A lint trap is a component of the clothes dryer that filters the air vented out during the drying circle by trapping the lint in that air. Without that lint filter, excessive amounts of lint would build up in the dryer vent hose, causing harm to the dryer’s efficiency and life span, and increasing the […]
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A lint trap is a component of the clothes dryer that filters the air vented out during the drying circle by trapping the lint in that air. Without that lint filter, excessive amounts of lint would build up in the dryer vent hose, causing harm to the dryer’s efficiency and life span, and increasing the risk of fire. You need to clean the dryer’s lint trap between every batch of clothes, and in this article, we will provide you with some pointers to make this job easier.
So where does the lint trap lie on a dryer? Depending on the make and the model of the dryer, the location of the filter may vary. Typically, you may find it at the following locations:
In order to devise the best way to clean the dryer’s filter, you should first learn what are the things that may build up on the part. As it turns out, what often deposits on the lint screen is not just the lint; the residual fabric softener also gets trapped on the screen, creating a film that you may not see with plain eyes.
To clean the dryer’s filter, you’ll need some preparations. The tools to clean the dryer’s filter consist of the following:
Clean the lint screen by following these simple steps:
You’ll have to rinse and repeat this process multiple times until the film of the residual fabric softener gets completely cleaned up. To make sure that the screen is fully cleaned up, drop some water drops on the lint and see whether the water goes through the screen easily. If not, then you have to wash the screen again.
Another way to do this is to fill the sink with hot water enough for the lint filter to soak, pour in some dish soap/vinegar, and do the washing and brushing in that water. Again, check to see whether the water passes through the screen easily. Once it does, meaning that the film of fabric softener residual has got cleaned up, rinse the screen again with normal water.
As for how often you should clean the dryer lint filter, you should do it after every drying batch. Though the good news is, that it does get a lot easier for each attempt when you do it frequently. And your dryer gets healthier from that too.
Step 3: Leave the lint trap to air dry completely before reattaching it to the dryer
Despite how we wish for the lint problem to be solved just by washing the filter, it is simply not. The truth is, while being reduced by the filter, the lint does get past the lint screen and might accumulate in other places inside the dryer, and the filter slot underneath the lint screen is the place where it accumulates the most.
Before any cleaning attempt, you should first unplug the dryer in order to not get zapped, as you may need to unbolt some screws.
To clean the dryer’s filter slot, once you have removed the lint screen, you may use an extended vacuum cleaner to snake inside the slot and vacuum the lint out. The problem with this method is that not every lint filter slot can fit in a vacuum hose, and also that you don’t have a lot of control over the process. So for a better deep clean, you may need to take the lint filter slot out from the dryer.
Depending on the type of dryer, the lint trap compartment can be accessed by either removing the front or the backplate of the dryer. For the top-filter dryer, a.k.a the type of dryer with the lint trap on a corner of the top plate near the control, it would be at the back. And for the front-load dryer, a.k.a. the ones with the lint traps just behind the dryer’s door, you’ll have to remove the front plate. Be prepared to remove a lot of screws. Also, be careful with the wires, as dryers may have wired devices attached to the plate; you’ll have to remove these devices first. In addition, to facilitate the cleaning process, a dryer lint cleaner could come in handy. This tool could help us to reach the smallest area of the dryer.
Once you have opened up the dryer and get access to the lint trap compartment underneath the lint screen slot, take it out. Then remove the lint inside it by hand or with a vacuum cleaner. Then reattach the lint trap slot and rewire and reattach the front/backplate.
Beyond the lint trap slot, the lint may as well pass into the dryer cabinet, causing the components of the machine to work less efficiently and sometimes even leading to fire hazards. So lint must be cleaned before too much builds up.
To gain full access to the dryer’s cabinet, you will need to remove the dryer’s front plate and the drum. Follow these steps to clean the accumulated lint from the dryer’s cabinet.
As for how often to clean the dryer’s lint filter, we would recommend cleaning the lint filter after every batch. For a more thorough cleaning that requires taking out the lint filter slot and opening up the dryer’s cabinet, once every 6 months might be sufficient. This should be done in hand with the dryer vent cleaning. Additionally, frequent cleaning is the key to maintaining the machine’s performance and longevity. If not adequately cleaned of lint, the machine might not even be able to dry your batches of clothes. Therefore, increasing risk over the dryer is inevitable, and a clothes dryer fire could happen if a user is unaware of the safety standards.
This guide to clean the dryer’s lint trap, along with frequent cleaning of the dryer’s exhaust vent, will help you take care of some if not most of the lint problems that your dryer may have. But if these simple fix doesn’t take care of your dryer problems, do consult a professional appliance repair specialist.
You can find more DYI cleaning tips and guides at Sparkling and Beyond’s website. We provide professional and affordable cleaning services for your kitchen and any other part of the house, for any degree of need. Together, let’s keep your home sparkling clean and healthy.
As the admin of Sparkling & Beyond, I bring a wealth of knowledge and passion for excellence in the cleaning industry. With years of experience in providing top-notch cleaning solutions, I am dedicated to sharing valuable insights and tips to help maintain pristine and healthy living environments. My mission is to ensure every home and office we service sparkles with cleanliness and comfort.
