How To Do Just About Everything
By jezzikabret
Dryer Lint Trap
Rate: (27 Ratings)
Every once in awhile a good thorough cleaning is in order for your dryer lint trap. If its left dirty and not given a good cleaning every so often it can cause your dryer to use twenty to thirty percent more energy! So why not take five minutes to clean it out real good?
Lint
Take the lint trap out of the dryer like you normally do. Now remove the lint either with a damp cloth, a used fabric softener sheet or wet your fingers and scoop it up.
Liquid Dishsoap
Now you can either vacuum the mesh part with the brush attachment. Or you can rinse the whole lint trap in the sink with liquid dish soap.
Cloth
No matter what you choose to do in step two, make sure you use a damp cloth on the plastic edges of the lint trap. Make sure you use a small amount of liquid dish soap on the cloth.
eHow Member: jezzikabret
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Comments
akchrist said
on 6/5/2008 great idea
Hadahkleyn said
on 4/9/2008 DrPete: If you change your plastic tubing every couple of years, you still need to be aware of the build up in the duct under the lint trap. A lint brush designed for dryers is an economical way to get at some of the lint in the duct work. Annually detaching the tubing, cleanning it, and replacing it keeps it pretty clean and clear. Cleaning the duct under the lint trap with a lint brush designed for that purpose, also helps to keep lint and possible fire at a minimum.
DiscountTickets said
on 4/8/2008 I like this article, thanks for letting us know. This is very important.
kitree said
on 4/8/2008 DrPete - it sounds like you are confusing the front lint trap with the large lint hose in the rear of the dryer. The small front lint trap should be cleaned after every use by just running your fingers around the lint until it balls up and comes off. The more thorough cleaning described in this article for the small front lint trap only needs to be done 2 or 3 times a years if you use liquid fabric softener in the washer. (any brand but Downey - it's too thick and really mucks up the washer do not use it)
If you use dryer fabric sheets, then at least every 6-8 weeks as the powder from those sheets can clog the mesh and cut down on perfomance.
Those 3 ft long things are for reaching down under neath the front lint trap as it seems some lint always gets through it. The large lint hose in back should be checked 3-4 times a year for a family of 4 or more, and less for a couple or sin
AbbyNormal said
on 4/7/2008 Wash with soap and water ---- pour water over your lint trap and see if the water runs through. If not, you need to wash it clean. Softener builds up on the lint trap and clogs it.