HOME HERO
Dryer MAINTENANCE
Deep DIVE
Dryer Maintenance Deep Dive
Save your home from falling victim to one of the 2,900 home clothes dryer fires each year in the United States. These dryer fires result in 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss each year.
The U.S. Fire Administration recommends you clean the dryer vent every three months.
Fortunately simple maintenance will drastically reduce your risk. Learn how below:
Dryer Lint Removed from ONE dryer
just like yours
(soda can included for scale)
Tools You Will Need:
- LintEater Rotary Dryer Vent Cleaning System this tool will be the most effective $30 you ever spend. It attaches to a standard power drill then the spinning brush cleans your entire dryer vent
- Long Thin Flexible Vacuum Attachment to reach into dryer. This tool may pull as much lint out of the dryer as the LintEater rotary tool removes from the dryer vent
- Shop Vacuum is recommended, if you use your home vacuum, expect to fill 3 to 6 vacuum bags and you may need to clean or replace your vacuum filter afterward.
- Power Drill – You will use your power drill to spin the LintEater brush in your dryer vent
- Screwdriver
- Dust Mask – This is a dusty job
- 2″ Painter’s or Masking Tape – To connect shop hose to LintEater duct cover if not an exact fit (clear packing tape work also but will be more difficult to remove).
- Pencil – to clear blockages in the flexible vacuum attachment
- Precision Hook Set – to remove lint from dryer vent flapper on exterior of house
- Old Toothbrush – To clean the soap residue off your dryer filter
- Dish Soap – To clean the soap residue off your dryer filter
- Flashlight or Headlight – To see while removing and reattaching the dryer vent
- Ladder, if dryer vent outlet (outside) is higher than you can reach
- Plastic Knife – To clean lint out of corners of exterior vent flap
- Foil HVAC Tape may be required to create an airtight seal when reattaching dryer vent back onto dryer after cleaning
- Scissors – May be necessary to remove any lint/hair mixture wrapped around the LintEater rotary tool brush and rods
These are the exact tools I use. If you purchase with the affiliate links, Home Hero will receive a small commission.
Dryer Maintenance Steps:
Cleaning the dryer requires removing lint and residue from three parts of the dryer:
- The Dryer Vent Duct
- The Area Directly Below the Removable Filter – this area is frequently forgotten, however frequently contains even more lint than dryer vent
- The Dryer Filter
To Clean Dryer Vent
1. Confirm you can access the back of the dryer and can remove the dryer vent from the dryer. If accessing the dryer vent involves dragging the dryer forward and straining your back, consider placing your washer and dryer on rolling platforms. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends you clean your dryer vent every 3 months. Make it easy with a rolling platform. Bonus Benefit: Raising your washer and dryer off the floor may make getting clothes in and out easier on your back.
2. Detach dryer vent from the back of the dryer.
3. Connect LintEater round brush to first rod and insert into the open end of the dryer vent duct.
4. Insert black plastic cover into the open end of the dryer vent duct. Feed end of LintEater rod through the smaller hole. Attach shop vacuum hose to the larger hole. If not an exact fit, wrap with painter’s tape to make an air-tight connection.
5. Insert end of LintEater rod into your power drill and tighten.
6. Turn on vacuum. IN FORWARD DRILL DIRECTION ONLY, run the drill moving the spinning round brush forward and backward until You can cleaned the first section of the dryer vent.
7. Remove LintEater rod from drill. Attach one more length of rod. Repeat Step 7
8. Repeat Step 8 until the entire vent is clean. If the dryer vent outlet is not easily accessible from the outside (for example, your dryer is on an upper floor), be extra careful not to overshoot the vent and get the round brush stuck outside the exterior wall. If this happens, you will have to detach the rod from the drill and go outside to retrieve the LintEater brush and rods.
9. Reattach dryer vent to back of dryer. Use foil tape if necessary for an air-tight seal.
10. Find where your dryer vent exits your house. If your vent outlet looks like a cage, these frequently become completely blocked with dryer lint. Consider replacing with a flap-style cover. If you can safely access the cover, use a rag and “precision hook set” to remove the dryer lint stuck onto it. A dirty flapper can be propped open by lint, allowing hot or cold air into your home, as well as bugs and pests.
Dryer Vent Duct Before Cleaning
Dryer Vent Duct
After Cleaning
Dirty Dryer Vent Flapper - Propped Open by Lint
Clean Dryer Vent Flapper - Closes Fully
To Clean Below the Removable Dryer Filter
1. Remove lint filter
2. Connect Long Thin Flexible Vacuum Attachment to your shop vacuum and insert into gap left by the lint filter.
3. Start vacuum. Move the vacuum attachment around inside the dryer. The end of the vacuum attachment may become completely jammed with dryer lint. If so, pull the vacuum attachment out, remove the big blob of dryer lint from the end. If the end of the vacuum attachment is still blocked, use a pencil to remove dryer lint. Repeat until you cannot remove any more dryer lint.
4. Connect LintEater long brush to power drill. Insert into gap left by the lint filter. Run power drill, move spinning brush until any stuck dryer lint is dislodged.
5. Repeat Step 3
To Clean Removable Dryer Filter
1. Remove lint filter
2. Remove any visible lint with your hand
2. Bring filter to large sink.
3. Use dishsoap and soft toothbrush to gently clean soap residue from the dryer filter.
4. Rinse with water and let air dry.
Talk to us
Have any questions? We are always open to talk about your home and how we can help you.