gas dryers and flammability

bethievt · 07-13-2008, 01:08 PM

I got some gasoline spilled on me today--long story--and I got on some of my clothes. I washed them in the sink with several rinses before putting them in the washing machine. Before putting them in my gas dryer I noticed a warning never to put anything that has had gasoline on it in there-- even after washing--because it might lead to explosion or death! I didn't put the clothes in, but can this be true? can I never put those things in the dryer again? Have I now contaminated my washer? ARGGH!!

3bm103 · 07-13-2008, 01:10 PM

I don't know this for a fact, but I believe it's one of those warnings put on to protect themselves from people who would put a gasoline soaked cloth in a gas dryer. I'm sure it's fine. Because if it wasn't, we would have blown ourselves up by now.

BCEagle91 · 07-13-2008, 01:14 PM

You could try it in a laundromat if you're that worried about it.

violadad · 07-13-2008, 02:11 PM

I agree it's a protective caveat to guard against the idiot putting gas soaked clothes in a dryer, be it electric or gas. You know the type... one who checks for fuel leaks with a lit match or lighter.

If it ever happens again, I recommend a two stage washing. Air dry the garment outside first to allow the majority of the spilled gas to evaporate. Don't throw them gas soaked in a corner of the garage or cellar to deal with later... you're inviting the chance of spontaneous combustion. Wash once with Lestoil or a similar product, and again in your standard detergent. At this point, it would go in my dryer.

The flammability factor is decreased and eventually eliminated by evaoporation, this is why I recommend air drying prior to washing.

If this still bothers you, safety wise, air dry outside after the first wash, then wash again regularly. It's ok. The line dry provides an added measure of safety, as it allows any residual gas not thoroughly eliminated by the first washing to evaporate. The clothes are no more flammable after the second wash than they were prior to the spill.

If you are fortunate enough to have access to a firefighter, ask them for a few ounces of the industrial concentrate the departments use for washing down gas/oil spills on highways. A shot of this in your wash water will do the trick. Your local mechanic may also have it. I was given a gallon by my father (professional firefighter many years ago) and it's invaluable for these instances.

bethievt · 07-13-2008, 02:32 PM

Oh, thanks, guys. I'm especially happy to know about the evaporation, violadad. I swear there is also a warning about putting in anything that has ever had any oil on it--even cooking oil--even after washing. Probably sponsored by some paper towel company.

kelsmom · 07-13-2008, 03:01 PM

Yes, there is a cooking oil warning. I have often wondered about that one!

zoosermom · 07-13-2008, 04:05 PM

I think you should err on the side of caution. I had a gas dryer fire due to lint and I shudder to think what might have happened if there had been something flammable in there. It's particularly important to be cautious if you have a horizontal or curved lint trap.

bethievt · 07-13-2008, 07:46 PM

zoosermom

Do you clean your lint trap constantly and the lint was somewhere else? Hiding? I wish they would say the warnings out loud before the products are purchased!

kelsmom · 07-13-2008, 07:54 PM

My cousin is a fire inspector. He says dryer fires often start in the venting. That also needs to be cleaned.

zoosermom · 07-13-2008, 07:58 PM

Bethie, I had a dryer with the lint trap in front, rather than the top. It curved under the dryer compartment and lint collected in there. we cleaned it out diligently and even vaccuumed it often, but after the fire (the dryer was less than 3 months old), the repairman told me that it is incredibly common in dryers that have curved lint tracks. I did some research after and found out how common these fires are. I may be paranoid (probably am), but after seeing how fast and hot those fires can burn, I take no chances ever and treat my dryer like a potentially dangerous weapon.

BCEagle91 · 07-13-2008, 07:59 PM

Dryer installations in the 1970s could use vinyl coiled tubes to evacuate hot air to the outside and I think that it was determined that these weren't safe. In my area, code specified either a metal pipe or flexible aluminum tubing and we changed ours several years ago. I think that the tubing or piping should be blown out once every couple of years

violadad · 07-13-2008, 08:02 PM

Ideally, the vent hose (preferably solid duct work and not flexible duct or worse yet plastic duct) should be removed and cleaned of lint on a yearly basis. This would include any and all elbows. The longer the duct run, the greater the need for more frequent cleaning. Additionally, while the machine is out, the rear and (lower) front panels should be removed and the insides cleaned of debris (matches, lighters, baseball cards, pens, motel keys, nails, screws, illicit drugs and fifty dollar bills; it's amazing what falls out of yours or your kids' pockets

)

On most electrics, it's a fairly simple task. For gas units, I'd leave it for the pros.

If you do have flexible plastic duct, replace it. It's a hazard, and a code violation in just about everywhere.

crossposted with BCEagle91

zoosermom · 07-13-2008, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Ideally, the vent hose (preferably solid duct work and not flexible duct or worse yet plastic duct) should be removed and cleaned of lint on a yearly basis

we've always done ours at least every month or so. Still had a fire.

3bm103 · 07-13-2008, 08:46 PM

Weird. I've owned a dryer for 30 years. (not the same one) I do clean the lint trap but don't do anything else. I've never had a fire.

bethievt · 07-13-2008, 08:55 PM

Boy, this concerns me. I never run the dryer when we're leaving the house, but I never knew we had to stay on top of so much lint removal. Most Europeans don't even own these things. Maybe that's a good idea.