How To Clean Your Dryer and Prevent Lint Fires

3/19/2021 (Permalink)

You should remove lint from the dryer filter regularly.

Here Are Some Tips For Preventing Dryer Fire

After doing several loads of laundry, you may not feel like cleaning out the dryer. Yet failing to do so could cause a lint fire in your Gothard, CA, home. A dirty dryer also may not function properly. You should thus remove lint from the filter before or after each load. You should also perform a deeper clean every six months. 

1. Clean the Lint Screen
Every time you use your dryer, lint builds up on the screen. Remove this lint before or after you run the dryer. Start by locating the screen on the dryer door and pulling it out of the appliance. Be careful not to bend the screen too much.
Use either your hand or a cleaning brush to lift the lint from the screen. The lint should come off fairly easily. Every few weeks, you should rinse the screen with water before putting it back into its slot. To prevent a lint fire, you may want to vacuum the screen vent, as well.

2. Clean the Interior Dryer
The interior of the dryer should be cleaned every six months. Remove and wipe the access panel. Then vacuum or wipe any dirt, debris or lint inside the machine.

3. Clean the Vents
You should clean the dryer vents twice a year, as well. After unplugging the dryer, remove the exhaust hose at the back of the appliance. This may require a screwdriver. Use a cleaning brush or vacuum attachment to remove the lint inside the hose. Finally, put a cleaning rod inside the wall vent and rotate its brush to loosen and eliminate excess lint.
A lint fire can quickly spread from the laundry room to the rest of your house. To prevent the need for fire damage cleanup services in your home, you should remove lint from the dryer filter regularly and perform semiannual cleanings of the appliance's vents and interior.