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[momtochloe]

First off this question may sound more than naive but I never grew up with a dryer so now that I am blessed to have one (LOVE IT!) besides cleaning out the filter and vacuuming/trying to run a brush down whatever I can capture is there anything else I need to do/should be doing?

I am on the second floor so I would think an outside outlet is not an option in terms of cleaning.  Any thoughts/experiences/advice you can give will be most greatly appreciated as I don't want to set anything on fire . . .

[Bri63]

@momtochloe

Hi!

You should have it professionally cleaned once a year.   I don’t know how your vent is configured to the outside, but it will clog after a while.  I had a dryer fire a few years’ back.  My dryer was upstairs and it curved to the roof.  I had no idea how much lint accumulated in the vent.   The fire dept told me to have it cleaned annually   

Cleaning the lint trap after each use is a good habit to get into!    Congrats on the dryer too    Just makes life so much easier 

[x Hedge]

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@momtochloe wrote:

First off this question may sound more than naive but I never grew up with a dryer so now that I am blessed to have one (LOVE IT!) besides cleaning out the filter and vacuuming/trying to run a brush down whatever I can capture is there anything else I need to do/should be doing?

I am on the second floor so I would think an outside outlet is not an option in terms of cleaning.  Any thoughts/experiences/advice you can give will be most greatly appreciated as I don't want to set anything on fire . . .

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Clean the lint trap after each use, or whenever it collects a lot.

I stop and clean during drying of linty items, like towels.

If you have flexible (impermanent) venting, remove and replace the vent hose every couple of years to prevent internal build up reaching dangerous levels. Replacements at any hardware store. (Never saw a well maintained dryer need annual 'professional' cleaning.)

Find the air intake on your dryer, usually at the rear. Looks like 'fins'. Keep that area vacuumed out, also vacuum floor and area around the base of the dryer regularly.

Don't accumulate and store a collection of lint in the nearby trash. Make sure it goes out with your other garbage.

[momtochloe]

@Bri63

@x Hedge

Thank you so much for your help, I really appreciate it!  

[grateful for dogs]

I agree with every thing that was said, especially having the dryer vent professionally cleaned once a year.  Even if you do all you can it's impossible to get out all the lint going from your dryer to where it finally goes outside.  If the lint accumulates it could block the flow of air and cause your dryer to overheat, or worse.  Much easier, and cheaper, to let a professional clean it once a year than have to call a dryer repairman. 

[NickNack]

@Bri63  Who do you call to have it professionally cleaned?  I've never heard of doing that.

[SeaMaiden]

@momtochloe. Number 1 rule is NEVER run the dryer when you are not home!   Had a friend turn on the dryer and go shopping....she came home to a home burned down 🙁

[Tigriss]

I don't know about a professional cleaning, but you can take the front panel off your dryer with a wrench or screwdriver. The screws are usually on the bottom. The panel tends to have screws at the bottom and a grove that it fits into at the top. It will just pull down gently to remove, typically! Then you will see the lint trap, if it is at the bottom inside of your door, and can vacuum out the escaped lint. You can also pull it out from the wall, remove the tube and vacuum it out and reattach it. There are round brushes that fit the diameter of that tube and can scrub out the sides to loosen any compacted bits so you can vacuum them up. From there, the tube should go outside. If you are a homeowner, there are kits of these round brushes with long extension bits so it will reach to clean it all out as you spin it with your drill. The condo company will be responsible for that bit, as it will fall under maintenance. Keep your end of things cleaned out every year or when the dryer isn't drying like it should. Usually if it starts taking more time to dry thing, it is in need of cleaning.

[VaBelle35]

The flexible vent hose that goes from the back of your dryer to whatever duct that goes outside is a $15 part that you can replace every couple of years depending on use.

If the dryer is yours and you acquired it with the condo, I would 1000% hire a professional to open that puppy up and clean it out and do a thorough maintenance on it.

It's one thing when you buy it new and you know that you empty pockets, etc. and are confident nothing it backed up in the motor housing.  But when you acquire a dryer from someone else,  you have no idea what they did or didn't do.  I feel the same way about the dishwasher.

My sister acquired a dryer with her new house and it was taking forever to dry clothes.  The repair tech pulled out a hamper full of kids toys, socks, and money (paper and coin).

[momtochloe]

I just want to say thanks again to everyone for taking the time to respond and help me!  Right now the dryer is working as it did when I first moved in but I will locate someone to come in and take a look at it and the washer too to head off any potential problems.

Thank you again so much my friends!