Removing the lint by hand is an excellent way to support your dryer, but over time, lint will still build up and may not even be noticeable with the naked eye. Every 6 months, take the screen out and give it a thorough clean with a nylon brush and warm soapy water. (Brushes can be purchased at most hardware stores for less than $10.) As you clean the screen, check it over for warping, cracks, and tears. If you notice any damage, it’s time for a replacement. Allow the clean screen to dry completely before replacing it in the dryer, and never ever use your dryer without a lint screen.

Clean the Dryer Vent

You’ve probably noticed that pipe that stretches behind your dryer. That’s the venting system for expelling heat outside your home, and it can easily become clogged with lint too. Once every few months—more often if you have pets—you should clean it out.

Dryer sheets are big culprits in coating moisture sensors with a residue that keeps clothes static-free but also limit the sensor effectiveness. To clean them, first, consult your user manual to locate the moisture sensors, usually located inside the dryer, just below the door. Once you’ve found them, give them a gentle wipe with a cotton ball and rubbing alcohol. If the dryer shuts off before clothes are completely dry, that may be an indication that your sensors need another cleaning.

More Tips to Keep Your Dryer Running Smoothly

Beyond routine cleaning, there are a few more maintenance tips that can keep your dryer running safely and efficiently.

• Never overload the dryer.
• Never leave the dryer running unattended.
• Always remove clothes promptly after finished drying. (This also helps reduce wrinkles in your clean clothing as well.)
• Unplug the dryer if you plan to be out of town for a week or more.
• Always keep the dryer area free of clutter, and never store anything in the space between the dryer and the wall.
• Check the tags on clothing to ensure they are safe for machine drying. Some fabrics are flammable and should be hung dry away from the dryer area.
• Don’t use liquid fabric softener on fabrics made of fleece, terry cloth, or velour, as the liquid can accelerate the burning speed of these fabrics. If you must use fabric softener, line-dry these items instead.
• Never dry any fabrics that have come into contact with flammable materials like gas, alcohol, wood stains and finishes, cleaning agents, or cooking oils. Hang dry these items outside instead.
• Never dry anything containing foam, rubber, or plastic, such as bath mats, shoes, or foam pillows.

More Thorough Maintenance and Special Case Drying Needs

Regular maintenance of your clothes dryer will go a long way in extending its life, reducing your energy consumption, and keeping your family safe. However, it is recommended you call in a professional once every year or so to perform a more thorough maintenance check. Particularly if it’s a gas-powered dryer, they’ll check to ensure gas lines are working properly and are better equipped to do a more thorough clean.

Another thing to check for, especially with older dryers, is that vent pipe. Many legacy machines may still have flexible pipes made of foil or plastic. While these used to be the standard, we’ve since learned that they can be incredibly problematic given their delicate nature and tendency to sag, kink, and be crushed. These pipes are also often ridged, making it much easier for lint to become trapped and build up. Any build-up or imperfection in a flexible pipe can greatly reduce airflow and cause fires. Today’s installers recommend solid metal pipes that are straighter, smoother, and shorter to allow better airflow and contain a fire if one were to occur. If you find you still have an older, flexible pipe, it’s time for an upgrade.

As you clean and check the dryer vent, you may notice a small gap in the fit. Any gap decreases the efficiency of the dryer and makes your overall indoor heating/cooling system work harder (because it’s like having a hole in your home, making it less air-tight). To improve efficiency and decrease utility costs, it’s important to get that gap-sealed tight. Maintenance professionals can help you seal the gap from either the inside or outside the house using an expanding foam material.

Of course, if you do have a legacy clothes dryer or your energy audit identifies yours as a significant energy drain, it may be time for an upgrade. Energy Star models consume 20% less energy than traditional models, and many states and municipalities offer rebates to subsidize the cost of a new machine. 

For homeowners living in apartments, condos, or homes where the laundry room is located in the center of the house, proper outdoor venting may not be possible. If you find yourself in this situation, you may want to consider a condensation dryer, a machine that removes moisture from fabrics and disposes of it down a drainpipe rather than as steam through a vent.

A clothes dryer is a modern convenience that is often taken for granted. We want these large, expensive machines to work—and sometimes, it requires a little work to keep them doing their job well and safely.