How to Clean a Dryer Lint Duct

Cleaning your clothes dryer lint duct is an essential part of home maintenance. It should be done about once a year for average use or more often if you do a lot of laundry. Having a buildup of lint can cause the dryer to overheat and lead to a house fire. Cleaning the duct will also reduce energy costs and allow clothes to dry faster.

Things You'll Need

• Dryer manual
• Shop vacuum
• Cleaning brush
• Screwdriver
• Exacto knife
• Clothes dryer cleaning kit

Instructions

1. Consult your clothes dryer manual for any specific instructions about cleaning it. It may have tips for disconnecting parts and tell you which areas to be sure to clean.

2. Pull the dryer away from the wall and unplug everything it's connected to. Turn of the gas if it's a gas dryer. To disconnect the duct, loosen the clamp that holds it in place and pull the duct off back of the dryer.

3. Begin removing the lint from inside the duct and the back of the dryer with your hands. A shop vacuum can be used to suck more of it out; insert the vacuum wand as far as possible. Remove lint that is caught in the inside lining of the duct with a stiff brush. You can also buy a dryer cleaning kit that comes with special tools made just for this purpose.

4. Clean out the other end of the duct where it exits your house (outside). To remove the cover, you may need to cut through caulk with a knife and take off screws. Use the same method to remove the lint as you did inside the house. Reach in with the vacuum or another safe tool to get any buildup out of the middle of the duct.

5. Hook up everything that you unplugged from the dryer, and turn the gas back on if necessary. Run the dryer for a few minutes so that anything left in the lint duct can be blown outside. Replace the cover on the outside of your house.

Tips & Warnings

• If you find that your dryer duct goes into the wall and has a lot of bends or is very long, consider hiring a professional to clean it for you. Don't forget to clean the other parts of your dryer, such as the lint screen and inner workings, to avoid a fire hazard. Instructions for each model can be found in the manual.

• The ducts in older systems may be made of white, flexible plastic material. This is now illegal to install, because it has been shown to cause fires. It's a good idea to have older ducting replaced if you have it in your home.

References

• How to Clean Your Dryer Vent

Resources

• Dryer Vent Cleaning Videos and Tips