How to clean the dryer vent without messing up my nails?
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The dryer that is difficult to clean out. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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Take it outside and use strong spray on your hose. Spraying from the outside in otherwise you push the lint deeper into the screen.
You could try using a slightly damp sponge or magic eraser.
I purchased a tool at Lowe's for under $10. Mine is the same exact lint trap. You take it and run it inside and it pulls the lint out. I couldn't find it on Lowe's website but here's a kit on Amazon that has it. I'm sure the appliance department of any store that sells dryers has something similar.
https://www.amazon.com/Flexible-Remover-Cleaning-Synthetic-Storage/dp/B08H5KDMXG/ref=sr_1_9?crid=2WAU5O7O0Y7VB&dchild=1&keywords=dryer+vent+brush+flexible+20+ft&qid=1617289284&sprefix=dryer+vent+brush%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-9
The brush Kathy Gunter Law suggest would work. You should be able to find similar at Home Depot, Lowes, or Menards. My dryer lint trap is similar. What I do is go in through the back. Move the dryer away from the wall, disconnect the vent pipe and use a vacuum to get any lint out. Make sure you pop out the lint screen and clean it after every load of clothes.
Dampen a fabric softener sheet to cover your hand as you clean the vvent area.
Use a brush with soft bristles and some soap & water.
Wear dish washing gloves while you work. It will protect your hands
I agree that wearing rubber gloves will protect your nails and help remove the lint.
I bought a box of disposable rubber gloves at Harbor Freight a few years ago and still have over half the box left. You can even buy boxes of these at the dollar store.
Hi Karen: You should be able to pull it out easily to clean. There should be a screen inserted in that opening. Is yours missing? Check your manual to see if there is supposed to be one. Otherwise, you can stick something like a baby bottle brush into the opening, or trim a toilet brush so that it fits into the opening.
Put on some latex, vinyl, or rubber gloves, you can find them about anywhere...Walmart, Amazon, big box stores.
A small soft brush would work to reach in there.
I purchased a tube that goes on the end of my vacuum, It is very thin and fits down into the dryer vent. I have the same set up. A friend of mine tapes a paper towel tube to her vacuum hose and cleans it that way.
I’m a dryer sheet user. After our clothes are dried, I use the dryer sheet to rub over the lint screen and get the lint gathered up in the sheet. This method saves my salon created nails. Hope this helps you with your dilemma.
I just use my knuckle to pull out loose stuff before each use. Once a month, I use an old toothbrush, water and dish soap.
wear gloves
Hello Karen,
How about a brush or Vac, or failing that a large cloth and a stick. Best of luck!