Hazardous articles

Avoid tumble-drying these products:

• Oil-affected items

  Items spotted or soaked with vegetable oil, cooking oil, massage oil or finishing oil (e.g. linseed oil rags) constitute a fire hazard and should not be placed in a tumble dryer.
  
  If oil-affected items must be placed in a tumble dryer, they should first be washed in hot water with extra detergent to reduce the hazard and tumble-dried using the lowest heat setting.
  
  

• Highly flammable substances

  Highly flammable substances commonly used in homes may include:
• • petrol or gasoline
  • dry-cleaning solvents
  • acetone
  • denatured alcohol
  • kerosene
  • home brands of spot removers turpentine
  • varnish and wood stains
  • wax and wax removers.
  
  

• Plastic, rubber or foam articles

  Shower caps, babies' waterproof napkin covers, rubber-backed articles, clothes fitted with foam rubber pads, pillows, galoshes and rubber-coated tennis shoes should not be dried in a tumble drier on a heat setting.
  
  Foam rubber, latex foam or similar materials at elevated temperatures can ‘spontaneously ignite’. If the material is heated enough it may continue to self-heat after the dryer has turned off and it may eventually catch fire.
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• Metal reinforcings and fasteners

  Metal stays and accessories found in or attached to articles can cause damage to the tumble dryer if they come loose during drying. Where suitable, such articles should be dried on a drying rack.
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• Unwashed clothes

  Unwashed clothes have a greater build up of oils and grease. Never use the dryer to dry clothes that have not been washed. Also, lint from these clothes will be more flammable and will more easily combust when hot.