clean dryer vent

[BernardJenkin]

How can one clean their dryer vent without hiring an outside service?

 

[tvguy]

I disconnected the dryer tubing inside and used a back scratcher to try and pull lint in. Then I put a trash bag on the vent, and put my leaf blower on the outside vent to blow any loose lint back in. Then I brought the leaf blower inside and tried to blow loose lint back out.

 

[sam_gordon]

If you have easy access to outside, that makes it better. But even if you don't, pull out the dryer enough to undo the hose and stick something through to pull out or suck out the lint.

 

[Owlpost23]

Try taking off the front panel off-you wouldn't believe the amount of lint that gets in there!

 

[SteveH]

Home Depot has a good walk through, How to Clean a Dryer Vent

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I disconnected the dryer tubing inside and used a back scratcher to try and pull lint in. Then I put a trash bag on the vent, and put my leaf blower on the outside vent to blow any loose lint back in. Then I brought the leaf blower inside and tried to blow loose lint back out.

We did what TVGuy does (used the leaf blower) and also used this lint eater kit with our drill to make sure we got all the lint out.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/LintEater-Dryer-Vent-Lint-Removal-Kit-White/50371152

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

We did what TVGuy does (used the leaf blower) and also used this lint eater kit with our drill to make sure we got all the lint out.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/LintEater-Dryer-Vent-Lint-Removal-Kit-White/50371152

We used one of these as well. You have to be careful to not break the poles (like we did) or not tighten them together enough (like we did) because they will come apart/break in the vent (luckily, it was close enough to reache with a pair of tongs). We also did the leaf blower thing, but only could do it from the outside vent down, because there was a mesh cover on the vent to prevent birds from nesting in it.

Clean out the dryer too. If you can remove the back, you'll find a bunch of lint under the drum usually. I take a Swiffer and dust down where the lint holder is about once a week, to help get some of the loose lint out.

 

[kymom99]

My husband used his snake from the outside vent. It can get wet out there causing clogs.

 

[lynxstch]

I disconnected the dryer tubing inside and used a back scratcher to try and pull lint in. Then I put a trash bag on the vent, and put my leaf blower on the outside vent to blow any loose lint back in. Then I brought the leaf blower inside and tried to blow loose lint back out.

exactly what I do..but do not use a back scratcher. I take the dryer vent hose off the back, (ours runs out thru the cellar wall and under the front porch, I put the hose on the end under the porch, go back to the laundry room and use the leaf blower on it (bought a more powerful one last year, and wow, it's fast!), then I take the hose off, take it out to the yard and run the leaf blower thru it. Put it back together and almost all the lint is gone. Once a year I take off the front or back of the dryer and use the cellar vac to clean out whatever is inside..

 

[Disneyfan754321]

We have a family member who does this for a living... he connects this brush to his drill.
https://www.amazon.com/Deflecto-Cleaning-Remover-Extends-Synthetic/dp/B00IB4BMDQIts kinda sickening if you knew it cost $15.00

 

[FigmentSpark]

We had an opening put in our ductwork in the basement. Every so often, I go down and take the cover off and clean it up easily.

 

[Skippy918]

Leaf blower. Run it through the dryer and then thru the vent. Blows a lot of it out.

 

[froggibabey]

We have the same drill attachment as a previous poster, and we use it probably 4 times a year. It's so easy... and tbh I love standing on the side and watching my husband get pelted with flying lint.

 

[mrodgers]

For a couple $$, I just replaced all the vent line. Much less hassle for very little money.

 

[NotUrsula]

For a couple $$, I just replaced all the vent line. Much less hassle for very little money.

LOL, not if you have my house. The vent hood fixture that goes through the wall was cut too short, so it's always an adventure trying to connect a new vent tube to the remaining 1/4" deep flange that actually clears the wall. (My house is double-course brick; so the walls are very thick.)

As to how I clean it, it's short, so I wire a loose wad of steel wool onto the end of a straightened clotheshanger, then work it into the tube and back out a few times. I also take off the front dryer panel.