Written by Rowan
Edited on
18 February 2025
·
12:56
How do you clean your dryer?
Cleaning your dryer isn't fun, but it's necessary. A dirty and clogged dryer performs less well, uses more energy, and most importantly, can be a fire hazard. A dirty dryer can also give your laundry a smell. In this article, you can read how to properly clean your dryer.
Get started with cleaning your dryer
It takes about 15 minutes to clean your dryer, and it makes sure your appliance lasts longer. Follow these 4 tips to clean your dryer:
- Tip 1: clean the lint trap
- Tip 2: clean the condenser
- Tip 3: clean the drum
- Tip 4: perform regular maintenance
Tip 1: clean the lint trap
The lint trap captures most of the dust that is released during drying. The lint trap is often located in the door or door opening, but this differs per brand and/or dryer. You can read exactly where the filter is in the manual of your dryer.
You always have to clean the filter after every dryer cycle. Remove the filter from the dryer and remove the large dust particles. Use a vacuum cleaner once a month to completely clean the filter and the space where you place the filter.
Tip 2: clean the condenser
Condenser dryer
To clean the condenser of a condenser dryer, you can remove it from the appliance. The condenser is normally located at the bottom left of your dryer, behind a hatch. It's attached with 1 or 2 closures. Open it and remove the condenser from the tumble dryer. Are you stuck? Consult the manual.
Rinse the condenser with a shower head or under the faucet. Next, go over the spot where the condenser is located with a damp cloth and place it back.
Heat pump dryer
You can also find the condenser of a heat pump dryer behind the hatch at the bottom left of the appliance. Unlike the condenser of a condenser dryer, you can't remove this condenser from the appliance. Clean the front of the condenser with a dryer cleaning brush. This way, you gently remove the dust. Vacuum the stubborn dirt with the brush attachment of your vacuum. Sometimes, a dryer has a self-cleaning condenser. You don't have to clean those.
Tip 3: clean the drum
When cleaning the dryer, make sure to also clean the drum itself. The sensor will stay clean, which means that the cycle can adjust to the amount of laundry better. Check the manual of your dryer to see where this sensor is located exactly so you can clean the sensor properly. This way, you ensure that the dryer works properly. When you clean, use a warm water with soap and a damp cloth.
Tip 4: perform regular maintenance
| Job | How often |
|---|---|
| Clean lint trap | After every dryer cycle |
| Empty the condenser reservoir | After every dryer cycle, unless connected to the drain |
| Clean drum | Once per month |
| Clean the condenser | Every 2 to 3 months |
Article by Rowan
Dryer Expert.
