Roasted our dryer!

[dementia412]

Last night I put a load in the dryer, and after a while I went to check on it and there was smoke in the basement. I turned it off, and the smoke cleared. I told my DH that the dryer might be dead, but we didn't worry too much right then. About ten minutes later I smelled something so we went down and after I took a few things out of the dryer we saw a nasty mess... something had melted in there and burned some clothes (including my new very soft sweater). Well we opened the door to let out the stink and figured that was it... then a few minutes later I started getting stinging eyes, so he went to check it, and there was a fire in the dryer! I got the kids out of the house while he put it out... we had to sit on the porch while the house cleared of nasty smoke (thank goodness it's so warm this winter). This morning I got a good look and that poor dryer is toast. What a great birthday presesnt! On the one hand I thought it was kind of funny, but it scared the out of me too. What if we had gone to sleep with the dryer on which we do all the time?!
One great thing was my kids' reactions. My son was still awake, and the alarm went off just before I went to get the kids. He was waking his sisters up telling them there was a fire when I came in. I was so proud of him! None of them freaked out, they just grabbed a blanket for outside and sat on the porch with me.

 

[sweet angel]

What was it that melted????

 

[wdw4us]

A few years ago we had a fire in our dryer too. Flames and everything. We had one fire extinguisher in the house and it was on the main floor our dryer is in the cellar. I went down to see the fire and then back up to get the extinguisher all the while praying that I could really work the darn thing. I did and put it out but what a mess.

I never run anything when I'm not home now.

denise

 

[ducklite]

Sorry this happened to you (or maybe not if you were hoping to get a new dryer soon...)

We have three fire extinguishers in our home. One is in the kitchen, on in the garage, and one mounted to the summer kitchen on the lanai in case the BBQ goes nuts. My w/d are between the kitchen and garage.

I've never had to use any of them, but it's reassuring knowing that they are close by.

Bravo to your kids for remaining calm as well!

Anne

 

[ADisneygirl]

It might have been from lint buildup. You need to not only clean the lint trap after each drying but actually take the trap out and use one of those Fuller long handled brushes that are flexible and get down in there to remove the lint. Also get it from the hose end too. I do it every other week.

Bravo to your kids for clear headed thinking in an emergency.

 

[HERSEY]

Glad you are all ok. Bravo to your son for not panicking. We had a similar thing happen with our dryer a few years ago. My cat let me know there was fire in the dryer. I love that cat

 

[crazymomof4]

When I was little a fire gutted the house of a neighbor who had left the house with the dryer running.
Everytime I'm tempted to run the dryer and leave or go to bed I remember that fire.

Don't know how true it is but I read that if you use dryer sheets you should wash your mesh filter from your dryer with soap and water every other week to remove the oily film left by the fabric softener.

 

[Lanshark]

When I first read the title I thought you had put a roast in the dryer