How to Clean Dryer Vents, Improve Dryer Efficiency and Keep Your Home Safe

Most of us are familiar with cleaning the lint from the trap in the dryer, but that's only one step in getting all the lint from the system.

Dryer lint is extremely flammable and is the cause of many household fires. Keeping both the vent and tubing clean of lint can help keep your family safe.

And lint build up in the trap and tubing can cause the dryer to take longer to dry clothes, using more energy and taking more of your time. By keeping the lint to a minimum, the dryer runs more efficiently, and dries clothes faster.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Remove the lint trap from the dryer and remove the lint from the trap. Look inside the dryer and using the extension attachment on your vacuum cleaner, vacuum the lint that has collected underneath the lint trap.

2. Disconnect the power or the gas from your dryer. Pull the dryer away from the wall to access the dryer vent in the back. Remove the tubing from the dryer. This is usually attached by some type of clamp, and those are either spring loaded or with a small screw. Loosen this and remove from the tubing.

3. Replace tubing if you have a short length of tubing and it's the flexible plastic type with accordion-like pleats, and it has a large amount of lint.
   
   If you chose to replace it, consider using a metal tube that's smooth, to avoid lint getting caught in the pleats. Visit your hardware store or home supply outlet to see what they have to offer.

4. Vacuum any lint from the vent on the dryer, the end of the tubing and as far inside the tubing as you can reach. You can also take the tube outside and shake it to remove more lint.

5. Vacuum the floor around the dryer, and wipe down the wall behind the dryer as well as mopping or sweeping the floor under the dryer.

6. Check the outdoor dryer vent and remove any lint at that end. You can use the vacuum as well to remove lint that's out of reach.

7. Re-attach the tubing to the dryer and replace the clamp. Reposition the dryer and reconnect the power.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider replacing flexible plastic tubing with smooth metal tubing. The creases and pleats in the plastic tubing collect much more lint, increasing the potential for fire, and also decreasing drying time by restricting air flow out of the dryer.

[sbarry77]

on 10/27/2009 Good tips on removing lint from the dryer. 5* and recommended