If you're looking to keep your home safe from the risk of fire, it's essential to clean your dryer vent regularly. But can you clean your dryer vent from inside the house? The answer is yes! Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it. First, remove the lint collector from the dryer and vacuum up the lint. Then, disconnect the dryer vent from the wall and vacuum the vent and the area around it.
Using a hose attachment, turn on the vacuum and suck all over the vent inlet. Put it inside the dryer's exhaust duct and vacuum as much as you can. Before you go back inside, use a microfiber cloth and warm water and soap to clean the outer vent cover. In addition, sweep or vacuum up any loose debris that has come out of the dryer's ventilation grille. When you finish going out, you'll also need to sweep or vacuum any hair, lint, and other debris that has fallen through the ventilation grille of the dryer inside.
The lint trap in most dryers is located at the top of the appliance, but it is also located at the bottom of the dryer door. If applicable, place a brush in a drill and use the rotation of the drill to clean the inside of the ventilation grill. In some cases, the dryer vent grille is too long for the vacuum hose to reach the other end, so you can buy a dryer duct cleaning kit with a flexible brush to clean the vent and several extensions. Typically, the indoor vent end is located just behind or above the dryer, while the outdoor vent end is located outside the house, close to where the laundry room is located. If you're not sure if you need to clean your dryer vent or if you can leave it for another month, there are some signs that might indicate that your ventilation grille needs to be cleaned. One sign is that clothes are not completely dry when the cycle ends or that they take longer to dry than usual.
In addition, if your dryer heats up to the touch, if clothes come out hotter than normal, or if laundry heats up and gets damp during drying cycle, it's time to clean your dryer's ventilation grille. If you have pets that lose clothes or a large family that requires your electric or gas dryer to be in constant use, you should count on additional cleaning throughout the year. Keep in mind that flexible ventilation grilles made of plastic, aluminum foil, or vinyl tend to accumulate microfiber residue faster than straight dryer ducts and can increase your risk of fire. Cleaning your dryer vent from inside your house is an important part of keeping your home safe from fire hazards. Make sure to regularly check for signs that indicate it's time for a cleaning and take great care to ensure that your dryer vents are always clean and free of residue.