Tumble Dryer Safety Advice

Many of us own and use tumble dryers regularly in our homes, so it's important to make sure you know how to keep yours running safely. An unsafe or improperly maintained tumble dryer can break, overheat and even be a potential fire hazard. Fortunately, you can keep your appliance in check with our important safety checks for your tumble dryer below.

Remember, always switch off and unplug an appliance before carrying out any work.

Let's dive in! To learn how to carry out the necessary tumble dryer safety checks, simply watch the video or read our guide below.

Lint and fluff from your clothes collect in your tumble dryer's filter. If the filter isn't cleaned regularly and gets too dirty, debris will make its way into the tumble dryer drum and eventually the cabinet. This will increase the possibility of a fire. As such, the filter will need cleaning every time you use your tumble dryer, as this will keep it working properly and reduce the risk of overheating and fires.

Whenever you clean the filter, you should make sure there are no rips or tears in the mesh. If there are, lint and fluff will be able to pass through and the filter won't work properly. If you do find that your filter is damaged at all, you will need to replace it.

When removing your filter from the ducting for cleaning, try to make sure that no lint or fluff falls inside the ducting itself. If it does, you can vacuum it using a vacuum crevice tool.

If you own a condenser tumble dryer, fluff and lint may also end up inside the condenser itself. Because of this, you should clean the condenser at least once a month. To do this, simply remove it from the bottom of your tumble dryer and give it a thorough wash. If you do find that your condenser is damaged at all, you will need to replace it.

When washing your condenser, only use water. You should also only pour water into the back end, allowing it to pass through and come out of the front. You will know your condenser is clean when the water runs clear.

Once you have cleaned your condenser, leave it to air dry naturally. You should only refit it back into your tumble dryer when it is completely dry.

You should also remove your tumble dryer's lid and check the inside of the cabinet around once a year. If you find any fluff or lint inside your tumble dryer, you can simply use a vacuum cleaner to remove it.

Finally, you should also never use your tumble dryer when you are sleeping or are not at home. If any errors or issues arise with your appliance while you aren't around, it could result in damage or worse, lead to a fire. Because of this, there should always be someone present when a cycle is running.

And there you have it! All of our important safety checks for your tumble dryer. Hopefully, this article will have provided you with the advice you need to keep your tumble dryer running safely for years to come.

Along with the filter, the condenser and the cabinet, there are many other parts of your tumble dryer that you should clean regularly to keep it running at it's best. Head over to our article on how to clean your tumble dryer to make sure you're keeping your appliance clean, safe and in working order.

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