How to Clean a Clothes Dryer

Dryers are one of the most convenient household appliances of all time so we can dry out our clean clothes without having to worry about the outdoor weather. Proper maintenance and cleaning of a dryer not only is essential to making sure it works properly but also can prevent hazards such as a fire when excess lint catches on fire from getting too hot or getting too close to the heating elements.

The first thing to do is make sure you thoroughly read the instructions for your unit and empty the lint trap every single time you use it. Most lint traps are made of some kind of screening like the kinds we have on screen doors.

It doesn’t matter how much or little lint is in the trap, clean it as much as possible. An easy way to clean the lint filter is to take a dryer sheet from a fabric softener and run it over the entire length and width of the trap and it should take up most of the lint. Another way to easily clean the screening is to take an old toothbrush and run it over the entirety of the surface. Blowing air into it is really impractical and just spreads the lint through your house.

Another important consideration is what kinds of clothes you put in the dryer. Manufacturers recommend not putting clothing that has chemical residue on it that may be flammable such as oil, gasoline, or turpentine. Those items should be hung dry. Also don’t dry things in the dryer that shouldn’t be there. If it’s not clothing, don’t dry it in the clothes dryer. Follow the care instructions on your clothes. If it says to “hang dry” then you need to keep it out of the dryer.

There are still some steps you need to take to maintain your dryer’s efficiency beyond those basic steps. Every time you walk past the dryer vent outside of your house check it to see if it is free and clear of any excess lint. If it has buildup, clean the vent immediately.

Every change of the seasons remove the connecting duct between the dryer and the vent to the house and clean it by taking it outside and shake it clean. Make sure you unplug the dryer from the wall before you perform this maintenance to prevent any sudden starts. You do not need to disconnect the gas line as unplugging it will prevent any starting. The gas is just for the heating element on your dryer and not the electric starter. Look through it and see how clean it is and if need be clean it out with a rag.

When the duct is disconnected and the dryer unplug, open up any panels on the bottom of the dryer and see if there is any lint buildup against the mechanism or heating coils. Now is the time to take your vacuum tube attachment on your vacuum and suck off all the excess lint you can reach.

Open up the dryer door and clean any lint that is inside the actual drum. Move the vacuum and clean any lint on the floor as well so it doesn’t get sucked back into the vacuum. The important thing is to clean as much of the lint as possible so as to prevent any breakdowns or loss of efficiency in your dryer.