APRIL 17, 2008 - As we start to enjoy our beautiful Michigan warm weather we begin the annual ritual of "Spring Cleaning." While consumers may wash the windows, clean the gutters, or clean up the yard, they often forget one of the causes of home fires - the clothes dryer.

State Fire Marshal Andrew W. Neumann encourages citizens to pay particular attention to lint build-up in clothes dryer vents and in the exhaust ducts.

"Lint build-up can block the flow of air, causing excessive heat which can result in fires. Failure to clean is the leading contributing factor for clothes dryer fires in homes," said Neumann. "This is one chore you definitely want to add to your spring cleaning list."

Michigan Fire Departments reported 160 fires involving clothes dryers at a cost of $1.7 million in 2006. These fires resulted in serious injuries to 4 Michigan citizens, 3 Firefighters and 2 deaths. The U.S. Fire Administration's most recent study reports residential clothes dryer fires were associated with 12,700 fires nationally, resulting in 15 deaths and 300 injuries annually.

Neumann said that new home construction trends are currently placing clothes dryers and washing machines in more hazardous locations such as bedrooms, second-floor hallways, bathrooms, and kitchens rather than by outside walls where they are safer.

To help prevent fires from occurring: 

• Clean the lint screen/filter before or after drying each load of clothes. If clothing is still damp at the end of a typical drying cycle or drying requires longer times than normal, this may be a sign that the lint screen or the exhaust duct is blocked. 
• Clean the dryer vent and exhaust duct periodically. Check the outside dryer vent while the dryer is operating to make sure exhaust air is escaping. If it is not, the vent or the exhaust duct may be blocked. To remove a blockage in the exhaust path, it may be necessary to disconnect the exhaust duct from the dryer. Remember to reconnect the ducting to the dryer and outside vent before using the dryer again. 
• Clean behind the dryer, where lint can build up. Have a qualified service person clean the interior of the dryer chassis periodically to minimize the amount of lint accumulation. Keep the area around the dryer clean and free of clutter. 
• Replace plastic or foil, accordion-type ducting material with rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct. Most manufacturers specify the use of a rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct, which provides maximum airflow. The flexible plastic or foil type duct can more easily trap lint and is more susceptible to kinks or crushing, which can greatly reduce the airflow. 
• Take special care when drying clothes that have been soiled with volatile chemicals such as gasoline, cooking oils, cleaning agents, or finishing oils and stains. If possible, wash the clothing more than once to minimize the amount of volatile chemicals on the clothes and, preferably, hang the clothes to dry. If using a dryer, use the lowest heat setting and a drying cycle that has a cool-down period at the end of the cycle. To prevent clothes from igniting after drying, do not leave the dried clothes in the dryer or piled in a laundry basket.

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