Can product prevent dryer fires?

Consumer Reports tests the Lint Lizard to see if it can help reduce the fire risk

Published On: Feb 13 2013 05:20:28 PM EST   Updated On: Feb 13 2013 10:40:00 PM EST

Thousands of house fires are started each year by clothes dryers clogged with lint. Consumer Reports just tested the Lint Lizard, an infomercial product that’s designed to more easily remove lint from your dryer, to see whether it can help reduce a fire risk.

The Lint Lizard attaches to your vacuum cleaner. You thread the tube through the opening of a dryer’s lint trap.

Consumer Reports checked to see how much lint it could remove from the dryer. 

The Lint Lizard worked really well. It removed more lint than any other technique testers tried.

The Lint Lizard costs $11 plus shipping and handling at lintlizard.com. You can get it for less at major retailers, including Amazon.com, Target, and Walmart.

It does have one drawback: It might not fit easily into very narrow dryer openings.

And its sharp tip could damage flexible foil or plastic duct work. But Consumer Reports doesn’t recommend those kinds of ducts anyway. They can sag, collect lint, and cause problems with venting your dryers.

Consumer Reports says flexible or solid metal ducts are far better You should clean them at least once a year. And clean your lint trap every time you use the dryer. Taking those precautions can help prevent a tragedy.

  • All Consumer Reports material copyright 2013 by Consumers Union of U.S. Inc.  All rights reserved. Consumer Reports is published by Consumers Union. Both Consumer Reports and Consumers Union are not-for-profit organizations that accept no advertising. Neither has any commercial relationship with any advertiser or sponsor on this site.