How to Clean the Lint Trap Inside a Clothes Dryer

Cleaning the lint trap inside your dryer is an important step in preventing household fires. According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were 15,600 clothes dryer fires, resulting in 20 deaths in 1998, the most recent year for which statistics are available. Getting into the habit of cleaning your lint trap every time you use your dryer can help prevent a dangerous fire in your home and protect your loved ones from serious injury.

Things You'll Need

• Stiff bristle brush
• Dryer vent cleaning brush

Instructions

1. Remove the lint trap from your dryer. The lint trap may be located on the top of the dryer or may be found by opening the dryer door. Make sure to pull the trap out gently to avoid bending it.

2. Pull off as much lint as you can by hand. If lint remains, use a stiff bristle brush to remove it.

3. Examine the area around the lint trap for stray lint. Remove as much of it as possible.

4. Wash the lint trap in hot, soapy water with the brush. This step is particularly important if you use fabric softener sheets, as build up from these sheets can make it more difficult for the lint trap to collect lint.

5. Allow the lint trap to dry and replace it. Place a load of laundry in your dryer and use as usual.

Tips & Warnings

• Get in the habit of cleaning your lint trap before or after drying every load of laundry. An overflowing lint trap can force lint to travel to other parts of your dryer, increasing the risk of fire. If your clothes take longer and longer to dry, chances are that there is too much lint build up in your dryer in areas other than the lint trap. To fix the problem, unplug the dryer and vacuum lint from the area that holds the lint trap. Pull out the dryer, disconnect the flexible vent and clean out the part of the vent that extends into the dryer and the part that extends through the wall of your house. If you have a gas dryer, be sure to disconnect the gas line before beginning a thorough cleaning. Buying a special lint cleaning brush (see Resources) can help make the job easier.

References

• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Green Options
• Washington Post Article on lint

Resources

• iKitchen Dryer Vent Cleaning Brush
• LintEater Dryer Vent Cleaning System