What to do:
To clean your dryer vent hose, start by unplugging your dryer. Pull the dryer away from the wall and detach the hose from the back. Use gloved hands or a vacuum with a hose attachment to remove lint from the vent hose, as far up the vent as you can reach. Go outside and clean the outlet of the dryer vent as well. Reattach the ducts, push the dryer back in place, and plug it in.
Why it matters:
Cleaning your dryer vent hose has two significant benefits:
1. A clean dryer vent can save energy by reducing the time your dryer runs.
2. Lint buildup in your dryer vent hose is a fire hazard. There are thousands of dryer vent fires in the U.S. each year. A clean vent helps reduce the likelihood of a fire.