Appliances · moderate safety risk
Clean the dryer lint path
Reduce drying time and lower the risk of lint-related fire.
- How often
- Every 3 months
- Time
- 25 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Editorial status
- Awaiting human review
Before you begin
Tools
- Vacuum with crevice tool
- Flashlight
How to do it
- Clean the lint screen and inspect it for residue.
- Unplug the dryer and vacuum the accessible lint-screen cavity.
- Inspect the flexible connector for crushing or damage.
- Confirm the exterior flap opens freely while the dryer runs.
Stop and get help when
- Burning smell
- Scorched lint
- Damaged power cord
- Dryer unusually hot
Hire a qualified dryer-vent professional when the full duct is inaccessible, damaged, unusually long, or still has poor airflow after accessible cleaning.
Sources and review
Written by Upkeeping editorial team. This draft is awaiting human subject-matter and safety review and is not eligible for search indexing.