How to Keep Your Dryer Clean and Safe

Every time you dry clothes in your dryer you create lint, and while it’s all supposed to get caught in the lint filter, the reality is it doesn’t. Some of the lint passes into your dryer’s vent duct where it will end up costing you money (because your dryer has to work harder) and it could even become a fire hazard. Here’s how you can clean your dryer vent and keep your dryer operating safely and efficiently.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Screwdriver
• Utility knife
• Caulking
• Vacuum with long nose attachment
• Dryer vent cleaning brush
• Plumbing snake (optional)

Cleaning out your dryer and vents

1. Unplug your dryer (either gas or electric). If you have a gas dryer, turn off the gas as well. Pull your dryer out away from the wall so you can get right in behind it.

2. Use your screwdriver to remove the clamp attaching the vent pipe to your dryer vent, then pull the pipe/tube off the dryer.

3. Reach right into the dryer vent with your hand (wear a glove; there may be some sharp edges) and pull out any lint that built up. Next, use your vacuum and the crevice attachment (the long, thin-nosed piece) to clean out any lint remaining in the dryer.

4. Repeat the process in the vent tube. Reach in and pull out any lint, then use your vacuum to remove any remaining lint.

5. Go to the outside of your home and remove the outside dryer vent. Keep in mind it will probably have a couple of screws and some caulking holding it in place, but once you remove the screws and cut through the caulking, it should just slide out.

6. Reach into the vent pipe once again and pull out any lint that may have built up, then finish up by vacuuming as deeply into the pipe as you can reach with your vacuum.

7. Reinstall the vent cover plate (don’t forget to caulk all around it again to keep out drafts and animals).

8. Plug your dryer back in and run it for 10 minutes on air dry to blow out any lint that you may have loosened and is remaining in the vent pipe.

Tips & Warnings

• Some home stores stock a dryer duct cleaning brush (a circular stiff bristle brush attached to long flexible handle) designed to pass through the vent pipe and clean out any lint remaining in the dryer vent tube. Alternatively, you could pass a plumbing snake and a cloth through the tube to clean it out instead of using a dryer vent cleaning brush.
• The plastic-ridged vent pipes commonly used on dryers aren’t as efficient as a straight metal pipe. The plastic ridges will catch lint and over time could cause a buildup. If you have one of the plastic vents, consider changing it for a smooth pipe (available at home and hardware stores).
• You can minimize lint buildup by routing your vent pipe using as few turns as possible (turns tend to trap lint).
• Don’t let lint build up in your dryer. Clean the lint filter after every load and clean out the vent pipe and dryer annually.
• For safety’s sake, don’t run your dryer when you’re not home or at night after you’ve gone to bed.