Cleaning in the laundry room does not always have to be about clothes. The dryer vent too requires to be cleaned often. Dryer vent cleaning does not only maintain the dryer machine, but is also a safety precaution as dirt in the dryer vent is one of the causes of fires in most homes.
Keeping your dryer vent clean ensures that you get completely dry clothes, as the vent is free from blocking materials. However, not many homeowners understands how to clean the dryer vent. Here are the cleaning materials and steps you should follow when cleaning dryer vent. Take a look.
1. Collect Your Cleaning Materials
You will require some cleaning supplies to complete the exercise. The materials that you require are:
- A vacuum cleaner that has a hose pipe like attachment.
- Duct tape
- A broom
- Dustpan
- A kit specifically for cleaning dryer vents
- Power drill
2. Disconnect The Dryer
The first step when doing dryer vent cleaning should start by disconnecting the vent to work safely. Unplug the dryer from the power source and if it is a gas dryer disconnect it from the gas supply. If the dryer is near a wall, pull it away from the wall then remove the duct usually at the back.
3. Clean Inside The Vent
This is done using the vacuum clean to suction all the dirt around the mouth of the vent. Poke through the grills and try to remove as much dirt as you can.
4. Connect Rods From The Kit With The Power Drill
In this step, the cleaning goes deeper into the dryer. The materials from the kit helps you to go even further into the dryer vent. The rods should be connected together and secured with duct tape and then attached with a rotating brush that also comes in the kit. The rod at the furthest is then connected to the power drill.
5. Switch The Power Drill On
Turning on the power drill rotates the brush clockwise cleaning the inside of the vent for an excellent dryer vent cleaning exercise. Push and pull the rods continuously to clean as a large part as possible. Dirt will begin to spill out as you continue pushing and pulling back the rods. Always ensure the drill is spinning clockwise to prevent it from sucking the dirt back into the vent.
Cleaning the exterior of the vent could be difficult if it is at the roof of the building. However, if the exterior vent is near the ground you can clean it with rods and a rotating brush.
6. Clean The Mess After Cleaning Dryer Vent
The rotating brush and rods spill a lot of dirt and before you connect the dryer together, you may want to sweep the mess. For dirt that has residue, you can clean it out using soapy water and a mop. Once done cleaning, put back the dryer together and plug it back into its power source.
