see photo, inches of LINT collected on Tumble Dryer.
I don’t want to do anything that will make them think I am criticising their cleanliness, and affect my review, but I absolutely want them to understand the Fire Safety risk of a dryer with inches of LINT collected, and a water container almost full, both of which I have now rectified.
Do I simply mention it AFTER we have both left our reviews?
oh, wow… 
This sounds like a good idea. It protects you from them potentially reacting and saying something harmful in your review, and separating it from the review should put them more at ease about the feedback so they actually listen/receive it well.
Maybe mention it almost like an after-thought? “Oh, I also wanted to mention - when I arrived, I noticed that there was several inches of lint in the dryer, which is a huge fire safety risk each time the dryer is run. [I just wanted to mention it because X reason] - or - [A sentence with a little further explanation about the risk]”
(not because you want them to think nothing of it but simply to give it a more casual entry point)
they have a young baby, I would hate for anything to happen that could be prevented with a bit of knowledge.
I live in a small city centre flat, no room for luxury appliances like Dishwashers or Tumble Driers, and it was a friend who accompanied me on a sit that told me about emptying the water after every use. I may have had a vague notion about Lint needing removed but was blissfully unaware of the water container. Perhaps they are too?
I think I’d mention it in a private message after the reviews. As you’ve removed the lint it’ll be safe for a while. They might not know to do this basic maintenance or they know but have overlooked it….it’s of no relevance to future sitters once the HO is made aware.
Never empty the water tank after every use, I empty it when it is full (or just before most of the time). If I don’t empty it before it is full, it will just stop when it is full.
It seems rather full of lint, that seems like an issue.
I don’t think I would make too much of a problem out of it, they might know and just forgot, maybe done a lot of washing before you came. And I would own it myself «I emptied the lint compartment as I got quite worried of the fire hazard, just so you know when you notice». Implying that ofc they will notice.
Yes, it is a fire hazard. However, if it was me, I would just clean it plus empty the water and not say anything. It’s just something I would do that takes only a minute or two. I’m sure they will notice when they next use it @RedLassie and perhaps learn.
I doubt they’d hold it against you, but if you feel better mentioning it after the reviews, do so.
I don’t know if the home is a rental or not, but most of the time in rentals – especially of houses and older apartments, the landlord doesn’t spend a lot of time going over the maintenance of the home. During COVID when our building and apartment were being rennovated, we moved into a new building in another town. There was a inspection going in which includied a lot of information about maintenance and even what products to use. I actually learned many things.
A lot of younger people don’t realise that the lint drawer needs emptying.
If the house is otherwise spotless, they aren’t unclean people, they will simply be naive that it needs cleaning out. So, personally, I wouldn’t put it in their review, because they just simply won’t realise.
Instead, I’d begin with saying, "I’m not putting this in your review, because I’m having a fantastic time, but I just really need to let you know this for the future, because you probably don’t realise bla bla bla, and end it with - it’s how some fires in the home start " and end it again with “but I like I say, I won’t mention it in your review.”
Or wait until they’ve left their review and then tell them, and just say, you didn’t want to mention it earlier, incase they thought you weren’t having a great stay"
Just do them a enormous favour and let them know they need to clear and rinse it. Also, definitely show them your photo, before and after, because that way, it’ll hit home just how much of a fire hazard it was, and you could have potentially saved their lives 
.
I see the water drawer is excusable anyway, it could have simply been forgot about in the rush to give your fresh bedding and towels, and get on top of the washing for their holidays etc, dryers should stop anyway when the water tray is full anyway, we’ve had a full water tray in quite a number of sits we’ve turned up to — I wouldn’t hold that against anyone, I don’t think I would ever forget, but if I did, I’d hate to be marked down for cleanliness because of it.
I was unfamiliar to the references to a water tray so put on my research cap. Now I have learned about condenser tumble dryers. I have only encountered vented dryers but now I will know what to do for the condenser type.
A former coworker had extensive damage to her home and lost her cat due to a lint buildup in her dryer that caused a fire. So @HappyDeb is correct when she says you could be saving lives by telling the HOs.
Oh my gosh! That is not a bad idea to make it seem like an afterthought after the review period closes, Just to make sure there is no misunderstanding that you’re criticizing them. But yes definitely, that looks like such a dangerous situation! I might say something like oh my gosh I wanted to mention because a friend just experienced a fire because of this.
I could not have it on my conscience if I didn’t alert them to the danger. They have a baby in the house. The fact it only takes a minute or two to clean it, (which I have done), is totally irrelevant.
It’s not a rental. They bought the house, and they love it.
It would be a shame for it to go up in flames! I’d let them know.
I agree with everything you say. I have no intention of marking them down, I just dont want them to be offended if they think I am coming at it from a “you havent cleaned properly” angle, I want them to be safe, that is my priority, just dont want raising my concerns to go against me.
i wouldn’t lie to them by making up a situation that didn’t happen, but I could use my past experience as a Fire Safety Officer at my work, a building of 800 staff, with regular refresher courses, being my lead into it, and suggesting they discuss it in handover with any sitters who may not be aware of the importance of de fluffing.
Just suggesting what you might do that we always do with Hosts.
We always write a brief summary/report of our stay, so just in Laundry amenities, add Dryer; put a tick and comment “Lint filter emptied, water cannister emptied”. By doing this there is awareness made but it’s not seen as a criticism just that you’re thorough with your responsibilities.
I completely understand @RedLassie. As the safety to their family is the utmost concern and not the review, just have a quiet chat to them on their return. It would be motherly advice and something I would do.
UPDATE
When they came home I had laundered the bedding and towels. The woman said oh you didn’t need to do that. I told her THS advises us to. But I didn’t tumble dry it as I saw you had a dangerous amount of LINT built up which I have now removed. I have hung clothes on wooden pulley. Hubby said I always try to empty Lint when I remember. I told him I was a fire officer at my job, and it really needs to be removed EVERY time. They are using dryer more often now with the new baby. I gave and I received a 5 star review. They also asked if I would be interested in a short sit later this month, but I can’t as already committed. All’s well that ends well.
