I know some emails can be questionable at times, but my mom sent me this because I presently need a new dryer due to the heating unit not working.....

I copy and pasted this from the email

I had a wonderful morning, the heating unit went out of my dryer!

Why does everything seem to fall apart this time of year!???

The repairman went in to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was
clean.

We always clean the lint from the filter after every load of clothes.

He told us that he wanted to show us something. He took the filter over to
the
sink and ran hot water over it. Now, this thing is like a mesh-I'm sure
you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like - WELL......the hot
water just laid on top of the mesh!!! It didn't go through it at all!!!

He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh and that's what
burns
out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film, but it's there. He said the
best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (and to keep your
electric bill lower) is to take that filter out and wash it with hot soapy
water and an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months.

He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long! How about
that???!!!! Learn something new everyday! I certainly didn't know dryer
sheets would do that. So, thought I'd share! Note: I went to dryer and
tested my screen by running water on it. The water collected a little but
ran though the screen. I dried it off and was ready to put it back in the
dryer since the water ran through it but, I thought was the heck it won't
hurt to wash it while I had it out. Warm soap water and a nylon brush and
I had it done in 30 seconds. I then ran the water over the screen and what
a difference the water just gushed through it with no puddling at all and
this time I was running the water at a faster rate. That repairman knew
what he was talking about.

I am now going to go downstairs and test mine.....lol