Q: What does it take to service a tumble dryer?
A: Lint is the big problem. Most people know how to clean the lint filter after each load, but is it really necessary to use a lint brush or water as some tips on the internet suggest?
In truth, removing the lint by hand works best. Starting at one edge of the screen, roll the plush into a bundle while swiping to the other edge. Avoid bringing in water. As a Maytag handbook states, "wet lint is difficult to remove."
However, over time residue, especially fabric softener, can build up and clog the lint filter openings, so it's a good idea to do a more thorough cleaning with water from time to time. After you've removed most of the lint, you can move the strainer to a sink as usual. Run hot water over the mesh, then gently scrub both sides with an old toothbrush or nylon-bristle brush. Rinse the strainer well and then dry it with a clean towel. When reinserting, make sure it is secure.
Manufacturers make lint filters easy to clean, but that doesn't apply to other places where lint also collects, including the gap under the lint filter, the duct that exhausts hot air from the tumble dryer, the outside hood of a home, and the inside of the tumble dryer Wardrobe.
Of these, the hole under the filter is the easiest to clean. With the filter out, look down and you will likely see lint and dirt particles that have fallen off the lint filter. A long-handled brush, like Sold_By_Cheapnwork's Lint Trap Cleaner Brush ($6.83 at Amazon ), can get the most out of it, but a vacuum works even better. Typical vacuum crevice tools aren't long or thin enough, so fit a narrower, more flexible attachment. Vinyl tubing about ½ inch wide and 18 to 24 inches long from a hardware store can work if you use a rag to plug the air gap where one end of the tubing fits a little into the stick. Or get a tool designed specifically for this, like the Sealegend Dryer Vent Cleaning Kit ($19.99 on Amazon ), which includes an optional guide wire to help you align the tube. The mounting adapter fits suction rods with a diameter of up to 62 millimeters.
Also, make it a habit to regularly check and clean the range hood, where the air exits from your home's dryer. Remove any fluff from the outside that could prevent the hood flaps from opening and closing freely. If the opening is fitted with a screen to keep insects out, take extra care to clean the screen frequently to prevent lint from building up and starting a fire.
Twice a year or once every two years (depending on how many clothes you wash) clean the pipe that connects the dryer to the hood. A sign that it's time to clean: The dryer isn't drying clothes as well as it used to. Depending on your setup, drain cleaning with homeowner tools can be relatively easy, tedious, or nearly impossible.
If the dryer is near the outside wall where the air exits and you have room to maneuver the machine in and out or access the back of the dryer from the side, you can probably do it yourself without tools other than a screwdriver . or a wrench, a dryer brush and a vacuum cleaner. Unplug the dryer and, if it is a gas model, turn off the gas and unplug. Loosen the clamps (such as ring clamps or screw clamps) or remove the tape holding the wire between the machine and the wall. Then run your hand with the brush through the opening in the bottom of the dryer, loosen and vacuum up the fluff.
Also check and clean the ducts that connect the machine to the wall. Replace any kinked or punctured flexible tubing, or any plastic or thin sheet metal tubing. Use semi-rigid or rigid metal tubing, which is softer on the inside and less likely to attract lint. Then reattach the zip ties and wrap the connections with aluminum foil tape, which will hold up better than regular duct tape over time. Do not screw the connections together, otherwise the tips of the screws will penetrate inside and catch fluff.
If you have a long duct, you won't be able to reach far enough to effectively clean it with a brush and vacuum. Smart House Inc.'s Dryer Vent Cleaning Kit ($24.95 on Amazon ) can clean ducts up to 20 feet long, but some customers have had broken sections deep in the ducts. And even if you only have a short run, remember that reinstalling the hose clamps can be trickier than it seems, especially if the dryer duct and vent aren't lined up exactly at right angles. .
Consider hiring a professional to clean your ducts, especially if you have a long run. Nowadays, that probably means hiring a company that specializes in cleaning heating and air conditioning ducts, since appliance repair companies no longer offer this service. Some companies on both coasts have estimated the cost of cleaning a dryer vent to be $130 to $160.
The remaining area to clean is the inside of the dryer cabinet. The Consumer Product Safety Commission and several manufacturers recommend that a professional remove the top or front panel, depending on how the dryer is built, to access the inside of the machine and vacuum any lint that may have passed through the dryer drum. Dryer. If you want to do it yourself, YouTube videos are available for some models, and Family Handyman also has a helpful guide online . (Search for "tips on cleaning dryer lint" on familyhandyman.com . ) But make sure you unplug the dryer and turn off the gas first.
A problem at home? Send your questions to localliving@washpost.com . Put "How To" in the subject line, let us know where you live and try to include a photo.
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