Doc’s Guide for Cleaning Your Dryer
Docs Appliance • April 13, 2017
Did you know that most dryer breakdowns can be avoided through proper cleaning and maintenance? Cleaning a dryer is never fun, but it doesn’t need to be that hard.
If you make it part of your regular routine, you’ll find that cleaning your dryer is rather easy and can save you a large amount of money in the long-run.
If you’re not sure where to start or how to clean your dryer, then this blog post is for you. We’re going to walk through some essentials of cleaning your dryer, including the tasks you should do after every cycle and the ones you only need to handle annually.
- Clean the lint trap after every load — no exceptions! For many people, this is common sense, but it’s important enough that we can’t leave it off the list. Cleaning your lint trap is important for a couple reasons: first, it allows your dryer to operate at maximum efficiency, leaving your clothes fully dry and your energy bill low. Most importantly, it minimizes the risk of your dryer catching fire. There are almost 3,000 dryer fires reported in residential buildings every year. Keep your house and your family safe and just clean it out every load. For maximum efficiency, you should also wash your lint trap with soap and water every month or so.
- Clean the drum if any lipstick, chapstick, gum, or ink ends up in the dryer. Good news: you don’t have to wash the drum unless you wash a very dirty load or any of the following ends up in your dryer. If you do, let the dryer run for a few minutes with some dirty towels inside to heat up any residue. Scrape it off with a rubber spatula, then wash everything down with a mixture of water and a little white vinegar. After that, dry everything off with some paper towels or a dry rag. If ink from a pen gets on the drum it will most likely be baked onto the finish. If it will not come off with mild cleaner most likely it will not come off on your clothes. It may not look pretty but it should not harm your clothing.
- Clean out your dryer vent. Cleaning your dryer vent is important for all the same reasons as your lint trap. Start by cleaning your lint trap as described above, then remove it and vacuum around the opening. Stick a lint brush into the opening and push it in as far as it will go — sometimes you may need to fiddle with it to get around bends or obstructions. You may want to use the brush two or three times if there is a lot of lint in the vent. Next, use a dryer vent attachment for your vacuum to suck up any remaining lint in the vent. This should be done at least once a year, though it may be necessary more often if you have a large family or use your dryer more frequently. Of course, if this sounds complicated, we offer affordable, quick, and thorough dryer cleaning services.
Confused about how to clean your dryer? Wondering how you can maintain your dryer for longevity and energy efficiency? Call Doc’s today for seasoned advice from a friendly professional!
The post Doc’s Guide for Cleaning Your Dryer appeared first on Docs Appliance Service.
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