What is the best way to clean out a dryer vent?  Even if there are no stains to remove, you should clean the interior of your dryer about once a month to prevent odors and residue buildup. Start by unplugging the dryer.

What Is A Dryer Duct?

All air dryers use a duct to vent the hot air from the dryer out of your home. That is the reason you can sometimes smell your neighbor’s laundry when you walk by their house.

The vent duct also collects the particles and fibers. The dryer blows off your clothes in the lint trap. While the filter catches a lot, it does not catch everything.

Some of the lint that gets past makes it out of your home, but the rest collects in the dryer vent duct. The duct connects to the back of the dryer and the exhaust vent.

How to clean your dryer vent

Pull the Dryer Out From the Wall, Unplug It, and Disconnect the Duct

Pull the dryer out from the wall. Unplug it, and if it’s a gas dryer, turn off the gas valve as well. Disconnect the dryer duct, which is located in the back of the dryer.

Find your vent

Before you can clean your dryer vent, you’ll need to figure out where it actually is. Dryers are usually connected to a short, 4-inch diameter exhaust pipe that then connects to ductwork inside a wall. Hot air from your dryer is pushed through this pipe and escapes through a vent on the outside wall of your home.

Vacuum the Inside of the Vent

Using a hose attachment, turn on your vacuum cleaner, and suction all around the entrance of the vent. Poke it inside the dryer exhaust duct and vacuum out what you can.

Celebrate

You did it! Cleaning out a dryer vent may not be glamorous work but you rose to the challenge and for that, you deserve a victory lap. Turn on your dryer and listen as the air flows smoothly out of the vent—the sweet sound of success. No more damp clothes, no more endless cycles. And you did it all on your own.

Final Thoughts On Cleaning Your Dryer Vent Duct Yourself

It is a very good idea to clean your dryer vents. It is a chore you can do yourself with little risk of causing major damage to your machine.

After cleaning your clogged dryer vents and ensuring that your dryer’s ductwork is in good condition, you can rest easy knowing you can safely operate your clothes dryer, your clothes will dry more quickly, and you will save money on your energy bills.

Dryer Safety Tips: Keeping Your Dryer Vent Clean and More

The secret to keeping your dryer exhaust vent consistently clean lies in the lint trap. Make sure to remove any dryer lint from it every time you run the dryer while doing a load of laundry, especially if you use dryer sheets. This is critical. Not only will this help you maintain a clean dryer vent, but it will also keep the entire dryer running smoothly, improve your machine’s drying time, and decrease the risk of house fires.