Doing laundry is most likely part of your every day routine. But did you know how important taking care of your clothes dryer is to the safety of your home? With a few simple safety tips you can help prevent a clothes dryer fire.

Russellville City Fire Marshal Justin Green offered some simple tips that everyone can observe to help prevent unnecessary house fires caused by clothes dryers.

-Have your dryer installed and serviced by a professional.

-Do not use the dryer without a lint filter.

-Make sure you clean the lint filter before or after each load of laundry. Remove lint that has collected around the drum.

-Rigid or flexible metal venting material should be used to sustain proper air flow and drying time.

-Make sure the air exhaust vent pipe is not restricted and the outdoor vent flap will open when the dryer is operating. Once a year, or more often if you notice that it is taking longer than normal for your clothes to dry, clean lint out of the vent pipe or have a dryer lint removal service do it for you.

-Keep dryers in good working order. Gas dryers should be inspected by a qualified professional to make sure that the gas line and connection are intact and free of leaks.

-Make sure the right plug and outlet are used and that the machine is connected properly.

-Follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions and don’t overload your dryer.

-Turn the dryer off if you leave home or when you go to bed.

Green said that dryers should be properly grounded electrically and that the area around the dryer should be kept clear of items that can possibly burn such as boxes and cleaning supplies.

Clothes that have come in contact with flammable substances like gasoline, paint thinner, or other solvents, should be laid outside to dry before washing normally, according to Green.