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*their machine (not match)

Well now I'm going to be paranoid that mine has a secret second filter.

And it has a happy ending! 😆

I have a friend who had a house fire from this exact situation. Thankfully it wound up only cosmetic exterior damage, so scary!

A good habit to get into - any time you start using a new product - take a minute to look up the manual and read through the safety info. Also, if you buy a new product, register it with the manufacturer. This is a good way to find out about product safety issues and recalls.

I used to write manuals that nobody read. Sigh.

As someone who writes the manuals, these replies are especially ironic because I have lots of first-hand experience in the fact that even well-written, well-organized manuals are not usually read.

Also, you know, sometimes the appliances come with the house and the previous owners didn't leave the manuals behind.

A young adult moves into a place with a washer and dryer- what are the chances the manual is still there for them to read? 😂 Almost zero! And, manuals aren’t always clear! It’s time consuming to pour over one! I am a manual-reader, but I realize most folks aren’t!

Also some people really struggle with written directions in manuals. Like dyslexia is real.

You'd be surprised - I have found an increasing number of products DON'T have manuals anymore! Many now expect you to look online or go on YouTube...the Android FindMy official trackers I got were like that and frustrating. And if it gets discontinued or goes out of business, bye bye documentation!

if you show me a person who can muster the will to read the manual for the dishwasher they just spent two hours installing because the old one died and they have to get everything washed before dinner, I'll show you a god who walks among us

Replaced all mine with the new standards devices.

Common sense relies on shared experience, but we're not all the same person with the same experiences. We all have blind spots.

Ours reached the end of its lifetime about a month ago and notified us with a continual signal. Bought a new one!!

Very true! And a person doesn’t know what they don’t know.

you're being the person the thread is talking about

I assume somewhere in your life there's something you're neglecting to do. Everyone has something. You can judge or you can just look to keep raising the baseline.

Thanks CPSC! What are you thoughts on combined smoke/carbon monoxide detectors? Don’t those things do best in two separate locations? (Smoke up high/CO down low?)

Thanks for the reminder!

This is such a good reminder. Our old rental had one - only after we had an Incident where one would have been useful. Now I can't remember if we got one when we moved here and when we last checked it, if so. TY for this.

So.. you want me to go push a big red button?! Say no more.

In a comic book, this would be a delightfully quirky character trait. In the real world, it violates one of our most important tips which is don't do crime(s).

It's pretty funny, but also sad, how many commenters are judging while also assuming the article is about the front, easy-to-reach lint screen.

Great point. Kind of crazy to look down on someone for not automatically knowing everything that we all may have learned over time, especially younger folks who may have grown up without a responsible involved parent to teach them - thank you for educating and working to keep EVERYONE safe!

I have one on each floor of my house and one in the basement because of you! And I check them a couple of times per year. (I do need to check my dryer exhaust vent, though.)

🫡

A little different, but I was well into my 40s before I learned that dishwashers and washing machines had filters. Certainly less catastrophic potential, but damn, WHO KNEW? (I know my parents didn't, obv)

It's almost like people don't know things they haven't been told before or something

This could be the librarian’s credo.

And then some other people... well. My uncle once siphoned gas from a car using a vacuum cleaner. Cliches aside, I genuinely don't understand how he didn't die. There was literally liquid gasoline sloshing around in the bottom of the canister.

And why we need you and the FTC and the FDA etc.

It's not a bad idea. Unfortunately the US is at present decades into a strong push to defund and reduce public education at all levels. Long after art, music and civics classes have been cut and even gym classes start being eyed, trying to get the powers that be to add something new is a hard sell.

overheard

And lint trap cleaning is particularly easy to miss if you've never had a reason to read the manual, it's not completely obvious (ours is, Mom's isn't), and you go from living where someone else knew and was drying the particularly lint-prone loads to not having someone else quietly clean it out.

You guys are the best. Thank you!

Seeing what some tenants do to apartments just not knowing any better, there should be an industry-standard handout. (People who never use the kitchen or bathroom exhaust fans and grow bumper crops of mold, or overflow the toilet several times a month, or pull out smoke detector batteries...)

I just want to say I really appreciate this attitude!

you know, you'd think everyone would be aware of that XKCD by now... 😁

A friend’s house burned down because of this. They got out in time but it happened fast. Flames shooting out of the lint holder area.

The labels that tell me these things. I was able to read them when I was three. 99 percent of the time there is absolutely no excuse for intentional stupidity.

This kinda happened to me when I went to college- I knew how to clean the filter on our dryer at home, but the stackable in my apartment has it in the back inside of the drum and I never found it. By the time I found it, that thing was FULL. After that I cleaned it every time!

Says a guy who can't even spell "atheist" right lol...shut da fuck up

The whole point of this is that a lot of things that we consider common sense are things that we were taught at a young age or had reinforced for us and not everyone had those same lessons. Not everything comes with a manual, not everyone can read or retain information from manuals as well, etc.

On vacation once the dryer had TWO lint traps, a regular one and a hidden one inside the dryer. From how quickly the maintenance guy opened it up and emptied it, I suspect we weren't the first to not think there would be a second secret lint trap

Momma here to say I post regular reminders about replacing batteries in alarms, the power of vinegar + baking soda, and how to clear a drain without chemicals. I’m a real #MinnesotaDad

My old kitchen grater came with instructions to wash it with benzene to degrease it. No mention that should be done outdoors or away from open flame.