The U.S. Fire Administration reports that every single year greater than two,900 dwelling fires are started by clothes dryers, along with the major lead to of those fires is really a buildup of lint due to lack of uncomplicated upkeep around the element in the owner. Every load of laundry that passes by way of your washing machine and tends to make its way to your garments dryer consists of lint-mostly smaller particles of cloth and fiber that are loosened from clothing by the action of agitating water.

In case you think that the removable lint filter inside your dryer catches all this, assume once again. The problem is the fact that not all the lint is caught by the removable lint filter, but the lint that passes beyond the filter and is trapped in crevices deep inside the lint filter trap and all along the dryer vent hose or duct since it tends to make its technique to the outdoors vent opening.

Warning Signs
Listed here are some warning indicators that risky lint buildup has occurred inside your dryer and venting method, indicating that it requirements a thorough cleaning:

Clothing take longer to dry or do not dry totally
Clothes are hotter than standard at the finish of your drying cycle
Outside of dryer gets extremely hot
Outside exhaust vent flapper does not open incredibly substantially, indicating low exhaust velocity
Laundry area becomes far more humid than usual
Burnt smell is evident in the laundry area
Tools and Components You will need
Vacuum having a long hose attachment
Dryer vent brush kit
Screwdrivers
UL-listed metal foil duct tape
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Dryer Vent Cleaning Brush Kit
Dryer duct cleaning tool
Image courtesy of Amazon
Thorough dryer vent cleaning demands specific brushes. Vacuum attachments alone don’t perform also due to the fact they do not agitate the lint to eliminate it in the walls of the duct, and they cannot attain deep sufficient inside the dryer’s lint filter housing.

Brush kits include a long-bristle brush to clean the lint filter location, also as a round-bristled brush that can clean out a 4-inch round rigid dryer duct-the sort you must have for all concealed portions of the duct run. The round…
Far more
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Step 1: Remove the Lint Trap Filter
Cleaning dryer lint filter
Lisa J. Goodman / Getty Pictures
Get rid of and clean the lint trap filter. This is the same point you should do prior to or just after each and every dryer load to keep as substantially lint out on the venting method as you possibly can, but surprisingly, a lot of individuals don’t do that. Cleaning the lint trap with each and every load would be the finest method to avoid lint buildup frequently.

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Step 2: Vacuum the Lint Trap Housing
Cleaning dryer lint trap housing

Vacuum the inside of your lint trap housing, applying a extended, skinny hose attachment. Comply with this initial vacuuming with a second pass making use of the extended flexible brush from the brush kit. Extend the brush all the way in to the bottom on the cavity. Making use of a gentle and slight twisting motion, pull out the brush to extract clumps of lint. Clean the brush bristles with the vacuum. Repeat as needed until there’s no far more lint that may be removed from the cavity.

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Step three: Disconnect the Dryer Duct
Lint Clogged Vertical and Corner Dryer Ducts

Unplug the dryer and turn off the gas valve at the dryer (for gas dryers). Disconnect the duct joint closest to the dryer, then gently pull the dryer away in the wall. Disconnect the remaining exposed sections of dryer duct. In the event the sections are taped, remove and discard the tape.

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Step four: Vacuum the Ductwork
dryer duct brush

Attach the round duct brush head to the flexible fiberglass shaft, following the brush kit manufacturer’s directions. Insert the brush into every duct section and sweep it clean by using a rotating motion while pushing the brush back and forth. Pull out the brush and clean the head frequently.

Clean the remainder with the duct run working with exactly the same tactics, adding extra sections from the versatile shaft as needed to reach the end from the rigid duct. Repeat till no additional lint comes out from the duct….
Additional
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Alternative Strategy
Use a Gong Brush as a Makeshift Dryer Duct Brush

If you never have a dryer vent brush kit, it is possible to use a long-handled scrub brush to clean brief sections of rigid duct. Even though the brush includes a limited reach, you can clean each and every duct section by going via both ends.