October is National Fire Prevention Month, a short period of time in which we take a few moments to educate ourselves on ways to prevent dangerous fires from springing up in our homes. You may think your home is covered if you have a prepped fire extinguisher and a fire escape plan ready to go, but there are still several ways in which your home could be a potential fire hazard.
Take, for example, your home’s dryer, a major appliance that’s easy to forget about until it breaks down. If not correctly cared for, your typically dependable dryer may be a ticking time bomb. Every year, more than 2,500 homes’ dryers catch fire through various means, causing millions of dollars in property damage and numerous deaths.
There are ways to minimize your chances of your dryer catching fire. Here are some tips for dryer safety during Fire Prevention Month in Village.
Have your washer installed by a pro
This one is easy—most major appliance dealers offer free delivery or installation on new appliances. Even if they don’t, it’s worth forking over a few extra bucks to ensure your new dryer is installed correctly.
The lint filter is critical
It’s imperative that you never run your dryer without a lint filter, or with a lint filter that is clogged or damaged.
Clean out the lint regularly
Before and after each load of laundry, make sure to clean out the lint trap. Once every three months, you should clean the lint out of the vent pipe, as well. It’s a simple chore than can go a long way toward dryer safety long after Fire Prevention Month in Village has passed.
Steer clear of rubber, foam or plastic
It’s always a good idea to let any objects with rubber, foam or plastic air dry. The rubber in tennis shoes or bath mats could potentially ignite when they’re put through the extended heat of a dryer.
Read the instructions
Whether it’s the warning instructions in the informational booklet that accompanies your dryer or the care tag you can find on almost every new piece of clothing, it’s always a good idea to read the instructions before you dive in head first.
Clothes taking longer than normal to clean?
If you notice that your dryer isn’t functioning as efficiently as it used to, it’s worth calling in a professional to do a thorough cleaning of your appliance. This can significantly prolong the life of your dryer.
Put it in the hands of a professional
If it’s been a while since you had your dryer vent cleaned, it might be time to maximize your dryer safety during Fire Prevention Month in Village by scheduling an appointment with King’s Cleaning Services, Inc.
In addition to our sterling reputation for residential and commercial house cleaning and janitorial offerings, King’s Cleaning Services, Inc. is proud to provide specialized care. Need a deep carpet clean? Has mold infiltrated your home? Hoping to recover after severe water damage? Our friendly, highly-trained staff can handle it all.
When the job needs an expert eye, call in King’s Cleaning Services, Inc., the area’s most trusted cleaning expert.