How to Clean a Dryer Lint Trap & Dryer Exhaust Hose
Your washing machine and dryer are two of the most significant appliances in your home, and they need to be maintained to perform well! With a dryer, the lint trap is a key part of the machinery. Learning how to clean a dryer lint trap is actually very easy, and you can do it with some everyday household items.
Why Is It Important to Learn How to Clean a Dryer Lint Trap and Dryer Exhaust Hose
You may wonder why it’s important to learn how to clean a dryer lint trap and dryer exhaust hose - and you might be surprised to know that it is not just a matter of saving energy or extending the working life of your machine - though both of those are true - but also of fire safety. Fires started in washing machines and dryers cause an estimated $238 million in property damage every year. In fact, 26% of dryer fires are caused by lint and dust!
Along with learning how to clean a dryer lint trap, make sure you are also cleaning out the dryer exhaust hose. This hose funnels air from the dryer out of the house and outside. Dirt, dust, lint, and sometimes even buttons and pieces of clothing can get trapped in the hose, obstructing the airflow. This ultimately will cause your dryer to use more energy and increases the risk of a fire.
Learning how to clean a dryer lint trap will prevent your system from clogging dangerously - make sure that you do it at least twice a year. So, without further ado, here is the guide to how to clean a dryer lint trap and dryer exhaust hose.
What You Need to Clean a Dryer Lint Trap and Dryer Exhaust Hose
You can buy special dryer vent cleaning kits that will help you get into every nook and cranny of your ductwork, and while those are useful - especially if your dryer is in a poor state - you don’t necessarily need to shell out for special equipment. When it comes to how to clean a dryer lint trap and exhaust hose, a few household items will do:
A screwdriver or power drill
A vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment
A scrub brush
A mild household soap
A broom and dustpan
(Optional) A dryer cleaning brush
How to Clean a Dryer Lint Trap
You are no doubt familiar with scraping the lint off of the removable filter in your dryer. But that’s not all the upkeep it needs. Make sure you know how to clean a dryer lint trap to stop lint from building up in your machine.
#1 - Remove the lint trap as usual
Take it out and use your hands to get all of the obvious lint off of it.
#2 - Use a vacuum cleaner
Use the vacuum cleaner to do a pass over the dryer lint trap, to remove a layer of dust.
#3 - Wash the dryer lint trap in soap and warm water
The most important step in how to clean a dryer lint trap is to give it a good wash and scrub to get the stubborn film of dust out of it. Make sure that you let it dry completely before reinserting it into the dryer.
#4 - Clean out the dryer lint trap slot
Don’t undo all your good work by putting the clean dryer lint trap back into a dirty slot! The final step in how to clean a dryer lint trap is to take the vacuum cleaner to the slot to get rid of the dust and lint caught there. Use a scrubbing brush to get into hard-to-reach areas, and when it’s all cleared, replace the dryer lint trap.
How to Clean a Dryer Exhaust Hose
As with learning how to clean a dryer lint trap, making sure your dryer exhaust hose is clear and fit for action is fairly easy. You will need to move the dryer a little bit, though, so you might want to do this with a friend.
#1 - Unplug the power and shut off the gas
Make sure that you have unplugged the dryer at the electrical socket. If your dryer is gas-powered, it will also be connected to a gas valve - be sure to shut this off before you start. Just remember to switch everything back on when you’re done!
#2 - Move the dryer away from the wall
Shift the dryer forward away from the wall, giving yourself enough space to work. This is best as a two-person job - there’s a risk of back injuries if you move something so heavy improperly.
#3 - Detach the clamps to expose the exhaust hose
Your dryer exhaust hose is a 4-inch wide pipe feeding into a duct in the wall. It is attached by clamps to your machine - detach the hose to expose the vent.
#4 - Vacuum out the debris
Use the hose attachment on your vacuum cleaner to get into the hose and clear out any lint or dirt that may be blocking the airflow. You may also use it to clear out the duct itself to prevent build-up there.
#5 - (Optional) Use a dryer kit brush to sweep out the hose
If the vacuum isn’t getting everything out, you may want to invest in a brush specially designed to be the size of the vent. Run it up and down in the ductwork to dislodge any remaining dirt.
#6 - Sweep up and reassemble
Make sure you sweep up all the dirt and dust that you’ve gotten out of your ductwork and exhaust hose, then reattach the hose, push the dryer back into place, and plug it back in - opening the gas valve again if you had shut it off.
Final Thoughts on How to Clean a Dryer Lint Trap
As you can see, the process of how to clean a dryer lint trap is very simple - it really only takes the regular lint removal a step forward. But, as with most household maintenance, it’s the little things that make the biggest difference.
Wondering why the inside of your dryer looks burned? Here’s why!