You cleaned the lint trap. Good. We're not finished.
Lint accumulates beyond the lint screen in the dryer exhaust system and restricts airflow. That means longer drying times and increased fire risk.
LaLa's 60-second version of this is coming.
Watch it here, or on TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Instagram or Pinterest.
The 30-second version
- 1.You cleaned the lint trap. Good. We're not finished.
- 2.Check the manufacturer's recommendations.
- 3.Clean the lint screen every single load.
- 4.Vacuum the screen housing.
- 5.Unplug the dryer and pull it out.
- 6.If your vent run is long, goes through a roof, or you can't reach the blockage, hire a professional vent cleaner. That is money well spent, and it is cheaper than the alternative.
Short on time? That's the whole thing. #DidYouCleanThat
Check
- Lint screen
- Screen housing
- Accessible ducting
- Exterior vent hood
01 — The problem
The lint screen catches some of it. The rest travels into the duct behind the dryer and out toward the wall, and it stays there, packing tighter every load.
02 — Why you should care
- Restricted airflow means everything takes two or three cycles to dry.
- Your dryer runs hotter and longer, which costs money and shortens its life.
- Lint is fuel. Dryer exhaust buildup is a documented fire risk.
- Damp, slow-drying laundry starts to smell.
“If one load of towels takes until Thursday, your dryer may be trying to tell you something.”
03 — What you need
- A dryer vent brush kit
- A vacuum with a crevice or hose attachment
- A screwdriver or nut driver for the duct clamp
- A flashlight or headlamp
04 — How to do it
- 01Check the manufacturer's recommendations.Your manual tells you the duct type, the maximum run length and the cleaning interval for your model. Start there, not with a video.
- 02Clean the lint screen every single load.Not most loads. Every one. If water beads on the screen instead of running through, wash it with soap and a brush, then dry it fully.
- 03Vacuum the screen housing.The slot the screen slides into collects a surprising amount. A crevice tool reaches it.
- 04Unplug the dryer and pull it out.Gas dryer? Do not disturb the gas line. If you can't move it without stressing the connection, this is the point where you call somebody.
- 05Inspect the accessible ducting.Loosen the clamp, pull the duct off, and look. Crushed, kinked or packed solid all mean the same thing: airflow is gone.
- 06Brush and vacuum what you can reach.Work the brush in and back out, then vacuum the loose lint. Do the same from the outside vent hood if you can reach it safely.
- 07Check the outside flap.With the dryer running, the exterior flap should open with steady air behind it. Weak or no airflow means the blockage is still in there.
- 08Watch your drying times.One load of towels should not need three cycles. Unusually long drying is the earliest warning you get, and it means the duct needs another look or a professional cleaning.
Three stages. Tick what you've done, and the last card tells you whether to call somebody.
Stage 1 — The lint screen
This is the every-load habit. Two seconds, and it is the single biggest thing you control.
05 — Don't do this
- Don't use flexible foil or plastic accordion duct. Rigid or semi-rigid metal is the standard.
- Don't shove the dryer back so hard it crushes the duct into an S behind the machine.
- Don't run the dryer with the vent disconnected.
- Don't ignore a burning smell. Shut it off.
06 — Know when to stop
If your vent run is long, goes through a roof, or you can't reach the blockage, hire a professional vent cleaner. That is money well spent, and it is cheaper than the alternative.
07 — LaLa's pick
If LaLa says it works, it works. Nothing gets the seal until she's used it.
Dryer vent brush kit
Flexible rods that reach past the elbow.
Vacuum crevice attachment
For the screen housing and the loose lint.
Semi-rigid metal duct
If yours is foil or plastic, replace it.
Questions people actually ask
- How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?
- About once a year for most households, more often with a long duct run, a large family or pets.
- What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
- Long drying times, a hot laundry room, a hot dryer cabinet, a burning smell, or weak airflow at the outside vent.
While we're at it
08 — Ask LaLa™
Still stuck on this one?
Try something like “My dryer takes three cycles to dry towels.” and tell her what's actually happening.