Step by Step Dryer Vent Cleaning

Step 1: You will want to start by cleaning off the lint trap of your dryer vent. Then vacuum around the lint trap and vent to get out what you can.

Step 2: After you have vacuumed that area take the lint trap vent brush and insert the brush into the lint trap vent as far as you can.

It is very flexible and takes a bit of maneuvering to make sure it goes in all of the way. Once you get it in, twist the handle of the brush while slowly removing it to trap the lint.

If you have much lint on the brush I recommend repeating this step once more. You can see below I am not getting a lot off with the brush, but that is because so much lint was inside the vent.

Step 3: Once you have removed some of the lint with the brush you can use the vacuum hose attachment to really get in there and clean. This is where the magic happens!

It is very slow going, you need lots of patience to use the attachment. The attachment is very flat so it fits in the vent trap.

Unfortunately, if you have as much lint as I usually do in my trap you will need to repeat this step about 10-12 times.

Carefully feed the vacuum hose attachment into the trap. Attach to your vacuum and turn on the vacuum.

Most likely you will quickly hear it clog and need to remove it.

Remove it very carefully and pull the clog out and then repeat.

How to Clean Out a Dryer Vent

1. Pull the Dryer Out From the Wall, Unplug It, and Disconnect the Duct

Pull the dryer out from the wall. Unplug it, and if it’s a gas dryer, turn off the gas valve as well. Disconnect the dryer duct, which is located in the back of the dryer.

2. Vacuum the Inside of the Vent

Using a hose attachment, turn on your vacuum cleaner, and suction all around the entrance of the vent. Poke it inside the dryer exhaust duct and vacuum out what you can.

3. Connect the Flexible Rods in Your Dryer Duct Cleaning Kit to Your Power Drill

Now you’re going to go in deeper. With a dryer duct cleaning kit that you can find on Amazon, you can really extend your reach. Standard kits come with flexible rods that allow you to get up to 12 feet inside the duct. You’ll attach the rods together. They’re made to connect, but for added insurance, you can tape over each connection with electrical tape so there’s no chance they come apart. The kit comes with a rotating brush that should go in first. On the back end, you’ll attach a power drill to the rod near you.

4. Turn On the Drill and Let the Brush Work Its Magic

Once attached, turn the drill on to spin clockwise on medium power. Push and pull back and forth slowly, eventually pulling the brush all the way out. As you go, debris, lint, and dirt will start spilling out of the dryer duct in front of you, and you’ll start to notice the lint buildup disappear right before your eyes. It’s important to keep the drill running clockwise; if you start spinning it counterclockwise, you run the risk of the attachments disassembling and getting stuck inside the dryer duct.

5. Sweep Up the Mess

Before heading to the exterior vent, clean up the mess your cleaning left behind. Sweep up the debris and toss it. If the lint leaves residue behind, you may need to use soapy water to clean up.