How to Clean Your Dryer Vent
Step #1 – Clean the lint trap
Before you get ready to fire up the dryer, empty the lint trap. When the lint trap is full or clogged, it constricts the airflow that is needed to dry your clothes. Cleaning the trap is so simple and is the easiest way to ensure your clothes will dry during the dry cycle. Clean the lint trap every time you run the dryer.
- Remove lint trap from dryer
- Swipe lint off the trap
- Wash periodically with warm soapy water
What if you already knew how to clean your dryer vent lint trap but it still seems dirty? Well, for folks that use liquid fabric softeners, the lint trap can eventually become somewhat gooey. If this happens, just wash the lint trap using a gentle brush with mild soap and dry thoroughly before returning to use. Throw in some wool dryer balls to help reduce some of the fabric softener buildup.
Step #2 – Clean the lint trap vent
Yes, even the venting system housing the lint trap develops lint buildup. The lint trap is great for catching the bulk of the fibers that pass through the venting system. However, smaller fibers still pass through the trap and remain in the vent.
Fortunately, there is a solution to this problem! In this step, you need a narrow brush designed for cleaning the dryer vent. We recommend using the tools provided in a dryer duct cleaning kit to periodically clean the lint trap vent.
First, maneuver the long skinny brush inside the vent to clean and collect the remaining lint left behind. Now, if you haven’t done this before, or not in a long while, there may be a considerable amount of lint to remove. Be patient! Repeat this process of using the flexible dryer vent brush inside the vent until you’ve removed all the lint you possibly can. Next, using a slim vacuum attachment, vacuum the vent and lint trap to get things as clean as possible.
Step #3 – Clean the main vent/duct
This last step is the least fun, but dryer vent cleaning is possibly the most critical. One of the leading causes of house fires starts with a dryer. Don’t be a statistic- clean the dryer vent!
First, pull the dryer out far enough that you can access the back of the unit. Next, unplug the dryer from the power supply. Now you can safely begin cleaning the dryer vent. Using the flexible dryer brush again, clean the duct by inserting the brush and sweeping and rolling the brush around inside to catch the lint fibers. If you have a flexible duct, spin the brush gently inside the duct to clean it without causing any damage to the duct itself.
Our appliance repair experts recommend cleaning your dryer vents every 4-6 months to keep it in optimal performance and to avoid a fire hazard
