Suzanne in ABQ Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 I stopped using fabric softener sheets a couple months ago. I immediately noticed a dramatically reduced amount of lint in the filter. I'd estimate that my dryer lint is about 1/5th what it was when I was using the dryer sheets. Has anyone else ever noticed this? What is the explanation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 I had a repairman once explain to me that the chemicals in the dryer sheet will cling to the screen - and builds up. the result is reduced airflow. you have to clean your screen regularly - under running water with a scrubby - if you use dryer sheets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne in ABQ Posted October 6, 2015 Author Share Posted October 6, 2015 I had a repairman once explain to me that the chemicals in the dryer sheet will cling to the screen - and builds up. the result is reduced airflow. you have to clean your screen regularly - under running water with a scrubby - if you use dryer sheets. Thanks for responding, gardenmom5. I was aware of the filter getting coated with the fabric softener, but that's a different phenomenon than what I'm talking about here. This is a drastic reduction in lint. Before, with fabric softener, the lint filter would be complete caked after 1 or 2 loads of laundry. 2 loads would leave a thick (1/4 inch) blanket of lint on the filter. Now, I can go 4 or 5 loads before it even leaves a thin layer. I didn't wash the filter. All I did was stop using the dryer sheets. I might do a few loads with the dryer sheets to see if the lint production increases again. ETA: I'm beginning to see that a clogged filter would trap more lint than a clear one. But, that would mean that a clean filter is letting tons of lint through to get caught up in the vent hose. I don't like that thought either. What's the point of a lint filter that doesn't trap lint? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 The sheets are sticky. It clogs your screen and vents much faster. Clogged vents and screens are less efficient. Less of the long gets sucked out. Also, I would guess some of the lint comes from the disposable cloth. If I threw a baby wipe or paper towel in the dryer, I think that I would end up with more lint. That is what a dryer sheet is, more or less. As an adult, I stopped using dryer sheets after one box when I was just setting up housekeeping (I have sensitive skin, really don't like the smell of them either) and have never wanted for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne in ABQ Posted October 6, 2015 Author Share Posted October 6, 2015 The sheets are sticky. It clogs your screen and vents much faster. Clogged vents and screens are less efficient. Less of the long gets sucked out. Also, I would guess some of the lint comes from the disposable cloth. If I threw a baby wipe or paper towel in the dryer, I think that I would end up with more lint. That is what a dryer sheet is, more or less. As an adult, I stopped using dryer sheets after one box when I was just setting up housekeeping (I have sensitive skin, really don't like the smell of them either) and have never wanted for them. So, you're surmising that there's not actually less lint, but that the lint is getting sucked through the filter and blown out the vent? I hadn't thought of that. Hmmmm. I'm not sure I like the thought of all that lint getting hung up in the dryer vent hose. I wouldn't compare a dryer sheet to a paper towel, but it is much like a baby wipe. In any case, the amount of lint piled up on my filter was way more than what could have come from a dryer sheet. Thanks for helping me puzzle this out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 You need to vacuum out the dryer vent hose regularly. The lint screen only catches so much lint. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 I don't use dryer sheets but have noticed a significant increase in dryer lint when we got rid of our front loader and replaced it with a top loader. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 I have heard that dryer sheets are abrasive to clothes but I have no idea if it is true or not. Another thought would be...I wonder if the action of the dryer sheet making the fibers fluffier, actually allows them to be broken/torn/sucked off the clothes faster? Without the dryer sheet the fibers stay stuck tighter to the clothing, making them less likely to get pulled free. It may have something to do with the laundry having more static too. The static may keep the fibers tighter to the garment instead of showing up in the lint trap. They could be going down the drain in the rinse water the next time you wash the clothes, instead of floating free in the air in the dryer and then getting sucked into the trap. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butter Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 I don't use dryer sheets. When I quit I didn't notice any change in the amount of lint. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaraby Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 I don't use dryer sheets (unscented) except in the winter to combat static. All the rest of my laundry routine remains the same. There is no difference in lint between non-dryer sheet and dryer sheet loads ime. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne in ABQ Posted October 6, 2015 Author Share Posted October 6, 2015 I have heard that dryer sheets are abrasive to clothes but I have no idea if it is true or not. Another thought would be...I wonder if the action of the dryer sheet making the fibers fluffier, actually allows them to be broken/torn/sucked off the clothes faster? Without the dryer sheet the fibers stay stuck tighter to the clothing, making them less likely to get pulled free. It may have something to do with the laundry having more static too. The static may keep the fibers tighter to the garment instead of showing up in the lint trap. They could be going down the drain in the rinse water the next time you wash the clothes, instead of floating free in the air in the dryer and then getting sucked into the trap. This makes sense to me -- fluffy fibers getting rubbed off. Interesting. We don't have much static, as most of our clothes are all cotton, so I don't think that's it. Thanks for helping me think this out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne in ABQ Posted October 6, 2015 Author Share Posted October 6, 2015 You need to vacuum out the dryer vent hose regularly. The lint screen only catches so much lint. I've seen attachments that dig down in the lint trap, but not a way to vacuum out the hose itself. Do you do it from outside? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 Yes, I've never vacuumed the hose, but I have fire paranoia. Please tell me how to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 We disconnect the dryer where it attaches to the vent in the wall. Clean out as well as possible -- if there's a lot you can scoop it out and then use a vacuum (be careful -- our vent pipe thingie is sharp!). And DH goes outside where the vent comes out and cleans it out from that side, too. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 Thanks for responding, gardenmom5. I was aware of the filter getting coated with the fabric softener, but that's a different phenomenon than what I'm talking about here. This is a drastic reduction in lint. Before, with fabric softener, the lint filter would be complete caked after 1 or 2 loads of laundry. 2 loads would leave a thick (1/4 inch) blanket of lint on the filter. Now, I can go 4 or 5 loads before it even leaves a thin layer. I didn't wash the filter. All I did was stop using the dryer sheets. I might do a few loads with the dryer sheets to see if the lint production increases again. ETA: I'm beginning to see that a clogged filter would trap more lint than a clear one. But, that would mean that a clean filter is letting tons of lint through to get caught up in the vent hose. I don't like that thought either. What's the point of a lint filter that doesn't trap lint? it's also a reduction in airflow. the chemicals that stick to the dryer screen - can also be abrasive to the fibers in the clothing causing them to stick to the sticky chemicals and then get stuck on the dryer screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 We disconnect the dryer where it attaches to the vent in the wall. Clean out as well as possible -- if there's a lot you can scoop it out and then use a vacuum (be careful -- our vent pipe thingie is sharp!). And DH goes outside where the vent comes out and cleans it out from that side, too. Yep. This is what I do. Get at it from both ends. We use the hose handle on our vacuum. On the inside you do need to disconnect the dryer from the wall. It's a seasonal cleaning thing. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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