cleaning your tumble dryer is so important, but there are other areas that you need to think about when cleaning your home.
