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We all have come across articles on the news feeds regarding emollient that are being used to treat certain skin conditions. It seems that more of us are using it a lot more, particularly the oldies, there’s a tendency for clothing and bedding to catch fire if one is trying to have a sneaky fag or lighting up a candle for a romantic dinner. Those emollient contains paraffin which can be easily combustable. I can’t work out how can this being inflammable?
Just throwing it up in the air… with all this tumble dryers catching fire and all that, is there a link between “greasy” paraffin based emollient laden fabric and dryers catching fire?
I find this rather fascinating, I, myself use emollient for my dry skin condition as I cannot use soap as it gives me rashes. I always wash the bedding at a minimum of 60 degrees wash but hadn’t considered the nightwear and general clothing. Is there a better way on cleaning those “greasy” clothes?
Maybe there are links between low temperature washing, liquid detergent not rinsing off well, paraffin based emollient on fabrics, clothes catching fire by smoking or excessive fluff in dryer making combustion so easily?
What are your thoughts?
Matt
Re: Emollient on clothing catching fire…
Care should always be taken when laundering fabrics soiled with oils and/or solvents
especially when tumble drying as stated in user instructions.
I have attended a tumble dryer fire where the load was cleaning cloths and aprons and such like from a pub kitchen which had been washed and then placed in a condensing tumble dryer.
The door was opened to check dryness and the load burst into flames.
Fortunately they had the presence of mind to slam the door shut which stopped the fire.
The small amount of flamable vapour left on the load was not being vented off as it was a condensing dryer and was ignited possibly by the door switch arcing when the door was opened.Not a Hotpoint dryer by the way.
Steve
Re: Emollient on clothing catching fire…
Open the door on a dryer and the clothing combusts due to emollient residue, really? I’m not doubting this, just extremely curious. Could this be a commonplace reason for tumble dryer fires?
Re: Emollient on clothing catching fire…
I have heard of it yes but I don’t think it’s at all common as you’d need a high heat in the dryer and a fair amount of flammables to have it happen.
Put it this way, it’s perhaps worth thinking about but not stressing out over.
On the other hand, I guess if you built up a bunch of lint in the dryer covered in a flammable chemical that might well be a recipe for a nasty incident.
K.
Re: Emollient on clothing catching fire…
but it does makes you wonder though. I am intrigued by the claim of closed unit such as condensing dryer potentially being prone to combustion by inflammable clothing caused by paraffin based emollients.
all I am asking, if there is a way to lessen the risks such as what is the correct washing instructions for removing emollients as high temperature washing is unsuitable for pyjamas and many other clothes including boxer shorts.
Re: Emollient on clothing catching fire…
I can’t find any answer as to how to wash clothing that come into contact with paraffin based emollients other than washing in detergent? A contradiction in the extreme.
They all warn of the dangers of using the stuff, including the NHS and The Fire Service but nothing else….huh? 😕
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