How to clean a dryer and dryer vent, plus ink in the drum

Step by step

1. 1

   Clean the lint screen every load

   Pull out the lint screen and peel off the lint before or after every load. Never run the dryer without the screen in place.

   Why: The U.S. Fire Administration and the NFPA both identify failure to clean as the leading cause of home dryer fires. Lint is highly combustible, and a clogged screen restricts airflow and raises temperatures.

2. 2

   Wash a waxy screen

   If you use dryer sheets or liquid softener, check the screen for a waxy film or residue that clogs the mesh. Scrub it with a soft brush in hot, soapy water, rinse, and let it dry completely before refitting.

   Why: Softener residue can coat the mesh with an invisible film that blocks airflow even when the screen looks clean.

3. 3

   Unplug and pull the dryer out

   Unplug the dryer. For a gas dryer, also turn off the gas supply and take care not to strain the gas line. Slide the dryer out and vacuum the lint from the floor, the back of the cabinet and the lint-screen slot.

   Why: Lint builds up out of sight around and behind the machine. Iowa State's AnswerLine suggests pulling the dryer out about once a year.

4. 4

   Clean the duct and dryer outlet

   Disconnect the duct from the back of the dryer and the wall. Run a long dryer-vent brush through it and the wall pipe, and vacuum the dryer's outlet. Check that the duct isn't crushed or kinked when you reconnect it.

   Why: This is where most hidden lint collects. A crushed duct restricts airflow as badly as a clogged one.

5. 5

   Clear the outside vent hood

   Outside, remove lint from the vent hood and run the dryer briefly to confirm the flap opens and air flows out. Keep it clear of snow in winter.

   Why: A blocked exhaust traps heat and lint inside the system, and humid exhaust that can't escape can cause mildew in walls.

6. 6

   Replace plastic or foil ducting

   If the duct is white vinyl or foil-covered plastic, replace it with rigid or flexible metal duct.

   Why: Iowa State's AnswerLine notes plastic and foil-vinyl ducts aren't permitted by current building codes; metal sustains airflow and is safer in a fire.

Why a dryer needs more than an empty lint screen

The lint screen catches most fibers, but not all of them. Lint also settles in the cabinet, the duct and the outside vent hood. As it builds up, airflow drops: loads take longer, the dryer runs hotter, and highly combustible lint sits next to the heat source. That combination is why the U.S. Fire Administration says you're at higher risk of a dryer fire if you don't clean the lint filter and vents.

How often: empty the lint screen every load. Clean the vent pipe at least once a year, and sooner if clothes are taking longer than normal to dry, as the NFPA advises. Pull the dryer out about yearly to vacuum behind it. Long or hard-to-reach vent runs are worth a professional dryer-vent cleaning service, and the NFPA recommends having a qualified professional check the gas line and connection on gas dryers.

Getting ink and other stains out of a dryer drum

A pen that went through the wash and dryer can leave ink streaks on the drum, which then transfer to the next load. One appliance maker's method:

1. Unplug the dryer, and find every mark with a flashlight. Feel for sticky or oily spots too.
2. Ink: wipe the marks with rubbing alcohol on a cloth, then wipe away the residue with a damp cloth. Leave the door open so the fumes clear.
3. Sticky residue (crayon, gum, melted candy): run the empty dryer on a medium setting for about five minutes, then wipe the drum with rags while the residue is soft.
4. Final check: run a cycle with a few damp towels or rags to pick up any remaining residue before you dry clothes again. If you wipe the drum with alcohol at the end, leave the door open for an hour before running it.

For the clothes themselves, see ink on clothes and crayon on clothes. Check the stained load before it goes back in the dryer, because dryer heat can set ink.

By situation

Ink stain on the dryer drum

Unplug, wipe with rubbing alcohol, wipe with a damp cloth, air out with the door open, then tumble damp rags to catch any transfer. Rubbing alcohol is flammable, so let the fumes fully clear before you turn the dryer back on.

Clothes take longer to dry than they used to

That's the classic sign of a restricted vent. Check the lint screen for film, then clean the duct and outside hood, and look for a crushed duct behind the dryer.

The laundry room feels hot or humid when the dryer runs

The exhaust isn't getting outside. Check that the duct is connected at both ends and that the outside flap opens. Humid exhaust trapped indoors can cause mildew.

Clothes with gasoline, oil or solvent on them

The NFPA says not to put them straight in the dryer. Lay them outside to dry first, then wash and dry as usual.

Waxy residue from dryer sheets

Wash the lint screen as above. Dryer sheets and softener can also leave greasy spots on clothes; see fabric softener stains.

What not to do

• Don't run the dryer without a lint filter, or with a clogged one. It lets lint into the cabinet and duct and raises the fire risk.
• Don't use plastic or foil-vinyl flexible duct. Current codes require metal ducting for airflow and fire safety.
• Don't leave the dryer running when you go out or go to bed. Fire-safety advice from the NFPA and Iowa State Extension.
• Don't run the dryer right after wiping it with alcohol. Rubbing alcohol fumes are flammable; leave the door open for an hour first.
• Don't store boxes, cleaning supplies or clothes around the dryer. The NFPA advises keeping the area around it clear of anything that can burn.

Other methods that work

Professional dryer-vent cleaning

Recommended by the NFPA for long, high or hard-to-reach vent runs, where a brush can't reach the whole length.

Damp-rag cycle for drum residue

After removing a stain, tumbling a few damp towels or rags picks up any remaining traces so they don't reach clothes.

Caution: Use rags you don't mind staining.

Stain still there?

Ink came back onto the next load

Residue remained on the drum or the fins. Unplug, check with a flashlight, wipe again with rubbing alcohol, air it out, and run another damp-rag cycle.

The dryer is still slow after cleaning the screen

The blockage is in the duct or outside hood. Clean both, check for kinks or a crushed section, and call a vent-cleaning service for long runs.

The lint screen looks clean but the mesh seems blocked

It's probably coated with softener residue. Scrub it in hot soapy water with a soft brush, rinse and dry fully.

Safety

• Unplug the dryer before cleaning, and turn off the gas on gas models.
• Rubbing alcohol is flammable: ventilate and leave the door open for an hour before running the dryer.
• Have a qualified professional inspect gas dryer lines and connections.

Never mix cleaning products; see chemicals you must never combine.

Questions

More guides for this room

• How to clean a hat and get sweat stains out
• How to clean a washing machine and get rid of the smell