Quick answerUnplug the dryer (shut the gas valve if it's gas), pull it away from the wall, and disconnect the vent duct. Push a dryer vent brush through from both ends, vacuum out the lint trap housing and the exterior vent hood, then reconnect everything with metal ducting — never vinyl.
What you'll need
- Dryer vent brush kit (long flexible brush, about $15–$25)
- Vacuum with hose attachment
- Screwdriver (usually Phillips)
- Foil tape (not duct tape — it fails with heat)
- Microfiber cloth
- Work gloves
Step-by-step
- Cut the power — and the gas if applicable. Unplug an electric dryer. For a gas dryer, shut off the gas supply valve behind it too. If you're not confident about the gas connection, stop here and call a pro. This isn't the job to learn on.
- Pull the dryer out and disconnect the duct. Slide the dryer away from the wall carefully. Loosen the clamp holding the flexible duct to the dryer and to the wall vent, and pull the duct free. Have the vacuum ready — lint will fall out.
- Brush the duct from both ends. Feed the vent brush into the duct from the dryer end, twisting as you push. Pull it back, knock off the lint, and repeat. Then do the same from the wall-vent end. Keep going until the brush comes back clean.
- Vacuum the lint trap housing. Pull out the lint filter and vacuum deep into the slot it sits in — you'd be amazed how much lint packs in below the filter. This is the spot most people never clean, and it's right next to the heating element.
- Clean the exterior vent hood. Go outside and find where the vent exits the house. Clear lint from the hood and make sure the flapper or louvers open freely. If they're stuck shut with lint, the dryer can't exhaust at all.
- Check what your duct is made of. If it's white vinyl or thin plastic accordion ducting, replace it — it's flammable and against code in most places now. Rigid metal duct is best; flexible foil-covered metal is acceptable. Short, straight runs dry faster and collect less lint.
- Reconnect with foil tape. Reattach the duct to the dryer and the wall vent, securing the joints with foil tape (regular duct tape dries out and fails under heat). Tighten the clamps.
- Test it. Push the dryer back, restore power/gas, and run it empty on high heat for 10 minutes. Go outside and feel the airflow at the exterior vent — it should be strong and hot. Weak airflow means there's still a blockage somewhere in the wall run.
<div class="safety"> <strong>🛑 Stop and call a pro if:</strong> <ul> <li>You have a gas dryer and aren't sure about disconnecting or reconnecting the gas line — a gas leak is not a DIY learning project.</li> <li>The vent run is very long, goes through walls or the roof, or you can't reach both ends — pros have rotary brush systems for this.</li> <li>You find a vinyl or plastic duct and the run is inside a wall — have a pro replace it with rigid metal.</li> <li>Never run the dryer without the lint filter in place, and never leave a running dryer unattended if the vent is suspect.</li> </ul> </div>
DIY vs pro cost
| Option | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| DIY (brush kit) | $15–$30 |
| Pro vent cleaning | $120–$200 |
Printable checklist
- [ ] Dryer unplugged (gas valve shut off if gas)
- [ ] Dryer pulled out, duct disconnected
- [ ] Duct brushed from both ends until clean
- [ ] Lint trap housing vacuumed out
- [ ] Exterior vent hood cleared, flapper moves freely
- [ ] Duct material checked — metal only, no vinyl
- [ ] Reconnected with foil tape, clamps tight
- [ ] Test run done, strong airflow confirmed outside
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Frequently asked questions
How often should I clean my dryer vent?
Once a year for most households; every six months if you do a lot of laundry or have pets (pet hair doubles the lint). Clean the lint filter itself after every single load — that's the 10-second habit that matters most.
What are the signs of a clogged dryer vent?
Clothes take two cycles to dry, the dryer feels very hot on the outside, there's a burning smell, the laundry room gets humid, or lint collects around the exterior vent hood. Any of these means clean it now, not next month.
Can I use a leaf blower to clean the vent?
Yes — it's a popular trick. Disconnect the duct from the dryer, take the leaf blower outside, and blow into the exterior vent inward. It blasts lint back toward you. It works, but the brush-and-vacuum method gives you more control and lets you inspect the duct.
Is a clogged dryer vent really a fire risk?
Yes. Lint is extremely flammable, and a clogged vent lets heat build up inside the dryer. Thousands of house fires a year start this way. It's one of the few cleaning jobs that's genuinely about safety, not just tidiness.
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