With these tips, you can clean your dryer and keep it from becoming a fire hazard
You might think that a dryer doesn’t really get dirty. After all, it is used to dry clean clothes! But your dryer can actually become a fire hazard if you don’t clean it often enough. That is why you should clean your dryer every once in a while. And with the tricks listed below, cleaning your dryer won’t be a problem for you!
How often should you clean it?
The first question that comes to mind is; how often should you actually clean your dryer? A lot of people already clean their lint screen right after their laundry is done. Not only does this reduce the risk of fire, it also helps your dryer to dry your clothes more effectively. But the lint screen isn’t the only part of your dryer that needs cleaning. Once a month, you should take some time to clean the inside of your drum, the dryer duct and the outside vent (if your dryer has one).
How to clean it
According to The Spruce, the top cause of dryer fires is accumulated lint. Dryer vents that are clogged-up with dust and lint are the cause for a lot of fires, and with that; fire damage. So, to protect your home and your clothes, try the methods below to clean your dryer properly.
Step 1: How to clean the lint screen
Usually, when you clean your lint screen, you just remove the layer of lint that is stuck to it. But once a month, you should clean the screen completely. And you can easily do this with a bucket of water mixed with soap. If you put the lint screen in the water and let it sit for a while, you can scrub it afterwards with a soft brush. That will remove all the lint from your lint screen.
Step 2: Clean the vent or duct
Your dryer usually has a dryer vent (the exhaust pipe of your dryer) or duct, as some people call them. And those can get clogged up with lint too. So, it is always best to thoroughly clean your ductwork. It would be easiest to use a lint brush for this. First, you need to pull your dryer out from the wall. That way you can reach the vent and clean it properly.
Step 3: Clean the outside vent
The dryer vent exits on the outside of the house. And that can be filled with lint too. But luckily, this can be cleaned with a lint brush as well. You just need a longer one to stick inside the vent and get all the lint out.
Step 4: Clean the drum
Now that you’ve cleaned your dryer vent and ductwork, you can clean the inside of the drum. Make sure that the dryer is unplugged for this step. All you need is some dishwashing liquid and a bucket of warm water. Mix the two together and use a microfiber cloth to wipe down the inside of your dryer and dry it off with another microfiber cloth. Then, let it dry and air for about thirty minutes.
Now, your dryer is all clean and completely save to use again!
Also read: Got sweat stains in your clothes? Don’t put them in the dryer!
Source: The Spruce | Image: Unsplash