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Homeowners should spend a few hours at least once a year - more if it becomes clogged - to clean thier tumble dryer vent so that laundry can dry quicker and more evenly. If the vent does get clogged and it’s not cleaned out, you could be running the risk of your dryer overheating, which can start a fire pretty quickly. Experts have shared a few tell-tale signs that the vent of the appliance is clogged and how to effectively clean them.

You’ll know a tumble dryer vent is clogged if clothes take longer to dry and feel really hot when they come out. Also, the vent itself may feel hotter than normal. 

Another tell-tale sign is if lint or dirt comes out of the vent. This is all because the clogged vent harnesses the moisture from the dryer and doesn’t release it properly, which in turn makes the laundry and the vent too hot.

Stacey Kane, business development lead at EasyMerchant explained: “There are different unmistakable signs your dryer vent is clogged. The first sign is when your clothes feel hot to the touch after drying. The dryer itself may also feel hot. This means that moisture and hot air can't properly dissipate, causing the machine to get very hot. Moisture can cause mould growth, which can be a health concern if not addressed quickly. 

“Another sign is when you can see a build-up of lint or debris outside the dryer flap or in the dryer hose. This is an indication that the dryer ducts should be cleaned immediately. Dust and debris can attract rodents and pests and these can even cause a fire because lint and fabric fuzz are highly flammable.”

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Another indicator is if your clothes take a lot longer to dry than usual, according to Christos Philippou, owner and technician at Dryer Vent Cleaning of Delaware. 

He explained: “Most people will complain that they are running their dryer multiple cycles for their clothes to dry. This is due to a lack of airflow coming out of the dryer vent and moisture cannot escape. 

“An excellent way to test the performance of your dryer vent exhaust is through the use of an anemometer. This will test the velocity of air coming out of your dryer vent. Most dryers will produce at least 1500 feet/minute of airflow. Anything else than this may indicate you have an obstruction or clog.”

Households should aim to clean their dryer vent at least once a year. For families and heavier use, the task should be carried out every six months.

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So how do you clean tumble dryer vents? To clean out a dryer vent, all you need is a vacuum cleaner with a long hose attachment and a brush to remove stubborn lint from the vent.

Before starting, make sure you wear a mask, safety goggles and rubber gloves as well as old clothes.

Rick Berres, owner of Honey-Doers said: “The first step you need to take is to pull out your dryer and unplug it. Then, you’ll disconnect the duct, where the real cleaning will take place.”

According to the expert, a vacuum is all that is needed to remove the dust. He said: “For the vent on the dryer, you can simply use a vacuum to effectively get most of the dust out of the vent. 

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“Turning toward the duct on the wall, you can vacuum the inside of it, but you should know that the duct goes far back and an occasional deep cleaning is a good idea. For a general vent cleaning, you can stop here and put it back together.”

In most cases, a vacuum with a long hose attachment will do the job – even better if it’s a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) vacuum.

To get into the duct, homeowners can purchase duct cleaning kits that come with flexible rods that will clean deep into the duct, says Rick.

He instructed: “You attach the end to a drill and it will spin a brush going into the duct. This is a great way to take your dryer maintenance into your own hands. When you are finished, you merely need to reattach the duct, plug it in and you’re good to go.”

For those thinking of buying a DIY kit, always check the quality carefully first. “While you can buy rod and brush kits from local hardware stores to clean your dryer vent, you must be careful due to the poor quality of most DIY kits,” advised Christos.

He added: “Rods can easily break or twist off while inside the vent, making the whole process even more challenging.”

Vacuuming should get rid of most of the lint and debris and then a dryer vent brush should be used to clean any remaining lint and dirt off the walls of the vent. 

Once you’ve cleaned the inside you can tackle the outside. Use a thin wire brush to get rid of any clogged-up lint and clean the vent cover with warm water and dish soap. Dry thoroughly then reattach.

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