Longer Life for Your Dryer

This is a letter from a friend... it has some great advice that you may find helpful:

"I had a wonderful morning, the heating unit went out on my dryer! Why does everything seem to fall apart this time of year! ??

The guy that fixes things went in to the dryer pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. We always clean the lint from the filter after every load of clothes. He told us that he wanted to show us something. He took the filter over to the sink, ran hot water over it. Now, the lint filter is made of a mesh material - I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like. WELL......the hot water just sat on top of the mesh!!! It didn't go through it at all !!

He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film, but it's there. This is also what causes dryer units to catch fire - - - potentially burn your house down with it! He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (& to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out & wash it with hot soapy water & an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months. He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long!

How about that? Learn something new everyday! I certainly didn't know dryer sheets would do that. So, I thought I'd share!
NOTE: I went to my dryer & tested my screen by running water on it. The water ran through a little bit but mostly collected all the water in the mesh screen. I washed it with warm soapy water & a nylon brush & I had it done in 30 seconds. Then when I rinsed it the water ran right thru the screen! There wasn't any puddle of water at all! That repairman knew what he was talking about!"

I've read about this before, tested my screen and the water ran through quite well. I had forgotten about it, so now that's another thing on my "To Do List"... to check it out again and clean it if needed.

Another friend said that she never uses these sheets when drying her towels as it makes them less absorbant when later used.