AboutJan Hayner Expertise If you have questions regarding home organizing, house cleaning shortcuts, office organizing, files, record keeping, organizing your children, teaching your kids how to help you clean and making it fun, I will give you the advice of a Professional Organizer, mom of four and grandma of 8.
Working Smarter-Not Harder is a phrase I live by; taking the stress out of life so you have time for the fun things is my goal!
Experience I have been a Professional Organizer for 9 years, the mom of 4 and grandma of 8,I do work for clients in the home and the work place, and am considered an expert in my field of Organization.
Organizations Faithful Organizers, passed member of NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers), WIM (Women in Management),
Publications I have had work published all over the internet and various webzines and Newsletters. I am also a columnist on Mature Resources.org. and an Expert on all experts.com under Self Improvement/SelfHelp/Organizing Your Home and Workspace.
Education/Credentials I have taken various /classes on organizing on the interent, been taught by the best (other collegues in the field), and when I need to learn something, I find an expert in the field and learn from them. I am a research fanatic and enjoy learning everything that I can on a subject.
It took me weeks to trace a faint moldy smell to the inside of my blow drier, but once I did, I threw it away, replaced it, and kept the new blow drier in a Ziploc bag when not using it. However, after about six weeks, I noticed a very faint moldy smell coming from it too! I don't smell mold anywhere else in the bathroom.
Is there a safe way to kill the mold in my blow drier?
How can I keep it from growing back?
Thanks,
Sheila
ANSWER: Hi Sheila;
You have built up mold from in the air, moisture, and tons of other places. It is hard to get away from bacteria and as we know mold thrives on this. You could buy hundreds of hair dryers and still have the same problem.
What we forget to do is to read every inch of the instructions, especially the part about maintenance.
Mold thrives on moisture, and since a blow dryer is used for drying wet hair, that is the cause of the problem. Now here is how to stop it and save you a tone of money so you don't have to keep buying dryers.
Simply remove the air intake, which is usually at the opposite end that the air comes out of. This is like a little screen.
Brush it and wash it with soap and water and pat dry.
Now, use a Q-tip that is dipped in alcohol and wipe the screen on both sides. This will kill any bacteria that is left.
Put the screen back in the air intake and you are ready to dry your hair--odor free. (If any hair is stuck in your dryer intake, simply remove it with a tweezers)
How often should you clean it? Well, if you are like my girls and use it on a daily basis, I would do this once a month. It may seem like that is too often, but if you ever saw a picture of mold, you would understand why I say to do it this often! It only takes a few minutes to do and it can save you from getting sick from all of the contaminates.
Happy cleaning Sheila,
Jan Hayner
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you, Jan. It sounds like I should not keep the blow dryer in a plastic bag. I thought it would keep moisture from the bathroom out of the dryer, but based on what you said, I think it might be keeping moisture from my hair in the dryer -- is that right?
I don't mind cleaning the little screen once a month. (Actually, this dryer has two little screens, one that comes off on top of one that does not.) The only thing that the owner's manual says about maintenance is to clean dust and hair away from the intake openings. It says the dryer "is virtually maintenance-free!"
Answer Hi Sheila;
Yes you are correct! I read very often that the instructions say 'virtually maintenance free', but they never tell you the full maintenance.
Cleaning the lint and hair off of the filter is one thing, but since it has been in there and heated countless times, why don't they tell you how to get rid of the bacteria that has been growing?
I got this advice after I wrote the manufacturer and asked the question! Then, they decided to tell me how to kill the germs. I bet when they upscale their instructions it will be in the new addition!
Good Luck Sheila!
Jan Hayner
