I noticed my clothes dryer gets super hot and gives off a burnt smell. Does that mean it's time to buy a new one?
Not necessarily—it just may be time to clean your dryer vent. Lint balls are extremely flammable. Have you seen the Farmers Insurance commercial on dryer fires? The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that lint-filled dryer vents cause over 15,000 fires per year. Clothes dryer fires also account for approximately 20 fatalities, 400 injuries, and over $100 million in property damage annually. The leading cause of these clothes dryer fires is a "failure to clean" them. If you have an electric clothes dryer, the chance of fire is 250% greater than if you have a gas dryer.
The good news is that these fires are totally preventable. Learn how to prevent clothes dryer fires in your home.
What can I do to prevent my child's exposure to lead?
Take these steps to reduce your child’s exposure to lead in your home/environment:
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Keep your child away from painting and repair work that disturbs paint, and make sure no paint chips or dust remain in the work area before your child enters.
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Pay attention to peeling paint: report it to your landlord if you’re a tenant so that repairs will get made (and call code enforcement or legal aid if there’s no response); and repair it safely if you’re a homeowner.
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Wash your child’s hands, toys, bottles, pacifiers, and any other items your child often puts in his or her mouth.
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Regularly clean floors, windowsills, and dusty places with wet mops or wet cloths to pick up any dust.
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Use only cold tap water for making baby formula, drinking and cooking. Let the water run for a few minutes first.
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Avoid using products from other countries such as: health remedies, eye cosmetics (i.e., kohl, kajal, surma), candies, spices, snack foods, clay pots and dishes, painted toys, and children’s jewelry. These items may contain high levels of lead.
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Remove shoes before entering your home.
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Any household member who does construction work or other work that may involve lead should remove work clothes before entering; wash them separately.
For more information regarding understanding your child's blood lead level, click here.
For more information regarding lead in toys, click here.
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