(BPT) - Did you know nearly 16,000 house fires each year involve a clothes dryer or washing machine, with 92% of them caused by dryers? According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), one-third of dryer fires were caused by a failure to clean out lint and other debris.

Over time, dryer vents accumulate a significant amount of lint, which is highly combustible. Because dryers produce heat, a simple spark from the heating element could ignite lint in the dryer vent, starting a fire. Because dryer vents may travel through the walls of your home, fire spreading through a clogged vent can be disastrous. That's why it's essential to know how to prevent lint from accumulating in the first place.

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