Putting This in Your Dryer Is a Major Fire Risk

Tossing a kitchen towel into the dryer after washing it may seem harmless. But if that towel has been used to clean up cooking oil or grease, hitting the start button could pose a serious fire risk. Here’s what you need to know.

Why Oily Fabrics and Dryers Don’t Mix

Oil doesn’t dissolve in water, so washing alone doesn’t necessarily remove every trace of it from fabric. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), cloth towels heavily soiled with vegetable oil can retain it even after going through a normal wash cycle. When those towels are exposed to heat in the dryer — or left piled together while they’re still warm — they can begin to smoke and potentially ignite.

Kitchen towels used to drain fried foods or wipe up larger oil spills can be particularly problematic, as can rags used with certain oils for refinishing furniture. But it’s not just oil-saturated rags that can be an issue. Appliance expert Amanda Abraham advises against putting anything that has had oil on it — such as a shirt splattered with grease — in the dryer because “no washer can completely remove oil saturation,” she told The Spruce. In addition to the fire risk, the heat will set the stain and you won’t be able to get rid of it. So what should you do instead? 

How To Treat Oil and Grease Stains

Start by blotting up as much oil as you can without rubbing it further into the fabric. Check the care label, then pretreat the spot with clear dish soap or a stain remover before washing using an enzyme-based liquid detergent. Then air-dry the item. 

For rags or towels that are heavily soiled with grease or oil, there’s more to worry about than a lingering stain. Submerge these rags in hot water, add a degreasing agent, and soak overnight before wringing them out and washing them with a heavy-duty detergent. Then, rather than throwing the rags in the dryer, air-dry them in a well-ventilated area. The same goes for items exposed to other flammable substances such as gasoline, paint thinner, or acetone. 

There are certain items that you may not be able to wash if they get oil on them, simply because they’re too large for a standard washer or dryer — think oversized rugs, pillows, pet beds, and comforters. Depending on the care instructions, you may be better off hand-washing the item in a bathtub, using a large-capacity machine at a laundromat, or taking it to a professional cleaner to get oil stains out. House Digest also suggests spot-cleaning items that don’t require a full wash.

How To Get Rid of Oil-Soaked Rags

Oily rags you’re prepared to throw out shouldn’t just be tossed in the trash. Instead, according to This Old House, you should soak them in water, wring them out, and leave them outside in a single layer to dry. Only then should you throw them away — in an outdoor trash can, just to be safe.

_{Featured Image Credit: © detry26/stock.adobe.com}