A good rule of thumb is to have clean dryer vent inspected and cleaned by a professional at least once per year. However, if you have a household that uses your dryer often, such as one with a lot of children, you may want to consider increasing that amount to every six months.
Maintaining a Clean Dryer Vent
1-Empty the lint trap each time you do laundry.
Checking and emptying the lint trap will help your dryer run more efficiently, and it will make it less of a fire hazard. First, find the lint trap, which should be located within the door opening of the dryer. To remove it, grab hold of the top of the lint trap and pull it out of the slot. Then, vacuum up any lint stuck to the trap.
- Some lint traps are located on the top right of the dryer. To remove these, grab hold of the top of the trap and pull it out.
- Before putting the lint trap back in its place, vacuum up any lint stuck in the lint trap slot.
- If the lint trap is very dirty, you can wash it with warm water and soap. Simply run the trap under warm water and scrub it with soap. Let it dry before placing it back in the slot.
2-Check for signs that your vent needs cleaning
To avoid a potential fire hazard, it’s important to inspect your dryer vent regularly. To see if your dryer vent needs to be cleaned, check for these signs:[11]
- Clothes not drying during a dry cycle
- Very hot clothing after a dry cycle
- Excessive heat from the dryer
- Larger amounts of lint in the lint tray than usual
- Excessive odor from dryer sheets
3-Keep the floor around the dryer clean.
Each time you empty the lint trap, sweep up any lint or debris found around the floor of your dryer. Your dryer vent sucks up dirt and debris from the floor, which can make it get dirty faster. Regular sweeping will help you maintain a clean dryer vent
4-Limit the use of dryer sheets.
Dryer sheets can make your clothes smell fresher, but can also contribute to built up lint in a dryer vent. In general, opt against dryer sheets when possible. Fabric softener should also only be used in moderation, as debris from fabric softening can clog a dryer’s vent