While a complete dryer cleaning is a good thing twice a year or so, I am tackling the lint trap and dryer vent specifically today. This is such a good thing because a lint filled lint trap or dryer vent is a major fire hazard.
On those twice a year more thorough cleanings, I take my dryer apart to clean the lint more completely. However, this is a quick fix and a way to reduce your fire hazard probabilities if this is done once a month or so depending on the use of your dryer.
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Doing this quick clean on your lint trap doesn’t have to be a daunting task, however, and there is one amazing trick that makes it so much easier.
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Here’s what you will need:
- Vacuum with hose attachment
- empty cardboard paper towel roll or even better, an empty gift wrap cardboard tube (this is the trick)
- box or packing tape
- soft bristled scrub brush
- dish soap or vinegar
First, remove the lint trap and run it under water to begin cleaning
The lint usually sticks some, so then you can use a small amount of dish soap or vinegar and your scrub brush to lightly loosen up the lint.
Make sure it is rinsed well
Set aside to dry
While that is drying, vacuum up or wipe up any loose lint on the outside of the lint trap area in the dryer
Third, attach your cardboard roll to your vacuum attachment using the box tape
Make a tight seal to maintain suction. If you are using a wrapping paper roll, you may need to cut it down a bit. However, with the longer tube you will be able to reach further in your dryer more easily.
Fourth, use your newly created extended hose to clean down inside the vent itself
You can bend it to make it get down there just as you need it. This is such a slick trick!
Lastly, head outside to clean the vent from the outside
Just find where your dryer vent comes out of your house, open up the vent, reach in, and clean it out.
Easy peasy, right?
Really, it can’t get any easier!
Next time, clean your dryer’s lint trap using this one simple trick!
Looking for more on cleaning?
Check out the easy ways to:
clean your window tracks
clean your stinky shower
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make cleaning fun for your kids
even keep white couches clean
tackle laundry stains
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Nina says
September 26, 2016 at 5:40 pmMay want to unplug dryer first for safety’s sake.
Jennifer says
October 9, 2016 at 2:12 pmGreat tip! Thanks for sharing!
Laurie says
June 7, 2017 at 10:26 amU can also buy a dryer lint cleaner (only a couple bucks usually in the section where clothes pins & ironing boards are) looks like a really long ole fashion baby bottle cleaner. Works amazing & U oughta see what u find after u run it under ur fridge!!! This is a great idea, too!!
Jennifer says
June 14, 2017 at 12:06 pmgreat tips! Thank you for sharing!
MJ says
September 1, 2017 at 12:05 pmI tried this but it didn’t work. The cardboard tube just collapses on itself and doesn’t suck up anything!
Jennifer says
September 1, 2017 at 2:14 pmHmmm. I’m sorry. Perhaps tubes vary in thickness?
Annie says
August 2, 2018 at 12:03 pmI bought a new cotton blanket to put on my sofa and washed it before using it. I have never in my life seen as much lint as what collected in the dryer lint trap. It’s so much that I’m afraid to use my dryer before getting it all out. I was so excited to see this idea but my vacuum sucked the paper towel tube closed the minute I turned on the vacuum. Im so disappointed because this seems like such a great idea.
Jennifer says
August 2, 2018 at 1:50 pmWell that is a bummer. I am so sorry. I wonder if the wattage or whatever the sucking power of your vacuum makes a difference? I never thought of it, but I guess that could be the reason…so it might.
Ven says
November 25, 2018 at 1:49 pmThis totally worked for us, but we did use two people and we had to press the end of the paper roll into the lint before turning on vacuum. If paper towel roll was not pressed into the lint then it did collapse.
Jennifer says
November 26, 2018 at 2:21 pmGreat! Thanks so much for sharing!
Marisa Hill says
November 26, 2018 at 12:18 pmI tried it with a wrapping paper roll, and even though the lint was too big of a wad to go through the wrapping paper tube, I simply kept the vacuum on while slowly pulling the tube out of the trap. The suction held on to the lint until I pulled it out. Worked great!
Jennifer says
November 26, 2018 at 2:21 pmGreat! Glad to hear it! Thanks for sharing!