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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Tumble drier filter - Is it only me that didn’t know...

34 replies

haggisaggis · 07/02/2019 15:12

So there was a burning smell coming from the drier and it would cut out after about 30 mins. I’d cleaned the filter at the front even going so far so force my hand in the filter slot where more fluff had accumulated. (Drier is at least 8 years old). Still burning smell and still cutting out. I couldn’t get hold of a repair guy so did some googling and apparently you should vacuum out the fluff from inside the machine occasionally! Well I couldn’t get the back off to do this but instead disconnected the vent hose from the back and stuck my hand in. The whole inside of the drier was a mass of fluff! I pulled out heaps of it then stuck the vacuum cleaner nozzle and got out as much as I could. No more smell and no more cutting out. But when I think of all that flammable fluff inside the drier...

OP posts:
NameyMcNameChange1 · 07/02/2019 15:14

😮 I clean the filter after every use. I’m terrified of my tumble drier burning my house down.

twilightcafe · 07/02/2019 15:14

Yes, but thank you for the reminder. I will hoover mine tonight.

zod1ac19 · 07/02/2019 15:16

Nope I didn’t know that Shock

I do clean the front one out every use though so hopefully there is not too much inside the dryer?!?

Original poster
haggisaggis · 07/02/2019 15:21

See I clean my filter out all the time too so thought it would be fine. Machine is relatively old though so may not be an issue with anyone else but if you can get the machine out and access the back it might be worth doing.

OP posts:
beefive · 07/02/2019 15:42

That is very interesting! I was wondering about this the other day but I was reading an article about American dryers that seem to go through the house to the outside, so I wasn't sure if it applied to uk versions!

Where do I look for this fluffage? Obviously I clean out the fluff filter but there must be more in there somewhere? Also my drying time has increased lately so could be connected.

NameyMcNameChange1 · 07/02/2019 15:49

Oh! There’s a bit to clean other than the filter?! Sorry, I misunderstood. I thought you hadn’t been cleaning the filter. I’m off with my hoover now to see what I can find.

BudgieBalls · 07/02/2019 16:37

I had the same problem on my beko dryer. Found out I'm supposed to take it out and run water through it to get the fluff out, also use a cotton bud to get the difficult bits. No more cutting out 👍

FrogFairy · 07/02/2019 16:39

My tumble dryer is over 20 years old and I had no clue there was a need to remove fluff from the back. I assume you clean inside the hole where the vent hose is attached?

Supergrassyknoll · 07/02/2019 16:44

Does anyone know how this applies to a dual washer drier?

Bryjam · 07/02/2019 16:46

Presume this is a vented dryer?

beefive · 07/02/2019 17:37

Ah yes, I have a condenser dryer. Wonder if it works for them?

TBDO · 07/02/2019 17:59

My dryer has a lint filter which I clear after every load. These also a larger filter that I clean out with water every so often too.

Is there somewhere else I should be cleaning fluff from too?!

Imnotaslimjim · 08/02/2019 10:00

Always did this with vented dryers. Condenser dryers have a second filter that needs cleaning every 3-6 months. Mines at the front and just pops out to be rinsed under the tap to clear the fluff out of the fins.

HumpHumpWhale · 08/02/2019 10:04

My condenser dryer's second filter is meant to be cleaned every 5 to 6 uses, not 3 to 6 months. Obvs I assume they vary, but might be worth reading your manual!

MsMightyTitanAndHerTroubadours · 08/02/2019 10:17

yes, we had to have one fixed and the guy took it apart, it was FLUFFMAGEDDON over everything inside the casing,...talk about fire hazard

I am meticulous about emptying the front fluff filter too

Washer and dryer are banished to the shed across the yard though so they just have themselves to incinerate if the worst happens. I do fear for the freezer and the spare fridge that have to share the space.

Whathappenedtothelego · 08/02/2019 10:25

We have a condenser one, and it will show a red light both for cleaning the front fluff filter and the heat exchanger, (which needs to be rinsed under the tap). If you don't clean the heat exchanger when it asks you, it will only blow cold air until you do.

RogueV · 08/02/2019 10:27

The second zig zag metal filter needs cleaning out regularly.
Thanks for the reminder op

LikeACowsOpinion · 08/02/2019 10:43

I have a condenser dryer and cleaned mine out after smelling burning a few weeks ago.
The amount of FLUFF Shock
There was also a few coins in the condenser, I was so shocked - I clean the door filter after every use and double check pockets.
God knows what it would be like if I didn't,

kirkandpetal · 08/02/2019 10:48

I have a condenser drier and like others am meticulous emptying the fluff catcher in the rim (DH doesn't and it drives me nuts).

Every so often I take the bigger filter thing (located bottom left on the front of the machine) out and give it a good clean. The fluff here is wet so it's a bit tricky but an old tooth brush and paper towels do the job.

I love my TD and would be devastated if it broke. I also have the catching on fire fear so treat it respectfully!!

Original poster
haggisaggis · 08/02/2019 10:54

Yes I have a vented dryer. I need to pull it out and the hose at the back unclips so I can get my hand in to pull the fluff out and stick the vacuum nozzle in. Ideally I would take the back off but can't work out how to do that. I was totally shocked at the amount of fluff. Would have filled several cushions! (we have also had mice in our utility and was a bit scared I might find a few bedded down there)

OP posts:
EhlanaOfElenia · 08/02/2019 10:57

Crap.... I know this but I haven't done it in ages....

cloudtree · 08/02/2019 10:57

If anyone has a wood or multifuel burner, all that drier lint makes great firelighters stuffed into an old toilet roll.

grannycake · 08/02/2019 10:59

We were given our condenser dryer last year and I had no idea. Have always emptied water and cleaned filter in machine but never the condenser

Have just done so and it was gross! Apparently should be done every 50 uses - little sign inside condenser unit. Every days a school day on MN.
I only use once a week max so I'm safe for 12 months

WatchingFromTheWings · 08/02/2019 11:03

We have a condenser drier. Every so often husband literally dismantles it to remove all the fluff! It's surprising where it collects!

Bryjam · 08/02/2019 11:07

Every so often I take the bigger filter thing (located bottom left on the front of the machine) out and give it a good clean. The fluff here is wet so it's a bit tricky but an old tooth brush and paper towels do the job.

I just hose mine down with the shower head, it's fast enough to push the fluff right through and out the other end.

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