How To Clean Out The Lint Filter On Old Whirlpool Dryer

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The accumulation of dryer lint can leave you lot with a poorly functioning dryer and even the possibility of a house fire. To remove the lint from your dryer, start by cleaning off the lint filter before each load. Remove the lint past hand or run the filter under a bit of water. Unplug your machine and remove the back console and exhaust hose. Apply a vacuum and material to wipe downwardly the interior and exhaust areas of your dyer. Repeat this deep cleaning process at least every 6 months.

1
Pull out the screen. Locate the lint screen on your dryer. It may be at the tiptop, on the side, or at the bottom of the dryer door. Cheque the screen and clean it of lint every fourth dimension earlier you place a load inside. Catch the handle of the screen and pull it out until information technology is fully extended. In most models, you will be able to remove it entirely for cleaning.^[i]
- Just use gentle force per unit area when pulling out the screen. Y'all should run into with little to no resistance. If you bend the screen as well much, it may not fit dorsum properly into the lint trap expanse.
2
Wipe off the lint with your hands. Run your hands over the screen until you assemble a small ball of lint. Then, rub this lint ball beyond the screen, equally information technology will concenter the leftover lint. Keep going until you can see through the screen without whatsoever blockages. Toss the gathered lint in the trash.^[ii]
- Instead of your hand, rubbing a cleaning brush across the surface of the screen volition gather the lint just too. Nonetheless, just make sure to discard the lint pulled from the screen, equally it could nowadays a burn hazard.^[3]
- Placing a vacuum castor attachment confronting the screen is another way to remove the lint.
EXPERT TIP

Kathryn Kellogg is the founder of goingzerowaste.com, a lifestyle website dedicated to breaking eco-friendly living down into a unproblematic step-by-step process with lots of positivity and beloved. She's the author of 101 Means to Go Zilch Waste and spokesperson for plastic-free living for National Geographic.

Kathryn Kellogg
Sustainability Specialist

Consider composting your lint if you wear wear made of natural fibers. If yous're drying natural fibers like wool, cotton fiber, hemp, bamboo, viscose, or tensile, your dryer lint will be compostable, considering it'southward cellulose-based. However, if your apparel are fabricated of polyester or acrylic, your dryer lint will be plastic, then it'due south not compostable.

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3
Rinse the screen off with water. Later y'all've pulled the screen out all the way, remove the extra lint and so run it under some water in the sink. If the screen is especially dusty, utilise a scrap of soap to the surface as well. Keep rinsing until the screen is clean and clear.^[4]
- It is not necessary to complete the step after each load, simply it is a skillful thought to practice a rinse every few weeks. This is especially the example if you apply dryer sheets, as they can get out a residuum on the screen's surface.
4

Vacuum out the screen vent. While the screen is out, peer into the lint trap. If yous see whatever actress lint or droppings, get out the extended vacuum attachment. Stick this attachment into the trap area, turn information technology on, and remove any materials present. Taking this extra footstep may prevent a clog from forming in the trap expanse.^[5]
v

Echo after each use. Before you lot place a fresh load into the dryer, make sure to fully clean the screen and trap. This will help to keep lint and debris from making its way further into the auto. It might be like shooting fish in a barrel to ignore the practice for smaller loads, but continue with information technology regardless of load size.^[6]

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Unplug your dryer. Reach effectually to the back of your dryer and detach the power string. It is necessary to cut off the electricity to your dryer at this signal, as yous will exist moving the auto around and possibly opening upwardly some of the interior panels.^[7]
2
Remove the frazzle hose. Shimmy the dryer abroad from the wall and wait at the back of the machine. Locate the exhaust hose and loosen it from dryer by loosening the outward "o-band" clench. You may be able to simply squeeze the clamp to remove it, only other styles require that yous use a screwdriver to loosen a bolt at the center of the clench. Pull the hose abroad from the dryer and from the wall port.^[8]
- Make sure to loosen the clamps on both sides of the hose prior to trying to remove it. Otherwise, you could damage the connection to the port and make it more difficult to replace afterwards.^[9]
- Most clamps require a flathead screwdriver for the bolt.
- You may want to phone call in an apparatus professional if your dryer connexion is older and connected to gas. Moving around the machine could cause gas leaks.^[10]
3

Empty the frazzle hose of whatsoever lint. One time the hose is fully removed, have information technology to a well-lit area and await within. You volition likely run into lint balls of various sizes. Take a cleaning brush and gently wipe off the interior. Or, stick your vacuum zipper inside and suck out the lint. Ready the newly cleaned vent aside.^[11]
four
Feed a cleaning rod into the wall vent. Purchase a vent cleaning rod or kit at your local abode improvement shop. This kit volition contain a castor attached to an extended arm that is then connected to a drill or used alone. Following the bundle's directions, slowly feed the brush into the vent. Keep to gently push button, rotating as needed, until you've cleaned the entire inside of the vent.^[12]
- Rotate and spin the brush multiple times in gild to become the nigh lint out. Too, pull the castor out of the vent entirely multiple times and clean off any accumulated lint before reinserting information technology.
v

Reattach the exhaust hose. Become behind the dryer and place the exhaust hose back into position. Use a screwdriver or your paw to tighten the clamps. Plug your dryer back in and check to come across if whatever hot air is escaping from the sides of the vent. If then, bank check your clamps one time again. If not, push your dryer dorsum into position against the wall.^[xiii]
six

Remove lint from the exterior vent. Locate your vent on the outside of your home. It should be a square get out point covered by a plastic or metallic screen. Remove the screen and set it bated. Reach inside the vent with your hand and assemble any lint sitting nearby. So, apply a pocket-size vacuum or brush to clean out the lint a bit deeper inside. Make sure to carefully re-secure the vent in order to keep any pests at bay.^[14]

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i

Take off the console. Plough off your dryer and slide it away from the wall. Go behind your dryer and unscrew the back admission console. Some dryers take a height access panel, just the cleaning process works the same style. Open the panel and and so wipe off all visible areas.^[15]
2
Vacuum and wipe off all exposed areas. Look inside the dryer and use your hands or a vacuum to pick up any visible lint, clay, or debris. Pay particular attention to the areas surrounding the frazzle vent. Clean the area surrounding the heating element, simply exist gentle and careful when handling or moving wires around.^[16]
- If you chose to wipe down any metal parts, feel complimentary to apply a standard all-purpose cleaner paired with a microfiber textile.^[17]
3

Replace all parts. Once y'all are satisfied that the interior is clean, slide the console back into place and secure information technology with the screws. Push the dryer back against the wall and plug it in again. Do a quick dry out bike just to make sure that everything sounds okay.
4

Deep-clean the interior and vents every 6 months. Perform a cleaning sooner if your dryer feels very hot while running or if your clothes seem to never go fully dry. These are all signs that your dryer could be suffering from a lint blockage.^[18]
5
Call an appliance repair human being. Use a search engine to locate an appliance repair specialist near yous and brand an appointment. They can follow the manufacturer's directions to ensure that your automobile is serviced properly without voiding the warranty.^[19]
- Earlier you lot schedule when them, ask if they will make clean out and service your outside vent, as some repairmen practise not include this service unless specifically requested.
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Equally yous consummate your cleaning, take a moment to brand sure that all of your venting parts are up to date and code compliant. For example, a vinyl or foil exhaust tube may non be fireproof.^[xx]

Things Yous'll Need

Water
All-purpose cleaner
Microfiber material
Vacuum

About This Article

Article Summary Ten

To make clean lint from a dryer, offset by unplugging your dryer and removing the frazzle hose. And so, insert a vacuum nozzle attachment into the hose and suck out all of the lint inside. Next, insert a vent cleaning rod into the wall vent and gently push information technology in and out and rotate information technology to clean the inside of the vent. When you lot're finished, reattach the frazzle hose and plug your dryer back in. You should also remove your dryer's lint screen, rinse information technology off with water, and vacuum out the inside of the screen vent. To larn how to clean lint that's inside of your dryer, scroll down!

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