Fire Chief's Corner: Clothes dryer safety

Doing laundry is most likely part of your everyday routine. But did you know how important taking care of your clothes dryer is to the safety of your home? With a few simple safety tips you can help prevent a clothes dryer fire.

• Have your dryer installed and serviced by a professional.

• Do not use your dryer without a lint filter.

• Make sure you clean the lint filter before or after each load of laundry. Remove lint that has collected around the drum.

• Rigid or flexible metal venting material should be used to sustain proper air flow and drying time.

• Make sure the air exhaust vent pipe is not restricted and the outdoor vent flap will open when the dryer is operating. Once a year, or more often if you notice that it is taking longer than normal for your clothes to dry, clean lint out of the vent pipe or have a dryer lint removal service do it for you.

• Keep dryers in good working order. Gas dryers should be inspected by a qualified professional to make sure the gas line and connection are intact and free of leaks.

• Make sure the right plug and outlet are used and the machine is connected properly.

• Follow the manufacturer's operating instructions and don't overload your dryer.

• Turn the dryer off if you leave home or when you go to bed.

Don't forget:

• Dryers should be properly grounded.

• Check the outdoor vent flap to make sure it is not covered by snow.

• Keep the area around your dryer clear of things that can burn, like boxes, cleaning supplies and clothing, etc.

• Clothes that have come in contact with flammable substances, like gasoline, paint thinner, or similar solvents should be laid outside to dry, then they can be washed and dried as usual.

Fact: The leading cause of home clothes dryer fires is failure to clean them.

The staff at Brainerd Fire and Rescue respond to dryer fires on a yearly basis in our coverage area. For more information on dryer safety or anything else regarding fire safety, go to our web page or you can call us at 828-2312. And as I always say, be safe out there.