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How To Clean A Dryer Vent

by | Jan 29, 2025 | House Cleaning

Have you ever wondered what happens to the hot air from your clothes dryer?

It’s not magic — it’s your dryer vent working hard!

A dryer vent is a duct that takes hot air from your dryer and pushes it outside your home.

Over time, lint and dirt can build up inside it. This blocks airflow and poses a fire risk.

To deep clean a dryer vent, vacuum the duct from inside and outside your home.

Put on your gloves and mask — we’ll teach you how to battle that lint!

How Often to Clean | Signs to Clean | Before Cleaning | Deep Cleaning a Dryer Vent | How to Clean from Inside | How to Clean from Outside | Checking the Airflow | Maintenance Tips

 

Why You Need to Clean Your Dryer Vent

exterior dryer vent guard clogged with debris and dryer lint posing a safety hazard

Tempted to skip cleaning your dryer vent? Don’t – it could save your life!

Even if you clean your lint screen often, lint can still sneak into hidden spots, like dryer vents.

The bad news is that lint is super flammable and is a top cause of house fires.

Massive lint build-up also blocks airflow and forces your dryer to work harder.

That means slower drying and higher energy bills.

A clean dryer vent keeps your home safe and your dryer efficient while also saving you money!

 

How Often Should You Clean Your Dryer Vent?

General rule: Clean your dryer vent once a year.

If you use your dryer often or have a big family and pets, clean the dryer vent more frequently.

Here’s a handy dryer vent cleaning schedule:

  • If used once a week: Clean once a year
  • If used twice a week or more: Clean twice a year
  • If you have pets: Clean every 3-4 months

Of course, it wouldn’t hurt to clean your dryer vent more often than the recommended schedule. 

The cleaner it is, the better!

 

Signs You Need to Clean Your Dryer Vent

A clean dryer vent helps your clothes dry faster and prevents hot air from seeping into your home.

If you spot any of these signs of a clogged dryer vent, it’s time to clean it:

  • The lint trap fills up faster 
  • Your clothes take longer to dry than usual
  • The dryer feels hot to the touch while in use
  • The laundry room gets hotter as the dryer is running

Important: If you notice a burning smell from your dryer, unplug it and call a professional immediately!

 

Before Cleaning Your Dryer Vent

clean and spacious laundry room interior

Before tackling the dryer vent, clean your dryer first for a 100% lint-free finish.

Next, prepare your cleaning supplies and observe these safety tips.

 

What you need

Gather these materials for dryer vent cleaning:

  • Dish soap
  • Power drill
  • Warm water
  • Cloths or old towels
  • Dryer vent cleaning kit
  • Vacuum with a hose attachment

A dryer vent cleaning kit usually includes a thin brush and flexible rods.

These rods can be connected to make a long handle that can reach deep into the dryer vent.

If you don’t have one, use any long-handled brush like a toilet or bottle brush.

 

Safety precautions

Before cleaning your dryer vent, unplug the dryer. For gas dryers, shut the gas valve.

Be careful with cleaning products — avoid flammable ones and check the labels.

Collect all lint in a non-flammable container. Don’t rinse it down the drain, since this can clog your plumbing.

Lastly, wear gloves and a mask to protect yourself from dirt and lint.

 

Deep Cleaning a Dryer Vent

hand pulling vent hose to clean a dryer vent

To deep clean your dryer exhaust vent, vacuum and brush it from inside and outside your home.

Be sure to get these parts:

  • The vent on the back or side of the dryer 
  • The vent hose that connects your dryer to the duct in the wall or floor
  • The entire duct that leads to the outside of your house

If you live in an apartment and can’t access the exterior vent, talk to the building manager about hiring a professional HVAC service.

 

How to Clean a Dryer Vent From Inside

Before you start, it’s always a good idea to check the owner’s manual for any relevant cleaning instructions.

Afterwards, follow these steps to clean your dryer vent from inside your home. 

 

Step 1: Prepare the area

First, pull your dryer away from the wall. If needed, ask a friend or family member to help lift it.

You may find lots of lint and dirt hiding underneath the dryer. 

Grab a vacuum to tidy up the floor and the back of your dryer. Then wipe it down with a damp cloth to remove dust.

 

Step 2: Clean the vent hose

Vacuum cleaning a flexible aluminum dryer vent hose

Detach both ends of the vent hose from the back of the dryer and the duct in your wall.

Clean the vent on the dryer itself. Insert a thin brush and gently scrape away any debris.

Next, peek into the vent hose to check for lint and dirt.

Use a vacuum with a narrow nozzle or crevice attachment to clear out the gunk, and brush away any remaining lint.

Afterwards, rinse it with warm, soapy water and let it dry fully. 

Safety tip: Check the vent hose for holes and tears. If you spot any, replace the hose.

 

Step 3: Vacuum and brush the dryer vent pipe

Use a vacuum with a long hose attachment to reach inside the dryer vent duct in the wall.

Keep vacuuming until you’ve gotten most of the dirt out.

If your vacuum can’t reach the deeper end or there’s still a lot of lint left, use your dryer duct cleaning kit.

Connect the rods and secure them with duct or electrical tape for extra precaution. You don’t want them to come apart and get stuck inside!

Some vent cleaning kits can be connected to a power drill to make cleaning faster and easier. 

If you’re using a drill, begin with the low speed setting. Be sure to spin clockwise to keep the rods from coming loose.

Once you’re comfortable, you can switch to a medium speed.

If you opt not to use a drill, you can manually spin the brush. Just note that cleaning might take longer this way.

Next, use a flashlight to look inside the duct and check for any leftover lint.

Vacuum and brush as needed until the duct is clear of debris.

Tip: Want to speed up the cleaning? Place your vacuum near the duct’s opening while brushing inside to suck up any debris right away as it comes out.

 

Step 4: Clean up the floor

Once done, vacuum and mop your laundry room floor.

If it’s really grimy, scrub it with soapy water or any floor cleaner. 

 

How to Clean a Dryer Vent From Outside

Laundry dryer vent pipe on house exterior

Now, let’s tackle the dryer vent from outside your home! 

First, locate the exterior vent, where the hot air escapes. It’s usually near your laundry room. 

Once you’ve found it, follow these cleaning steps.

 

Step 1: Remove the exterior vent cover

Hand holding an exterior dryer lint trap full of lint

Unscrew the exterior vent cover if needed. 

If it’s been a while since your last clean, there’s likely plenty of lint and dirt stuck on the cover.

Scrub the cover clean using an old cloth and warm, soapy water then let it dry completely.

 

Step 2: Vacuum and brush the exterior vent

Insert the vacuum hose into the dryer exhaust duct to suck out the gunk. 

Then grab your dryer vent cleaning kit and brush away any remaining lint.

Keep vacuuming and brushing until it’s nice and clean. 

Finally, shine a flashlight into the pipe to make sure it’s completely cleared and spotless. 

 

Step 3: Tidy up

While you were cleaning the exterior vent, some lint could have been pushed back inside your home.

Take a moment to check your laundry room and clear away any stray lint. 

Also, clean around the exterior vent for a polished finish.

Check the ground and nearby objects, and make sure they’re free of dirt and debris.

 

Step 4: Reattach the vent cover

clothes dryer vent outside

Once everything is clean and looking great, you can reattach the vent cover. 

Make sure the cover is completely dry before putting it back, and don’t forget to tighten its screws.

 

Final Step: Check the Dryer Vent Airflow

For the final step, check the dryer vent airflow to make sure everything’s working smoothly.

First, carefully reattach the vent hose to the dryer and the wall. Make sure it’s tight and secure.

Then, slide the dryer back into place. Be careful not to twist or block the vent hose. 

Finally, run an empty cycle to test the airflow and push out any leftover lint from the vent.

While the dryer is running, check if the vent pipe is blowing air properly. 

Go outside and feel near the exterior vent for a strong, steady flow of warm air. 

Weak or inconsistent airflow could mean there’s a blockage.

Check for smells or unusual sounds like rattling or whistling, which could mean a blockage or loose connection.

If everything seems fine, you’re all set!

 

How to Keep Your Dryer Vent Clean

To keep your dryer vent clean for longer, always clean the lint trap after every load. 

This is especially important if you use dryer sheets. They can leave a waxy residue that builds up over time.

It’s also a good idea to clean your washing machine regularly, particularly the lint filter if it has one.

Check your dryer vent often. Make sure nothing’s blocking your exterior vent, and keep an eye out for reduced airflow.

Lastly, keep your laundry room tidy and consider hiring a pro house cleaner for routine upkeep.

 

Dryer Vent Cleaning FAQs

The exterior of a bright yellow house wall with a white dryer vent full of lint

Got more questions about cleaning your clothes dryer vent? We’re here to help!

 

Can I clean my dryer vent myself?

Yes! You can clean your dryer vent yourself with a vacuum and a long-handled brush. 

Just follow the steps above to ensure safety and thorough cleaning.

However, you can hire a professional if you’re not up to the task or if you have allergies.

 

How long does it take to clean a dryer vent yourself?

Cleaning a dryer vent should take about an hour if you’ve been cleaning it yearly.

But if it’s been a while since your last deep cleaning, it might take a bit longer.

 

What’s the best way to unclog a dryer vent?

To unclog a dryer vent, clean the vent on the dryer, the vent hose, and the duct in your wall.

Clean the entire vent duct from inside and outside your home.

Use a vacuum to suck out the lint and a long-handled brush to clear any buildup inside the duct. 

Some use a dryer duct cleaning kit attached to a power drill, but you can also use a toilet brush. 

 

Is it better to clean dryer vents from inside or outside?

It’s best to do both! 

Start cleaning from inside your home, then clean from outside to ensure the vent is unobstructed. 

This also ensures that you’ve cleaned the entire length of the pipe.

 

Can you use a leaf blower to clean a dryer vent?

Yes, a leaf blower can help push out excess lint from your dryer vent.

Before doing this, remove the exterior vent cover. Then attach something to the exterior vent to catch the blown-out lint and debris.

You can use an old pantyhose or a rubbish bag that’s tightly fastened to the exterior vent.

However, this method won’t do a thorough job. Be sure to vacuum and brush the vent afterwards to remove all lint.

About Author

Sophie Franklin

Sophie is the subject matter expert within Maid2Match. Most importantly though she is our biggest fan girl and generous in sharing what she knows.

Share

About Author

Sophie Franklin

Sophie is the subject matter expert within Maid2Match. Most importantly though she is our biggest fan girl and generous in sharing what she knows.

Share