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Laundry Area SafetyRonald Porep, Republished from SafetyIssues.com Vol 2 Issue 16 March 2003 |
Volume 4 Issue 43June 2005 |
| Your laundry room might not seem a dangerous place but, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission it is. Each year in the United States, about 15,500 fires start in laundry rooms, causing about $84 million in damage. | |
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The cause: the clothes dryer. Its neighbor, the washing machine, can be
unruly, too. It is responsible for about $150 million in water damage in
the United States and Canada because of bursting supply hoses. And shocks and trips in the laundry room are responsible for many trips to the hospital emergency room or the morgue. But you and your loved ones do not have to become laundry room statistics. Just follow these simple precautions. Dryer |
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Your clothes dryer looks safe enough but it can turn into a real killer if
you do not watch out. Whether electric or gas, dryers collect lint, which
is highly combustible. Lint buildup--on the inside of the exhaust pipe,
where the pipe connects at the back of the dryer and outside at the
vent--also reduces air flow and the drying efficiency of the appliance.
Preventing disaster though is easy. A simple check out and cleaning of your dryer can often make it safe to use. The first area to clean is the lint trap. It should be cleaned after every load. Peel lint from the screen and wipe the edges and the trap drawer with a damp cloth. A shop vacuum is handy for sucking out any lint stuck inside the trap drawer. Next, unplug the dryer. Check the back, where the exhaust pipe connects to the appliance. The pipe is held in place by a clip or a steel clamp that can be loosened by pliers or a screwdriver. After removing the pipe, reach inside the dryer opening to remove as much lint as possible. Again, use a damp cloth to wipe away lint. Clean the inside of the exhaust pipe, too. Reach in to wipe away any buildup. Replace the exhaust pipe if it is made of vinyl or foil. Building codes usually prohibit vinyl and foil exhaust pipes, which can ignite and cause fires. Instead, use flexible metal pipe, which includes snap-lock fittings, and comes in a variety of lengths. Flexible metal is more durable, too, so it won't puncture or rip. Don't allow dryer exhaust to vent inside your home or attic; dryer exhaust contains too much humid air and can cause problems with mold and mildew. Also, don't store flammable materials--paints, solvents, household cleaners and paper--near your dryer. Some liquids can emit vapors that can ignite. Further, clean the exterior vent which might entail using a step ladder because some dryers vent upward from ground-level floors. The cleaning process is similar to the interior, except you might need a screwdriver or scraper blade to hold the vent flap open. Wipe away as much lint buildup as possible. A shop vacuum can be used to suck out any excess lint. And, remove lint and visually inspect the exhaust pipe at least once a year, more often if you use your dryer twice weekly. Washing Machine Check the supply hoses to the washing machine. Look for cracked or frayed material on rubber supply hoses, which can burst. These rubber hoses should be replaced by hoses of braided steel. Braided steel supply hoses come in lengths of 4, 5 and 6 feet and cost $10 to $12 apiece. They install like garden hoses. However, you'll first have to turn off the water supply valves to the washer. Valves that are hard to turn can be closed with pliers--work carefully--and use a bucket to collect excess water. Hand-tighten the new braided steel hoses, turn the water back on and check for leaks. In addition to braided steel hoses, automatic flood stopping units are available. The units, which contain two solenoid valves that connect between the shutoff valves and the hoses, run about $70. The valves are connected to a sensor, mounted beneath the hoses. When the sensor detects a leak, it engages the solenoid valves, which stop water flow at the control valve. Installation is simple: a screwdriver and pliers are about the only necessary tools. General Laundry Safety Wherever you install your washer and dryer - whether it's in the basement or another room - make sure you install a smoke alarm as well. Like all major appliances, your washer and dryer should be properly grounded. Ensure you have the proper sized fuse or breaker switch installed. Washing means water, of course, and if not already in place, you should install an outlet with a ground fault circuit interrupter. If your laundry room shares the basement with the furnace, avoid hanging clothes, or storing laundry products, such as bleach near the furnace where they can create fire. Water, electrical appliances, tight spaces are all present dangers to children, so make the laundry room off limits as a play area. Also, the iron should also be kept out of reach of children - young tots can pull on the cord and pull a heavy iron down on themselves causing injury. When finished ironing, unplug the iron, and never leave a hot iron unattended. And, watch your step while carrying laundry, especially if you have to take the stairs. It's better to take two small loads so you can see where you're going over the top of the laundry basket and avoid tripping. It's also not a good idea to locate the laundry hamper or basket on the stairs. Conclusion Just a few precautions can prevent you and your loved ones from getting washed away in a laundry disaster. |
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