How to Clean a Clothes Dryer

A clothes dryer is supposed to keep your clothes clean when drying them, but sometimes there is lint all over that new pair of pants you just pulled out of the "clean" dryer. Lint gets caught in odd places, colors from the wash get inside the dryer, and objects get lodged in the machine. Keep your just-washed clothes clean by keeping your dryer clean.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Vacuum the entire dryer. Add a brush attachment to the vacuum. Vacuum the barrel, the lint catch, under the lint catch, the little air vents throughout the dryer, and the hose attachment in the back of the dryer.

2. Go outside and clean the dryer vent. Use a new toilet bowl brush, narrow broom, or other clean utensil to remove lint caught in the vent. Vacuum out other debris in the hose. Cover the vent with a flap or chicken coop wiring to prevent anything from getting into the vent once it is clean.

3. Clean the barrel of the dryer with a damp fabric sheet. Wipe down the inside to remove any leftover color or dyes that clothes may have left inside the barrel.

4. Wipe off the top of the clothes dryer. Use a cleaning wipe or paper towel and cleaning product to clean the surface of the dryer. Place a non-skid mat or towel on top of the dryer to catch the drips from laundry detergent and other products stored on top of the dryer.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure to reattach the dryer's vent hose after cleaning.
• Improper maintenance and cleaning of a dryer may cause carbon monoxide poisoning, house fires, and harmful dust allergies.