Tool for cleaning a dryer vent??

[aristocatz]

First home, first washer & dryer, & Home Depot is like a foreign country to me lol!

Is there a tool I can buy to help clean out our dryer vent? I wipe the screen after every use, but I would like to try & find a tool that will reach down into the vent & pull out any extra lint & such every once in a while.

Does such a tool exist & what is it called?? Besides my own hand obviously-I want something to be able to reach all the way down to do a full clean out every so often.

Thanks!

 

[mickeyboat]

How about your vacuum cleaner? DH disconnects the vent every so often and vacuums it out.

 

[aristocatz]

How about your vacuum cleaner? DH disconnects the vent every so often and vacuums it out.

Thank you-I didn't think of that!! Is that what most people use? Again, please forgive my ignorance-we used the laundromat for the past 5 years and just bought our first home last Spring.

 

[BunsenH]

I just use a shop-vac.

Is the hose the flexible type? I compress it until its short enough to vacuum most of it. Disconnect the hose from the dryer and vacuum that area also.

Keep up that new homeowner enthusiasm. Do you clean behind the refrigerator too?

 

[almburr]

The Lint Lizard. works. it goes in through the lint trap.

 

[Zandy595]

The Lint Lizard. works. it goes in through the lint trap.

My hose attachment for my vacuum isn't small enough to fit in my dryer lint trap, so I bought a Lint Lizard and I love it. I couldn't believe how much packed in lint came out the first time we used it.

 

[aristocatz]

I just use a shop-vac.

Is the hose the flexible type? I compress it until its short enough to vacuum most of it. Disconnect the hose from the dryer and vacuum that area also.

Keep up that new homeowner enthusiasm. Do you clean behind the refrigerator too?

LOL-I'm not sure if I would call it new homeowner enthusiasm or new home/new baby paranoia lol. A home in a nearby town caught fire due to their dryer vent so I got nervous!!

The Lint Lizard. works. it goes in through the lint trap.

Ooh I will look for one of those-thank you!!

 

[POOHsie]

Thank you-I didn't think of that!! Is that what most people use? Again, please forgive my ignorance-we used the laundromat for the past 5 years and just bought our first home last Spring.

Congratulations on your first home purchase. It's a great idea to vacuum up the lint. Dryer fires are for real. One thing my DH did was replace the flexible dryer hose. Who knows how long the old homeowners had used it. DH also replaced the washing machine hose, and toilet clean water connections with the flexible metal ones. In one of our previous homes, the toilet connection failed (old age?) and could have flooded the house if DH hadn't stopped back in mid-morning and noticed water on the bathroom floor.

 

[aristocatz]

Congratulations on your first home purchase. It's a great idea to vacuum up the lint. Dryer fires are for real. One thing my DH did was replace the flexible dryer hose. Who knows how long the old homeowners had used it. DH also replaced the washing machine hose, and toilet clean water connections with the flexible metal ones. In one of our previous homes, the toilet connection failed (old age?) and could have flooded the house if DH hadn't stopped back in mid-morning and noticed water on the bathroom floor.

Thank you I'm going to pass this info along to my DH. We did purchase the washer/dryer from the previous homeowners and I'm not sure how old they were or how well they were maintained.

 

[lorimay]

Good Housekeeping listing the Lint Lizard as the best "as seen on Tv" item they ever tried.

I got mine at CVS or Walgreens.

 

[BunsenH]

"Clean dryer vent hose" is a task that is on my "When you change the clocks" list. (Time to print it out!)

 

[lynxstch]

Good Housekeeping listing the Lint Lizard as the best "as seen on Tv" item they ever tried.

I got mine at CVS or Walgreens.

Seriously, does it work well? I was looking at them on Amazon earlier and most of the reviews were horrible..trying to get some more info, if you don't mind telling me if you would recommend it or not, and how well it does or doesn't work?

TIA

 

[Zandy595]

Seriously, does it work well? I was looking at them on Amazon earlier and most of the reviews were horrible..trying to get some more info, if you don't mind telling me if you would recommend it or not, and how well it does or doesn't work?

TIA

My hose attachment for my vacuum isn't small enough to fit in my dryer lint trap, so I bought a Lint Lizard and I love it. I couldn't believe how much packed in lint came out the first time we used it.

.

 

[JKMJ441724]

Good Housekeeping listing the Lint Lizard as the best "as seen on Tv" item they ever tried.

I got mine at CVS or Walgreens.

I have something that is like a long, flexible baby bottle cleaner. It is specifically made for the dryer. Got it at Walmart for $3.

 

[North of Mouse]

First home, first washer & dryer, & Home Depot is like a foreign country to me lol!

Is there a tool I can buy to help clean out our dryer vent? I wipe the screen after every use, but I would like to try & find a tool that will reach down into the vent & pull out any extra lint & such every once in a while.

Does such a tool exist & what is it called?? Besides my own hand obviously-I want something to be able to reach all the way down to do a full clean out every so often.

Thanks!

Agree with the pp's about the cleaning tool.

Also, be aware, that the lint filter builds up even when you clean it by hand.
IF you use dryer sheets there is a particular fire danger. To test it, hold the filter over the sink and pour a little water into it. If the water stays there, it needs a good water and brush cleaning. Liquid softners do not cause the same problem.

 

[ohiomom28]

If the dryer vents directly to an outside wall, its easier. Ours vents through the roof so we have to have it done professionally unless we want to get up there and do it ourselves.

Sent from my Galaxy S3 using DISBoards

 

[Skatermom23]

Try LintEater. It is the best gadget I have ever spent money on. I even called a company out to clean out the vent and they told me it was impossible and that I would need to re-do the duct work etc..... Not wanting to spend the money on such a major overhaul, we bought this Lint Eater thing. It attaches to a drill and let me tell you....It cleared the entire vent in minutes!

 

[Fire14]

I saw something for dryer lint in appliance dept of lowes. THe vaccum works wonderes on sucking out lint.

 

[tvguy]

My mom bought me an attachment that goes on my vaccuum cleaner. We usually end up using that, then bringing in my electric leaf blower to blow out the vent good. The leaf blower puts out a whole faster air stream than the dryer.

 

[Maridw]

I have something that is like a long, flexible baby bottle cleaner. It is specifically made for the dryer. Got it at Walmart for $3.

Yep - I got one of those too. Works great. I even take it to where the vent blows outside and run it through that opening. It also works great for getting dust bunnies from under the refrigerator and stove. Or for retrieving cat toys from either of those places.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Peerless-Dryer-Lint-Trap-Brush/17043684