Knowing what not to put in the dryer comes down to two groups: anything stained with oil, gasoline or solvents, and anything made of foam, rubber or plastic, such as a rubber-backed bath rug. Those items get air-dried, and the dryer is kept for fabrics whose care labels allow tumble drying.
Mistakes at a glance
| Habit | What it leads to | Do this instead |
|---|---|---|
| Drying rags or clothes that touched cooking oil, gasoline, paint thinner or alcohol | A fire risk, even after the items have been washed | Keep them out of the dryer and let them air-dry away from heat |
| Drying a rubber-backed bath rug or mat | Rubber breaking down from heat, and a fire risk | Hang it to dry |
| Drying foam pillows, foam-padded items or plastic | Melting or overheating material | Air-dry, and check the care label |
| Using dryer sheets with flame-resistant clothing | Softener coating that can reduce the fabric's flame resistance | Skip dryer sheets for children's sleepwear and other flame-resistant items |
| Ignoring "Do not tumble dry" on the care label | Shrinking, melting trims or a damaged item | Follow the care label every time |
| Starting a load and leaving the house, or going to bed | No one there if something goes wrong | Run the dryer only when someone is home and awake |
The ones that matter most
Anything that has touched a flammable substance
Washing doesn't always remove oils and solvents from fabric. NFPA safety tips, published by the U.S. Department of Energy, say never to dry items that have come in contact with flammable substances such as cooking oil, gasoline, paint thinner or alcohol. That covers kitchen towels used to wipe up oil, shop rags, and work clothes soaked with fuel or solvents. Heat in the drum is exactly what those residues shouldn't meet.
Foam, rubber and plastic
The U.S. Fire Administration's report on clothes dryer fires gives a direct rule: do not dry anything containing foam, rubber or plastic, and it names bathroom rugs as the example. Heat can break down rubber backing over time, leaving crumbs in the lint screen or drum. Foam pillows, foam-padded bras and some baby items fall into the same group. If the label says air-dry or "Do not tumble dry," hang it.
Dryer sheets on flame-resistant fabrics
Whirlpool notes that dryer sheets can affect the self-extinguishing ability of flame-resistant clothes. Children's sleepwear and some workwear are made this way. Dry them without sheets, following the care label.
Running the dryer unattended
The USFA report and the NFPA tips both say not to leave a dryer running when you leave home or go to bed. The USFA report found that failure to clean was the leading factor in residential dryer fires. Lint habits are covered in dryer lint and vent habits that raise fire risk.
If you see smoke or flames from a dryer: get everyone out and call 911 from outside. Don't open the door to check.
Signs it's already caused a problem
- A hot rubber, plastic or chemical smell during or after a cycle
- Melted residue, crumbs of rubber or sticky spots inside the drum
- Scorch marks on clothes or on the lint screen
- The dryer shuts off partway through a cycle and won't restart, which can mean a safety part has tripped
- The cabinet or door feels much hotter than usual
If the dryer has stopped heating or shuts off early after drying something it shouldn't have, have it checked before using it again. Technicians from ProFix San Antonio cover the Medical Center area along with the rest of Bexar County.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Energy (NFPA): Dryer and Washing Machine Safety Tips
- U.S. Fire Administration: Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings
- Whirlpool: What Do Dryer Sheets Do?
Habit to keep: If it's rubber, foam, plastic or stained with oil or fuel, it gets air-dried.
A dryer that smells hot or shuts off after a load like this should be checked before its next run; call ProFix San Antonio at (210) 761-6006.