We are all taught that a clean-looking dryer lint filter is a safe filter. Many of us remove the lint and put the filter back thinking that is all we have to do. However, after watching this video, you will learn that simply removing the lint is not enough.
Apparently fabric softener residue, that stuff most of us use to make our clothes smell nice, can clog the small holes in the filter without being seen. Hot air cannot leave as quickly as it is supposed to, which means it is easier to pop a fuse on the heat regulator. (source) It can also increase the time and energy needed to dry your clothes.
As you can see in the video below, water does not pass through the filter until after he gives it a little scrub with a brush. I cannot believe I never knew this before.
