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Neglecting to clean your chimney can lead to serious safety hazards. A primary risk is the buildup of creosote, a highly flammable substance that can ignite and cause a dangerous chimney fire. This buildup can also create blockages in the flue, resulting in poor venting of smoke, soot, and toxic gases like carbon monoxide, which can then enter your home and create dangerously poor indoor air quality. Additionally, creosote is acidic and can damage the chimney's mortar and metal components over time, potentially allowing smoke to leak into your house. To prevent these issues, it is essential to schedule an annual chimney cleaning with a professional.

Yes, mineral spirits are flammable and may spontaneously combust at temperatures of 200 degrees F or more. Storing them in well-ventilated spaces and disposing of them the proper way are the best ways to prevent mineral spirits or anything contaminated with them, like towels and rags, from going up in smoke.

After a house fire, you should not reenter your home unless the fire crew has told you it’s safe to do so. In the longer term, you should not attempt to make repairs to the house on your own. Professional crews are trained to clean up after a fire (including smoke and soot damage), dry out any water damage from the firefighter crews, and make the necessary structural, plumbing, and electrical repairs—and this is all likely covered by insurance.

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.