How To Clean A Dryer Vent (And How Often You Should Be Doing It)

Between loads of laundry and hustling to get other chores done, one place that is easy to forget to clean is your dryer vent. The ductwork is often hidden from sight, but not cleaning it frequently enough can lead to issues with your dryer. There are several steps for effectively cleaning a dryer vent and indicators that can signal when it's time to do it again.

Some of the signs that it's time to clean your dryer vent include clothes taking longer than usual to dry, your laundry coming out warmer than usual at the end of the cycle, and a burning smell while the machine is running. They should be cleaned once a year on average, but how often you should be cleaning your dryer vent can depend on how frequently you use the machine. If you have a large family or find yourself washing and drying clothes nearly every day, it's a good idea to do this more often. Cleaning and properly maintaining your dryer can help prevent the machine from breaking, but there's another major reason to complete this chore on a regular basis. Because dryer lint is highly flammable, unchecked buildup near your dryer can become a fire hazard, especially because it's so close to a source of heat and electricity.

Before cleaning your dryer vent, you will need some supplies like a screwdriver, vacuum, cleaning brush, and safety gloves. To get a good clean, the first step is to unplug your dryer and turn off the gas if you have a gas machine. From there, move the dryer away from the wall and unscrew the vent clamp with a screwdriver. From here, you will be able to disconnect the dryer vent from the machine.

After disconnecting the vent, wear safety gloves and use a cleaning brush to remove dust, lint, and debris from the back of the unit and the vent. To get any smaller pieces of debris that you might have missed, use a vacuum with a hose to sweep out those hard-to-reach areas. Once the dryer and indoor vent have been cleared, clean your home's outdoor dryer vent using the same process.

Finally, after completing the cleaning process, reattach the ventilation pipe securely to the dryer and the wall. From here, plug in the machine and turn on the gas if needed. Then, slide the machine back into place and blow out any remaining dust, lint, and debris by running an empty cycle for a few minutes. After this, you might notice your machine dries more efficiently, especially if you haven't done a deep clean in a while. Even if you don't see any major change, you can rest assured that you've eliminated a potential fire hazard.