3 Reasons to Clean Your Dryer Vent (And How to Do It)

January 17, 2018 by Jason Loper

There are those homekeeping tasks that are hard to ignore because they’re right in front of us. We all remember to empty the lint trap on the dryer because it’s right there front and center. But then there are those homekeeping tasks that live out of sight and thus out of mind. Those hidden tasks – like cleaning the dryer vent – are just as important. Here are three reasons you should clean the dryer vent in your home.

1. Lint that has collected in the dryer vent can be a fire hazard.
No matter how diligent you are about cleaning the lint trap on your dryer (and, for the record, you should clean the lint trap after EVERY load), there are still a lot of little fuzzies that end up trapped in the dryer vent. This collected lint can become a fire hazard when it builds up.

2. Your dryer has to work harder.
Built up lint in the dryer vent can block air flow, which can lead to longer drying times. Keeping the vent clean will keep your dryer in top top working order.

3. You’re wasting energy.
Those longer drying times will waste energy. And wasted energy is also wasted money.

How to Clean Your Dryer Vent

• First, pull the dryer away from the wall. The vent is located on the back of the dryer so you’ll need to pull the unit out in order to access it. If you’re unable to move the dryer on your own, consider hiring a cleaning service to perform the task.

• Next, disconnect the dryer from the power source.

• Then, disconnect the flexible duct from the back of the dryer as well as from the wall vent. Using a vacuum cleaner hose, clear the duct of all lint. Also use the vacuum hose to clean up any lint that is clinging to the wall vent or to the back of the dryer.

• Once everything is clean, reattach the dryer duct, connect the power cord to the outlet and then move the dryer back into place.

Jason Loper

Jason Loper is a self-professed doyen of the domestic arts. In other words, he hasn’t met a household project he hasn’t enjoyed tackling. His latest project is renovating a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed American System-Built Home in Iowa.