How To Clean Your Dryer

By: Sean

Content Writer

12 min read

Beginner

< 2 hours

Not sure exactly how to clean your dryer? Keeping this appliance pristine isn't just about appearances. It's about safety—fire safety, especially—and when done right, proper cleaning and maintenance can boost your dryer's longevity. Between simple lint removal, a more in-depth drum wipe down and even cleaning the vents, we've got all of the advice you'll need from Abt's in-house experts. Learn how to clean your dryer the right way from our trustworthy specialists.

How To Clean Your Dryer

You may only think of your dryer when it's time to wash and dry on laundry day, and you may rarely think about cleaning these powerful appliances themselves. So, how do you clean your dryer? It's not as hard as you might fear, and it is easy enough for you to tackle the majority of these tasks on your own (and on the regular). The main goal with learning how to clean your dryer is to promote fire safety, prolong your appliance's lifespan, and to treat your fabrics perfectly. A large part of that involves removing dust and lint from your dryer vent—a topic we've already covered here in our guide to cleaning your dryer vents. The rest we'll cover below.

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What You'll Need

You'll be cleaning multiple different parts of your dryer, so don't be surprised by the different tools and supplies that are necessary. With the right gear, you'll do it properly the first time.

Microfiber Cloth(s)
Mild Dish Soap
One Part Water and One Part Vinegar Solution Spray
Vacuum Cleaner &Crevice Tool
Soft Brush or Old Toothbrush
Optional: Gloves & a Mask

Keep Safety In Mind

Like cleaning a dryer vent, safety should be your top priority when learning how to clean your dryer. Unplug your appliance from the wall to prevent any shocks to you or your machine. For gas dryers, it's a good idea to shut off the gas supply—especially if you'll be cleaning your vents at the same time. If you're sensitive or even allergic to dust, wear a mask and gloves to protect yourself from dust and debris. Now it's time to learn how to clean your dryer from top to bottom.

Person tossing a dryer sheet into a dryer.

Cleaning Your Dryer

From lint to stains to filmy residue, there are lots of things you don't want near your fabrics. Follow our step-by-step guide on how to clean your dryer below to keep your washables clean (and your laundry room spotless and safe).

Simple Lint Trap Cleaning: The lint trap is often found near the dryer door—locate and remove the screen from the appliance. For an everyday clean after a cycle is finished, use your fingers to remove loose lint that has caught on the screen.
Lint Trap Deep Cleaning: Use your vacuum to clean the exterior of the lint screen and the interior of the trap. If your vacuum hose/tube won't fit, you may need a dryer brush dedicated to cleaning dryer vents. Next, wash the screen in your sink with a soft toothbrush, water and mild dish soap, then let dry. When finished, replace.
Wipe Down the Dryer Drum: Lint is familiar, but wiping down your dryer drum may not be. How do you clean your dryer on the inside? Fabric softeners, dryer sheets and anything that accidentally makes its way into the dryer can leave a filmy residue. Cut through the film with a mix of vinegar and water. Spray the inside of your dryer's drum and door, then wipe with your microfiber cloth.
Clean the Exterior of Your Dryer: Not sure how to clean your dryer's exterior? The top of your dryer can easily become stained with detergent, stain remover and more—especially if you use it as a workspace. To make this area spotless, spray with water and vinegar and wipe away stains with a microfiber cloth.
Hoping to Tackle the Vents?: Cleaning the lint and dust from your dryer's ductwork is an important task, and it's one we've covered in depth in a separate article. As you're learning how to clean your dryer, this might be the perfect time to clean out your vents if you're ready for some maintenance.
Reconnect the Dryer and Test: Reconnect the vent hose and ductwork (if disconnected) as well as your gas line and power. Finally, run a test cycle before using the appliance to ensure proper function and safety.

How Often Should I Deep Clean My Dryer?

While it's easy to pull the lint from your trap every time you run your dryer, learning how to clean your dryer (and how often) is harder. Different parts of the dryer should be cleaned at different times, especially when it comes to the pesky vents. Clean the lint screen after every cycle, do a deep cleansing of the lint screen every six months or so, take care of your dryer's drum and exterior as residue and stains build up, and clear out your dryer's ducts at least once every year.

Hoping To Leave Vent Cleaning to the Professionals?

While we went over how to clean your dryer from top to bottom, cleaning your ducts and vents is more difficult. That's why it may be a good idea to leave it to the professionals at Abt, especially if it's been a long time since you last cleaned them. From the exterior vent outside of your home to the long hose itself, multiple aspects can use a cleaning every years—why not reach out to the professionals? Abt's team of appliance specialists knows dryers, ducts and vents inside and out. With our expertise and tools, we'll be able to clean out your vents and ducts with ease and improve your home's fire safety. You might be surprised at how efficiently your dryer runs afterward as well.

What You Should and Shouldn't Do

When considering how to clean your dryer, take the following dos and dont's into account:

Don't use rough surfaces like scrubbing sponges on the inside of your dryer.
Do consider keeping detergents and other sticky liquids on a nearby shelf instead of atop the dryer to lower the chance of spills.
Don't neglect to clean your lint screen thoroughly and on schedule.

You've learned how to clean your dryer, know what tools you need and have our top tips for things you should do and avoid; from here, you'll be able to keep your appliance working at its best. That means cleaner fabrics; your bed sheets will smell great, clothes will be ready to go, and you'll have fresh towels at the ready for every shower. What's more important is that you'll have lowered your home's fire risk with proper lint disposal. Stick to your schedule of when to clean different parts of this appliance and your dryer will be efficient and safe (and it could even have a longer lifespan).

Dryer Cleaning FAQs

How long does it take to clean a dryer?

If you're cleaning your dryer's lint tray, vacuuming the lint trap, giving the drum and door a thorough wipe down and cleaning off the top of the appliance, it should take no longer than 45 minutes—if you're in an extreme case, it could take an hour. And if you're DIY cleaning your vents and ductwork at the same time, the entire process could take an hour and a half or longer.

How often should dryer vents be cleaned?

As a general rule, you should clean your dryer vents once every year. Other parts of the appliance should be cleaned more often—clean the lint screen before every cycle.

Who cleans out dryer vents?

While you can clean out dryer vents yourself, it's always a good idea to have professionals like our team at Abt manage the task, especially if you're uncertain.

Can you clean a dryer vent yourself?

Yes, you can! When it comes to learning how to clean a dryer vent, you'll want to take the proper safety precautions with the right tools. While you can do this without professional service with help from our step-by-step guide to cleaning dryer vents, you can opt for professional service from Abt as well.