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Call 911 immediately. If you have a fire extinguisher or fire blanket near the laundry room, you can attempt to extinguish the fire, but don’t open or touch the dryer. If you can’t put the fire out, evacuate yourself, your family, and your pets from the house, closing the laundry room door behind you. Turn off the electricity to your home via the outside fuse box, then wait for the fire department. After a dryer fire, have your home’s electrical system inspected to make sure there isn’t any damage.

Using a leaf blower to clean your dryer vent isn't a good idea. Theoretically, the leaf blower should push the lint and debris toward the exterior vent opening, helping it exit. That's usually not what happens, though. 

Instead, the lint can get stuck further in the vent, creating a blockage and making the problem worse. You need a scrubbing tool, such as the rotating brush head on a dryer cleaning kit, to push the lint out of the ductwork.

Failing to open your flue can lead to serious health hazards if you start a fire because the smoke will back up into your home. Breathing fire smoke, even in relatively small quantities, is bad for human lungs, and smoke can also irritate your nasal passages and eyes. Furthermore, smoke can cause damage to your interior fixtures and furnishings, at the very least leaving an unpleasant smoky smell for a long time. In short: If your flue isn’t open (or you’re not sure if it is or not), don’t start a fire to find out!

Depending on how much you use it, your dryer should be disinfected about every six to 12 months, especially if you see frequent buildup of lint or evidence of stains from fabric bleeding or ink. 

Other signs you should sanitize your dryer more often are overheating, improper drying, excessive humidity, or if you notice a strange odor when it’s running.