@@moniqueperreault2720 Sorry Monique, but not for everyone. Those of us who struggle with what appears to be a simple task are people with physical disabilities. Like myself. So now I have to pay to have my dryer serviced for I cannot possibly remove 4 screws. I guess I'm screwed. lol
I want to thank you for saving me $65. After I watched your video, I canceled the appointment to have someone come out and do it for me. I am a 67 year old lady. You are a good teacher and easy to follow. It took me longer than it did you, but I got it done in my dryer is working so much better. Thank you so much.
Practicing putting it back together before things are completely taken apart is a brilliant idea that could have saved me time and sanity on almost any project I've ever done. Better late than never. Thanks!
Years ago, I decided to fix my dishwasher and when I took pieces out I placed them in the exact order they were removed. It helped a lot until my husband showed up and started moving things around while he watched.
An additional tip and one that is really easy, is to actually wash the filter screen with a little dish soap and soft brush. If you use fabric soften or dryer sheets, an invisible film will form on the screen that will reduce the air flow and increase drying time. Next time after you remove the lint from the filter, run it under water and you will see that the water has trouble passing through it. After a very light soap scrubbing, you will see the the water now flows freely through the filter. How often depends on frequency of use.
I've stopped using dryer sheets for this very reason. I use softener in my wash; that's enough. I use wool dryer balls, and my laundry is soft, and my dryer filter is easy to clean.
@rayseto2724 I haven't tried that yet. Took me days to figure out how to open the bl**dy lint trap. (No instruction manual, even though brand new machine.) On my Samsung model, the lint trap is like a narrow bucket. Not sure how easy it'll be to vacuum, given its strange configuration, even opened up. Also not sure how well it would deal with dryer sheets buildup. But worth a try. Somehow the idea of a soft brush and water sounds more hygienic? No idea why I think that!
@@rayseto2724, I usually remove lint from screen after every use by just pulling/rubbing it off the screen. The vacuuming would be for the filter cavity which I don’t do after every use. I suppose I could get out the vacuum and clean the filter screen with it after each use but it’s just easier for me to do it by hand and occasionally rinse the filter. As an experiment, I will vacuum the screen before the next rinse to see if that removes the invisible softener film 🤔.
For those willing to take your cleaning a step further they can remove the front panel of the dryer to access the impeller that draws the air out of the drum. Behind the front panel is an access plate on the ductwork for the impeller. Usually just a few sheet metal screws securing it. Remove the access plate and be prepared! Looking at the buildup you showed under your lint screen I guarantee your impeller is heavily clogged. Spend some time with an old paint brush and vacuum to clean the impeller and the ductwork around it and leading out of the dryer. I would bet you will reduce your drying time by as much as 50%. Tip: In general, if you stop your dryer mid cycle, open the door and are hit with a rush of humidity, the system is clogged. Cheers
We have a 3 year old LG Sensor Dryer and I've had to clean under the filter (as per the video) due to clogging every couple of months since it was brand new. Are we doing something wrong during the drying process? Or is this a design flaw? Thanks.
As a maid - I do this - but, I wash the parts in warm soapy water . I include the dryer screen . You can use a brush to go down in the dryer to clean it deep inside.
I saw something like this on Dateline years ago. They were showing just how many fires are caused in dryer lint traps each year. I lived in apt above the laundry room. One day I was walking up to garbage area and the outside vent for dryer was there with chunks of lint was coming out of the vent. I put my hand in and started pulling out first fulls of lint. It was really impacted. I thought if it is this bad here what's going on in the dryer. I always cleaned out the lint filter before and after drying but others didn't. I mentioned this to the management company for the apt that is a fire hazard waiting to happen, but they did nothing or the job done was not very good. Thank you for reminding people and showing how to do the cleaning.
I live in a (4-story) apartment building too. Only once did an outside lint-cleaning "specialist" vendor cleaned out my dryer in my apartment - but only the hose leading to the dryer - not the vent trap. The maintenance supervisor at the time said it was a law that this needed to be cleaned periodically. I live in California - I never heard of this law. But I think it should be a law - a full clean of the dryer hose and the lint trap - with a follow-up inspection to certify it's been done. The do yearly service & checks on our fire extinguishers and sprinklers. This should be added as another yearly service and inspection by making it an official law. I've lived in my apartment for 16 years now - and only the one time, it's been checked and not fully cleaned. Thank you, Dan, for the detailed video, I will be trying to do this myself. 🙏😊
2 of my friends died in a dryer fire when we were 20, their dogs too. Just saw them a few hours earlier and was told she had to go home to do laundry because she wanted the go see her mom the next day for mother’s day. 30 years later i still think of them everytime i do laundry, never run it when i am away or asleep (they went to bed) and i keep fire extinguishers in every room. If kids ever sleep over, i make sure we have a fire escape plan. Yes, I have been totally paranoid ever since.
@@freydaym4514 Oh wow, Frey, I'm so sorry to hear this. Such a huge loss in such a meaningless way. Thanks for sharing this painful slice of your story!
I like your idea of double-checking how to put it back before you go any further. That's how I like to do things, too. Great job editing the video, too. Thank you.
Checking immediately how to put back in...YES...100% when genius and common sense intersect, and I wish I had applied more brain power to this many times in the past, haha.
That was my favorite part of the video as well. You’re helping by using muscle memory to reinforce your memory to put it back together perfectly. I also like your methodical way of explaining all of it.
"Practice reassembly before continuing." What a fantastic suggestion! I've been DIY as long as I can remember and have never thought of that. Imprinting on your mind before moving to the next step is so effective and super simple. Thank you for this tip!
Great tip - and new to me also! Yet whenever I park in a big shopping mall carpark, I now always make a point of looking back at my car a couple of times as I walk away from it, to make sure I can see where it is in relation to which entrance and so on. I know that in an hour or so I will walk out of one of those entrances with bags full of shopping and have to find it again - doing that check as I walk inside saves me hours of looking like a fool carrying bags up and down each aisle trying to find my car again.
Found your video because my daughter was having issues with her dryer filter not snapping down into place. Her clothes were catching on it and being ruined. We thought there might be something under it. Sure enough, her dryer (which is identical to your video) was packed with a huge amount of lint - probably twice as much as shown in your video. Thank you so much for your very informative and helpful video!!
Great video! For those who do not have a dryer with a lint trap like this, you shouldn't criticize others for finding it difficult to do this. The screws are hard to access because you are basically having to do it by feel since you can't actually get to that side of the lint trap to see what you are doing. And you have to remove this assembly in order to clean it like he does in the video. It's a VERY poor design! I will be doing this for sure though. Dryer is just taking too long to dry, and I know the lint trap needs cleaning like this. Cleaning the screen alone isn't enough. Thank you, Dan! 🤩
Thanks for the comments! And yes be sure to clean out the hose in the back, and the exhaust vent on the outside of the house. This is often where lint will fully block the air which dramatically increases the dry time. I have a video on this as well in the description.
I purchased the tool to clean out the long tube that goes from the dryer to outside the house. I learned mine was very clean after 15 years. I’m good about cleaning my lint trap after every load. I was a volunteer fireman in my teens so I learned the main cause of house fires is dryer lint.
I have had two dryers catch alight due to lint build up. I never leave the house with the dryer going and I clean it after every use. I also bought a Miele as the firemen said that they rarely see this problem with Miele dryers. (I’m in Australia)
To avoid this issue, I remove my lint every time I do a few loads so it has less chance to go anywhere but in the lint holder. Every time I vacuum my laundry room floor I vacuum it out as well. Once the lint starts gathering on the walls of the lint holder it’s much more easier for more lint to attach to it and build up. Very good insightful video… 👍🏻
In 2003 we bought the Kenmore HE 3T front loading dryer and washer set, with pedestals for convenient access. 😊A small brush nozzle on the vacuum cleaner really helps get all of the accessible dryer parts clean. An old tooth brush will also loosen dried-on dust for removal by the vacuum cleaner. If you use products that make drying clothes come out wrinkle free, you may need to clean the metal bars of the moisture sensor by using a folded up piece of paper towel moistened with rubbing alcohol; 71% and above has greater cleaning power. Let dry for at least 30 minutes with the door open before cutting dryer on again. Note that if you unplug the wires & plugs to the moisture sensor, it is likely that the wires & plugs will slide back inside and to the bottom of the dryer when you’re not looking, so you’ll get to learn how to take the bottom panel off to retrieve the wires. If the Dryer is plugged in when the wires disappear into the bottom area, please do not use any item made of metal to try to retrieve them. Dryers have 220 volt connections, and you really don’t want to touch one with anything metal while you’re holding the other end. When you realize you’ll have take the bottom panel off to safely retrieve the wires (only have to remove 2 screws, one at each bottom front corner, if you’re lucky) go ahead and remove the cover from the blower motor. Ours had so much dust in the vanes(or blades) that in half of them the spaces between vanes were completely filled, severely reducing the air flow; it’s a miracle that the blower vanes could move any air at all. But it is 20 years old and has never had any maintenance except our cleaning the filter after each use, occasionally vacuuming the area directly under the filter, and vacuuming the exhaust vent pipe every few years. The matching washing machine has never had a service call, but I’ve used epoxy, etc., to fix cracks in the plastic in the round door, to keep the glass where it is supposed to be and to prevent leaks. Loctite HY 4070 (comes with 4 mixing/dispensing nozzles) Adhesive will “weld” plastic together permanently in 5 or 6 minutes, if you keep the parts in close contact. A primer (typically made of n-HEPTANE) or common rubber cement solvent, will clean the surfaces to be joined and make the weld stronger and more permanent. The primer dries very quickly. Thanks for making this video, and challenging us to dive in and get the job done. I’m also glad that Sears provided User Manuals and Parts Diagrams with part numbers for each machine, and that I had sense enough to keep them in the same drawer in the laundry room for the past 20 years.
I am NOT mechanical at all! But I did everything Dan said to do and it worked! I got all that extra lint out of my dryer and it runs so much better! Thank you Dan! You’re amazing!!!
They sell skinny brushes to do this. I have a couple of them. And there are skinny attachments you can hook up to your regular vacuum to do it without taking it apart.
@@ellenhofer3343 But why do we have to go to this much trouble with brushes and vacuums and what not. Design the thing properly. I just had to replace the gosh darned heating element because I wasn't able to do any of this.
@@denisepaulsenful that's my feeling, too. Where I live its at least $350-$400 to clean the vent and I don't know that it includes cleaning inside the dryer. The fires start inside the dryers from over heating from what I was advised.
@@denisepaulsenful Part A : It's not a design problem. In 60 years of consumer use of electric/gas clothes dryers, brand competition, and government regulation, ... if a better way existed, it would have been marketed long ago. It's just a reality of normal maintenance of a home. A machine you bought, where like a car owner's checking their car's brake fluids, tire pressure etc, ... the price of failure to maintain can be dangerous. Part B : If the "I wasn't able to do any of this " is a financial problem, senior citizen, or a disability issue there may be an agency in your region that has volunteers ... my small city has an agency that has vetted people ... mainly retired guys from building trades who volunteer through the agency to help with household issues. Maybe your local Fire Department has suggestions ...referrals ..? They don't like dryer fires either. If it's a lack of confidence, maybe your local school board, or college has evening adult classes in basic building tech? Lot's of women are in trades now. Offer to trade something you do with a neighbor ... art ... cooking, music, for an hour of help to learn how to do it this time, so you can do it next time.
Thank you. I’m a quilter and don’t really want to summons a duct cleaner several times a year to keep my lint trap clean and free. I’m 53 and it took me about 10 minutes to do exactly as you showed in your video. 👏👏👏
I think the most valuable information or “quick tip” was when you suggested practicing putting it back together before starting. I don’t know why I’ve never thought to do this with, really, anything I’ve had to take apart and reassemble in that past. I will always do that from now on! Also thanks so much for this video, I can’t believe how much you sucked out of there!! I’ll get to cleaning mine now! P.s. wow are you ever easy on the eyes too 😍😜
I had never considered this extended cleaning method for my dryer's lint catcher so I'm glad to know what to do going forward. It would have been nice to see the interior after crevice tool cleaning though I'm sure it looked great. Thanks for this tutorial. It was my first time watching one of your videos...but not my last.
I LOVE your simple approach to help me get my dryer vent really cleaned out, when I couldn't access it before now. The best two words you said were: be blessed. That made me smile, because you blessed me with this video. May you also be blessed!
... just wanted to say - IT WORKED like a charm and my teenagers were able to do it by themselves. They were not happy when I gave them this chore - but i told my husband they needed “some excitement” in their lives since there’s no baseball these days! 😉. Thanks again for this awesome video! You’ve gained a follower! 👍🏽
Widow here I did not take mine apart like you have but I keep a small hand held vac by my drye and vac it frequently . I aldo use my small battery operated yard blower puttung the small attachmemt thru that maze you so sucessfully handled. Being much older than uou growing up we were always told dryer lint was very hazardous, flamable. I jeep a tin of it in my survival kit because it certainly can make man made fire combust quickly. Ad Fritos for accelerate, THANK you, good job!
Thanks for the comments! Please be sure to check the exhaust port outside to be sure there isn't a bunch of clogged lint down there forming a dam. That is another hidden way the lint builds up. My neighbor purchased a new dryer because her's stopped dryng only to find out the exhaust hose was packed solid right where it leads outside. Lesson learned the hard way! Take care, and Merry Christmas!
This worked for me. Thank you. The removable lint tray would only reinsert 95% of the way. All of my drawstrings were catching on to the lint tray and staying caught the entire drying cycle. This broke so many drawstrings. I didn't even have to watch the entire video to understand what needed to be done. Thanks again.
Putting your items that have drawstrings into net bags (like for bras, but they come in a variety of sizes) will protect your drawstrings and dryer. I usually use them as an easy identifier of items that aren't to go into the dryer (that should hang dry or lie flat to dry), but also use them for items with easily tangled strings or fringe.
@@chato9475 some of us are incapable of getting on the ground and sticking our head in there. Okay we can get on the ground. It’s getting up that’s impossible
@@sleevedaftersixty4255 me too and I would have laid a towel down inside the dryer so the screws and screwdriver wouldn’t scratch the inside of the drum...but that’s ‘me’. Otherwise, this guy did a great job. His wife is lucky.
Thank you. People just don’t understand how important it is to do this because it can easily start a fire. Bless you for showing us how to do this. Truly you will save lives 🌺🌸🌺
You just saved my night, I was trying to clean out the lint trap and got a chopstick stuck inside (fun fact this is not how you do it!!!) and i panicked until i found this video. Easy to follow 11/10 THANK YOY
WOWWW!!!! I can’t believe how much lint you got out. Thats amazing. I am watching videos for re-grouting a shower and this popped up. Needless to say my hubby will have a project to do this afternoon once the shower is done🤣🤣 I did started reading through a few comments wondering if anyone else was curious about the screws you put in the drum edge but then showed you vacuumed out the drum edge. I was waiting for a cling clang clunk oops. 😂😂 I’m subscribing! Great video thanks for it!!!!!! I love the put back together first idea & will do with everything from now on; & I will clean the parts before reattaching as some have said. And these companies should definitely make it easier to access. Thanks again😊
Good, video, Dan. Thank you for posting. One suggestion, and I know most people know this, but I think they should be reminded to unplug the unit from any electrical connection first!
My washer and dryer plugs are EXTREMELY difficult to reach. I di8see any electrical wiring in the area he was working...I'm not arguing that it is a good safeguard, but is it absolutely necessary? If so, I'd never be able to do this on my own....Also, definite thumbs up, Dan. You seem like a great guy to have around the house..lol
@@adrienneyt2250 Yes! It is ABSOLUTELY necessary. But I have same problem as you that my dryer plug is also extremely difficult to reach. What was easy to reach was my circuit breaker box. I just turned the dryer breaker off.
I clean my screen after every use & never use fabric softener or dryer sheets. But sure enough, when I pulled my screen & shone a flashlight into the compartment, it was full of sticky lint. Followed this video & cleaned it completely. Then had my husband run the dryer & as I stood outside & more popped out of the vent. Seems to be staying clean but this is going become a regular cleaning routine. Great video!
Wanted to share something that happened with my dryer. It would count down the time then reset to the original time. After watching your video and finding out out where the sensor is I checked it out and found a few strands of hair were bridged across making a contact. Removed the hair and fixed. Thanks.
There was a fire in my apartment building’s communal dryer a few weeks ago. The Mainteance supervisor for the property owner blamed the tenants, saying that they don’t clean the lint trap. In the 10 years I have lived in this building, only once did I find the lint trap un-emptied when I used the dryer. This video confirms that regular deep cleaning is necessary to keep these machines safe to use. Especially in a multi-family apartment building. I have also since learned that the lint can smolder for hours before flames and/or smoke are detected.
Funny story. I had a client that I consult for risk management and they owned about 45 apartment complexes. I made a recommendation to insure their maintenance people check and clean the lint trap and exhaust hoses every 6 month minimum. He didnt want to do it because it would be too time consuming. He didnt think lint could catch on fire. Its fuel and highly combustible. Heating elements and lint are a bad mix. Yes, he had already had a dryer fire at one of his properties. Some people just do not care and prefer the mighty dollar.
I'm living in an eight-plex in which every unit has one of these dryers; and although the building is only two years old, my dryer is caked with unreachable lint. After watching this video, I feel confident to disassemble and clean it out; but I am very concerned that others in the building will not clean theirs and a fire will result. I was glad to hear that the dryer in the video had not been cleaned out for 6 - 7 years, so the threat of fire in my building probably is not imminent.
@@sw.1984 An apartment manager told me that the lint never dries out in the machine, and so is not a fire hazard. I wrapped some duct tape around the end of a rubber tube, and fished out lint to show him that it was bone dry. It still didn’t convince him because none of his colleagues had ever heard of it being a problem.
I was in the middle of this exact job, got hung up one screw, was wondering if there were any screws that had to be accessed from under the dryer, searched YT, and found the answer quick with this vid. Thanks for making my life little easier and showing the steps. Glad I didn’t start looking under the dryer for more screws!
Very helpful video. A friend of mine moved into a beautiful home with a washer and dryer installed, but we’re going to take her old ones from the house she just sold and put them in instead. But I told her I would look into finding out how to clean the lint out of the dryer so she doesn’t have to do all of that moving around, and all I knew is that you could clean the lint coming through the tubing to leave the house. Never knew you could do it this way also.
I highly suggest cleaning everything. Disconnect the vent from the dryer and clean through the back, the lint will likely be compacted, but it’s easily lifted by raking it with your fingers, or a clean toilet bowl brush. From there clean out the tube from your dryer to your vent, I use a shop vac for that, lastly clear out the vent itself. Not only will you save on electricity from your dryer working more efficiently, but you’ll avoid a devastating lint fire.
Thank You!!! We need awesome people like you to show us how to clean inside the dryer since manufacturers choose to keep manufacturing dryers with old designs and old technology for the lint trap. I can’t wait to share it!!
Great video bud, made it super easy . I did clean my dryer . Wasn’t done from 2 years. Half a bucket lint and dirt came out. Appreciate your help bud. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I hate that type of lint trap, but that is what is in my current dryer. Instead of pulling everything apart, use a good vacuum to get rid of the lint. Another option is to use the bristle brushes made to clean refrigerator coild. They are fairly long, and pick up most of the lint not caught in the trap.
Great job, like what others say, wipe clean the parts. I use a damp cloth. Also be warned, if you do use the blow gun, have the vacuum attached to the exit in the rear of the dryer. This way the loose stuff gets sucked and forced into the vacuum. If you just blow the lint into the dryer, you can accidently force lint to go inside the heating element compartment, then you can get loose lint onto the heater element and cause a fire your next start.
I did our dryer today. Plenty of dense lint and some grit on the bottom below the lint trap. I had to duct tape a narrow hose to the vacuum to get down there. While I was at it, I also took the exhaust pipes apart to discover a uniform lint layer approximately 1/3 of an inch thick the whole length of the pipe, which I also vacuumed out. There was way more than I expected. Thanks for the motivation and demonstration.
Hey Dave, great work! Yah a lot can build up over time. Just not something we normally think about. Glad the video was helpful. I like your duct-tape idea too!
TYSM. I couldn't figure out how to clean the lint frim the bottom at all after trying to use a few items to scrap them up. Glad i RUclips and found you r video. Especially demonstrating. I will try it later.
Thank you for this! Make sure to clean out the vent hose too! That gets filled up over time and becomes a fire hazard. We save the lint to use as a fire starter in our wood stove. It’s VERY flammable. 🔥
I securely taped a plastic tube to the end of the vacuum cleaner hose and removed the lint a clump at a time. The lint will form a ball on the end of the tube and the suction will keep it stuck there until you pull it off. This method requires repeatedly inserting the plastic tube, moving it around in the cavity and removing the tube until no more lint comes out. I used this method on a dryer that required the whole front of the machine to be removed to get at the lint buildup. I was dealing with a stacking washer and dryer squeezed into a small condo closet so I wasn't about to take things apart.
YOU are a lifesaver. I moved into my place and I cleaned out all of the appliances. I notice so much lint below the lint trap. I could NOT have done it without you. THANKS!
Used this approach today on my mother-in-law's Maytag 3000 series dryer that is over 10 years old and suddenly had a burning smell which I figured for a belt or motor. Nope. 2 cubic feet of lint later, and it is working like a champ. Thanks!
Should also take the panel off and do inside under the drum. I did ours and there was an inch thick layer of lint covering everything and it was actually starting to burn where the heat element was. Glad I caught it before a fire happened.
The repairman cleaned mine out really good. It was really bad under the drum the dryer is 10 years old and was never opened. I have always cleaned the vent duct out the vent is in an exterior wall so haven't had clogging issues. I use a dryer brush to push all the lint out the exhaust during the next cycle. I couldn't believe all the lint that buildup in the bottome over the 10 years of operation. Good thing it was caught it too was starting to burn it was really thick reason for having repairman the drum belt broke when the repairman came to fix it he discovered a blanket of lint in the dryer about to catch fire. I had no idea the dryer was about to go up in flames I would have kept using the dryer if it had not broken down.
Hi Dan! We just bought a house in Portland which came with a super linty dryer. I turned to RUclips for help this morning and we just successfully cleaned out like 6 cups of lint and dirt with your guidance! Such a fun surprise to find your video.
@@DansWay Do you have a video for those as well? This is my 1st video of yours that I’ve seen. I knew there was gunk down inside, but didn’t know how to get to it - thank you!
Hey Catherine, thanks for the suggestion! Do you also wipe the lint-trap itself with the dryer sheet? Some people have commented that the lint trap mesh gets clogged due to residue, so perhaps the dryer sheet would remove that as well. I do often laugh when people complain that I didn't wipe down the inside better. For me, it is just going to get dusty on the next load so it is the buildup, not the presence, of debris that I don't want to allow. Have a great one!
Thanks Dan, long story short, we let our niece use our vacation home and we think she tossed some wet beach towels into the dryer. We have had sand for a few weeks. I’m going to use your video for one more clean. I made an adaptor for the vacuum to fit into narrow spaces like a dryer or the refrigerator coils. Just go to Home Depot or Lowe’s and grab a 3 clear PVC hoses. Start with a size with an Outside Diameter that fits your vacuum. Then get one smaller, and a third one smaller so they all fit together, and tape them up.
Suggestion: Use a vacuum to draw out excess lint before disassembly of the parts, and then again afterwards of course. Using a "Linteater dryer vent cleaner" kit (with extra rods) also prevents fires in the wall duct that goes to the outside of the house and it is a good idea to do cleaning every 9 months to a year to keep the dryer working efficiently. Some dryers have a sensor that indicates percentage of clearance in the vent. Tip: Take a photo of the parts before you take them apart.
@@DansWay I have something like that tool and just cleaned out my dryer exhaust hose and vent tube going up the inside of the wall to the roof last weekend. Was able to suck out lots of lint. My dryer had stopped working and displayed the error message: vent clogged. Now it works fine. But... I also saw all that lint like your wife saw and will now be cleaning out the front end also. I'll probably remove the whole front cover of the dryer so as to get access to all the lint I can.
I have this same model dryer. I do this cleaning every 6 months. I use a lint lizard attachment on the vacuum and a bottle cleaner to knock the lint loose. Any component I pull out of the dryer gets washed.
It would have been good to see how clean it looked inside the little compartment. We saw dirt in the vacuum but it just would’ve been cool to see what it look like inside of the area you just cleaned.
Thank you very much. You're an inspiration. I thought I was going to have to remove the back of my Magic Chef dryer but found out I could clean tons of lint out of the front. I appreciate your straight forward video without any stupid music or effects.
I've taken mine apart twice for maintenance. I've replaced sensors the first time and the entire burner unit the second time. You would be totally amazed how much stuff is inside the burner unit. Luckily for me, mine is electric. If it was gas, that dryer dust can be a bigger hazard. If your clothes aren't getting dry with one drying cycle, clean out all the ducts and open the burner access panel on the back of most dryers and inspect it for flammable material. Save your money, increase your machine life and maybe save your own lives. Great video Dan, Keep up the good teaching. JC
It was nice to see someone show how simple these jobs can be for nearly anyone. I would like to recommend, where ever possible to either wear a nuisance-dust mask or place a fan to blow the fine dust away from you as that stuff is nasty to inhale. What about the fan and the exhaust end? There are special brush sets available to help clean these awkward-to-reach areas; they are easy to clean for most dryers and will be amazed at the very fine dust you get rid of. The extremely fine dust that accumulates is also very combustable. I cleaned my whole dryer in about 30 minutes including the vent pipe and do it annually to be on the safe side. No lint build-up also means a more efficient dryer using less time and power to dry a load of wash. Cheers.
I can not start to tell you how helpful this was. I had about the same amount in the dryer y’all had. I washed everything before putting it back together. Thank you for the great video.
Your wife is one lucky lady. I have to watch videos like yours so I can figure out how to do things. My husband doesn't have a clue as to how to do anything nor is he willing to learn.
Or suggest that a $200 service call as the other option... Hitting a guy in the wallet is equivalent like hitting below the belt, it often moves us guys to action...
You can purchase a dryer vent cleaning kit which will include a universal adapter which will connect to any vacuum cleaner. The adapter has a vacuum hose small enough to get down in their and vacuum
Thanks Dan! You made me hero w/my wife for the day! Well... for at few hours at least. Naw.... she forgot about it already. Still appreciate the video. ;)
Access to the innards of different dryer models varies greatly. On some it is necessary to pop the skins off, something that may take a couple of hours of effort, but would allow thorough cleaning of the cabinet with a vacuum cleaner, especially near the heating element of electric dryers or the burner of gas dryers.
@@jimnaden5594 - I agree, but I'm an amateur when it comes to my first attempt at all things. It's the "learning curve". Once I know the tricks of where to stick the putty knife to release the hidden spring steel catches that hold the panels in place, it goes much faster.
I’ve been wanting to do this, but didn’t think I could just unscrew it and put back together. You gave me the confidence that I needed. Thank you. You just got a new subscriber. 😄
Thanks buddy .. i just followed you're instructions screw by screw ! The build up wasn't to bad at all , i am surprised . It is spiffy clean now & so happy ! I vacuum my coils on my refrigerator to remove the build up dust every 3-4 months . If you do this your refrigerator will keep cooler for longer so it don't run so often !!! Thank you for this video from NC ! 👍💐
Reminds me of the time the service guys took apart my LG washer dryer to fix some problem and found a huge amount of dusty lint trapped between the drum and the metal sheet. The machine was 2 years old only but had at least 4 kg of debris 😳 Terribly designed piece of junk.
That dirty grill was so annoying but I didn't think there was anything I could do about it. Saw this and immediately went and tried it out! Worked beautifully. A little swearing with the damn side screws that didn't want to go back in, but wow, the whole thing is wonderfully clean!! Thank you so much... 😀
This wonderful cleaning probably would prevent a fire but also restricts the air flow. You will have a more efficient dryer and save money! Great job 👏!
Wife and spent and hour and a half trying to clean this out before realizing you could do what you just did! Subscribed to try to learn before wasting all that time next time
Would love to see how to get top rack out of a ge gdwf150v55es dishwasher! Our does not come out after removing end caps-there is some kind of additional stop that keeps it from rolling out
In the 1960s, my mother was ready to buy another dryer, as the two-year old one no longer seemed to dry. I replaced the thermostat; it seemed to help a little but not enough to justify keeping the dryer. I then opened it up, dissected it, and removed lots more than 4 cups' worth of fluff! After a through cleaning and reassembly, she used the dryer for several more years without difficulty. (I vaguely recall that this was the dryer I later also had to change the drive belt on.)
I've been wanting to do this to our dryer for about 4 years now and today is the day I'll do it. Thank you for the simple instructions. Shark vacs are the best! Even after buying a new different brand, I still found the Shark to be way better so I put the other one up for a backup. Off to get my screwdriver now. Good day
Great video - thanks!! I found on my model DLGX5681W, that the 4 screws that hold the lint trap together were slightly different lengths. It's best to keep track of which part of the device they're meant for.
He Marx, thanks for the additional detail for that model. Definitely need to keep track of the screws if they end up being different! Have a good one...
Yah sorry I totally missed that shot in the video. I wish I could edit a video after posting but that’s not allowed. Just imagine it 98% dust bunny free... 😬✅
Had NO idea the lint could be cleaned out this way-so so much easier! For some reason the lint situation has always freaked me out-just one of those weird “isms” (not bad enough to be a phobia haha, but thinking about what I may not be getting out of there takes up WAY too much real estate in my brain-and I need it all for other uses! THANK YOU SO MUCH for opening my eyes to to this hack situation-I’m off to see what awaits me now! Armed with a long hose attachment that attaches to my vacuum woohooo!
I have a transparent 1/2 inch pipe connected to a shop vac using PVC reducers. It does a good job of sucking everything out. Also remember to vacuum the 4 inch hose that goes to the outside. This is very important.
OMGman!!! You're my new best friend. My dryer has been driving me bonkers with the lint trap popping out on its own and snagging my clothes. Life changer! Thank you
Nice job. I especially liked your pointing out the need to observe reassembly steps while doing disassembly, something the inexperienced (or even the experienced) DIYer might overlook. It might also be helpful to take digital pictures as disassembly progresses, so that there is less dependency on fallible human memory.
You made this look easy. My dryer door was in the way so it was a giant pain to use the screwdriver at arms length, turning the screws the wrong way. Had to break out a makeup mirror to see what I was doing. Got it done tho! Thanks for the tips!
Thank you, Dan. You’re a life saver. I’m glad I watched your video. I always wondered how to get the debris embedded deep below the filter. I have the same kind of dryer. I’m so happy now. I’m going to give it a try.🙂
Thank you! We just moved into a house that came with a washer and dryer. The previous owners did no maintenance what so ever. We have a very similar dryer as yours so this perfect! Other videos I watched didn’t give as much detail, didn’t show unscrewing everything, didn’t show hardly anything lol. Best video for this task by far!
@@DansWay We did!! Cleaned out everything. The filter wasn’t sitting flush either and cleaning everything out helped make it fit the way it’s supposed to. People really should properly clean when selling their home lol
Honestly, these should be servicable parts with access made simpler for the average user. Thanks for sharing.
@Sharon R: gosh you’re so right!
Agree.
The exact same thing happened to mine. Until the dryer stops working and spits myriad error codes. Grrrr
Removing 4 screws isn’t simple enough?
@@moniqueperreault2720 Sorry Monique, but not for everyone. Those of us who struggle with what appears to be a simple task are people with physical disabilities. Like myself. So now I have to pay to have my dryer serviced for I cannot possibly remove 4 screws. I guess I'm screwed. lol
I want to thank you for saving me $65. After I watched your video, I canceled the appointment to have someone come out and do it for me. I am a 67 year old lady. You are a good teacher and easy to follow. It took me longer than it did you, but I got it done in my dryer is working so much better. Thank you so much.
Awesome Deb! So glad you took it on and got it done. Now you know how and can do it again sometime. Have a good one!
Thanks Deb! I’m 73 and looking forward to do this too! Your post gives me another layer of confidence! Congratulations and thanks!
Our dryer doesn’t have the four screws. It’s model number WED72HEDW0. Any idea?
Practicing putting it back together before things are completely taken apart is a brilliant idea that could have saved me time and sanity on almost any project I've ever done. Better late than never. Thanks!
Or take pictures before removing.
Years ago, I decided to fix my dishwasher and when I took pieces out I placed them in the exact order they were removed. It helped a lot until my husband showed up and started moving things around while he watched.
@@monicatomaras19210
@@toytarot9015yes, I always take pics, just in case & it's saved me!
An additional tip and one that is really easy, is to actually wash the filter screen with a little dish soap and soft brush. If you use fabric soften or dryer sheets, an invisible film will form on the screen that will reduce the air flow and increase drying time. Next time after you remove the lint from the filter, run it under water and you will see that the water has trouble passing through it. After a very light soap scrubbing, you will see the the water now flows freely through the filter. How often depends on frequency of use.
I've stopped using dryer sheets for this very reason. I use softener in my wash; that's enough. I use wool dryer balls, and my laundry is soft, and my dryer filter is easy to clean.
My manufacturer says NEVER to use soap! The soap itself forms a film on the mesh ...
wouldn't vacuuming the filter clean it well enough?
@rayseto2724 I haven't tried that yet. Took me days to figure out how to open the bl**dy lint trap. (No instruction manual, even though brand new machine.) On my Samsung model, the lint trap is like a narrow bucket. Not sure how easy it'll be to vacuum, given its strange configuration, even opened up. Also not sure how well it would deal with dryer sheets buildup. But worth a try. Somehow the idea of a soft brush and water sounds more hygienic? No idea why I think that!
@@rayseto2724, I usually remove lint from screen after every use by just pulling/rubbing it off the screen. The vacuuming would be for the filter cavity which I don’t do after every use. I suppose I could get out the vacuum and clean the filter screen with it after each use but it’s just easier for me to do it by hand and occasionally rinse the filter.
As an experiment, I will vacuum the screen before the next rinse to see if that removes the invisible softener film 🤔.
For those willing to take your cleaning a step further they can remove the front panel of the dryer to access the impeller that draws the air out of the drum. Behind the front panel is an access plate on the ductwork for the impeller. Usually just a few sheet metal screws securing it. Remove the access plate and be prepared! Looking at the buildup you showed under your lint screen I guarantee your impeller is heavily clogged. Spend some time with an old paint brush and vacuum to clean the impeller and the ductwork around it and leading out of the dryer. I would bet you will reduce your drying time by as much as 50%. Tip: In general, if you stop your dryer mid cycle, open the door and are hit with a rush of humidity, the system is clogged. Cheers
Thank you! I am pretty sure this is the problem with my dryer. Going to do this and get it drying quickly again!
Did this. Definitely helped! Thanks so much.
We have a 3 year old LG Sensor Dryer and I've had to clean under the filter (as per the video) due to clogging every couple of months since it was brand new. Are we doing something wrong during the drying process? Or is this a design flaw? Thanks.
thanks for the info :) sharing my washing machine in action video
ruclips.net/video/vlsdtHOQ_hk/видео.html
I’m with you! 👍🏻
As a maid - I do this - but, I wash the parts in warm soapy water . I include the dryer screen . You can use a brush to go down in the dryer to clean it deep inside.
What a thorough maid you are!!!!
Wish I could hire you lel not all maids are the same. 😊
A refrigerator coil cleaning brush works well to loosen lint, then vacuum FYI
How / where do we find maids that do this ???
Just saw someone put a empty paper towel tube on vacuum cleaner hose and suck the lint, they used same tube under dryer
I saw something like this on Dateline years ago. They were showing just how many fires are caused in dryer lint traps each year. I lived in apt above the laundry room. One day I was walking up to garbage area and the outside vent for dryer was there with chunks of lint was coming out of the vent. I put my hand in and started pulling out first fulls of lint. It was really impacted. I thought if it is this bad here what's going on in the dryer. I always cleaned out the lint filter before and after drying but others didn't. I mentioned this to the management company for the apt that is a fire hazard waiting to happen, but they did nothing or the job done was not very good. Thank you for reminding people and showing how to do the cleaning.
Thanks for the story!
I live in a (4-story) apartment building too. Only once did an outside lint-cleaning "specialist" vendor cleaned out my dryer in my apartment - but only the hose leading to the dryer - not the vent trap. The maintenance supervisor at the time said it was a law that this needed to be cleaned periodically.
I live in California - I never heard of this law.
But I think it should be a law - a full clean of the dryer hose and the lint trap - with a follow-up inspection to certify it's been done.
The do yearly service & checks on our fire extinguishers and sprinklers. This should be added as another yearly service and inspection by making it an official law.
I've lived in my apartment for 16 years now - and only the one time, it's been checked and not fully cleaned.
Thank you, Dan, for the detailed video, I will be trying to do this myself. 🙏😊
Even when I pull the Lint out eventually it still builds and that's why I'm here. Becuz the LG guides are bloody useless.
2 of my friends died in a dryer fire when we were 20, their dogs too. Just saw them a few hours earlier and was told she had to go home to do laundry because she wanted the go see her mom the next day for mother’s day. 30 years later i still think of them everytime i do laundry, never run it when i am away or asleep (they went to bed) and i keep fire extinguishers in every room. If kids ever sleep over, i make sure we have a fire escape plan. Yes, I have been totally paranoid ever since.
@@freydaym4514 Oh wow, Frey, I'm so sorry to hear this. Such a huge loss in such a meaningless way. Thanks for sharing this painful slice of your story!
I like your idea of double-checking how to put it back before you go any further. That's how I like to do things, too. Great job editing the video, too. Thank you.
That is how I am too.
Yes, excellent advice!!
Checking immediately how to put back in...YES...100% when genius and common sense intersect, and I wish I had applied more brain power to this many times in the past, haha.
That was my favorite part of the video as well.
You’re helping by using muscle memory to reinforce your memory to put it back together perfectly.
I also like your methodical way of explaining all of it.
Or take pictures with your phone!
"Practice reassembly before continuing."
What a fantastic suggestion! I've been DIY as long as I can remember and have never thought of that. Imprinting on your mind before moving to the next step is so effective and super simple. Thank you for this tip!
Thanks for the comment! Glad this idea was helpful to you.
Great tip - and new to me also!
Yet whenever I park in a big shopping mall carpark, I now always make a point of looking back at my car a couple of times as I walk away from it, to make sure I can see where it is in relation to which entrance and so on.
I know that in an hour or so I will walk out of one of those entrances with bags full of shopping and have to find it again - doing that check as I walk inside saves me hours of looking like a fool carrying bags up and down each aisle trying to find my car again.
That actually is pretty smart!
And... not suck up the screws in the vacuum like I have 😂
Found your video because my daughter was having issues with her dryer filter not snapping down into place. Her clothes were catching on it and being ruined. We thought there might be something under it. Sure enough, her dryer (which is identical to your video) was packed with a huge amount of lint - probably twice as much as shown in your video. Thank you so much for your very informative and helpful video!!
Great video! For those who do not have a dryer with a lint trap like this, you shouldn't criticize others for finding it difficult to do this. The screws are hard to access because you are basically having to do it by feel since you can't actually get to that side of the lint trap to see what you are doing. And you have to remove this assembly in order to clean it like he does in the video. It's a VERY poor design! I will be doing this for sure though. Dryer is just taking too long to dry, and I know the lint trap needs cleaning like this. Cleaning the screen alone isn't enough. Thank you, Dan! 🤩
Thanks for the comments! And yes be sure to clean out the hose in the back, and the exhaust vent on the outside of the house. This is often where lint will fully block the air which dramatically increases the dry time. I have a video on this as well in the description.
I purchased the tool to clean out the long tube that goes from the dryer to outside the house. I learned mine was very clean after 15 years. I’m good about cleaning my lint trap after every load. I was a volunteer fireman in my teens so I learned the main cause of house fires is dryer lint.
Where did you get your hose? Inside to outside would work much much better for me. Thanks
I have had two dryers catch alight due to lint build up. I never leave the house with the dryer going and I clean it after every use. I also bought a Miele as the firemen said that they rarely see this problem with Miele dryers. (I’m in Australia)
you just added 10 years onto the life of your dryer plus eliminated the possibility of a lint fire. excellent video
To avoid this issue, I remove my lint every time I do a few loads so it has less chance to go anywhere but in the lint holder. Every time I vacuum my laundry room floor I vacuum it out as well. Once the lint starts gathering on the walls of the lint holder it’s much more easier for more lint to attach to it and build up.
Very good insightful video… 👍🏻
In 2003 we bought the Kenmore HE 3T front loading dryer and washer set, with pedestals for convenient access. 😊A small brush nozzle on the vacuum cleaner really helps get all of the accessible dryer parts clean. An old tooth brush will also loosen dried-on dust for removal by the vacuum cleaner.
If you use products that make drying clothes come out wrinkle free, you may need to clean the metal bars of the moisture sensor by using a folded up piece of paper towel moistened with rubbing alcohol; 71% and above has greater cleaning power. Let dry for at least 30 minutes with the door open before cutting dryer on again. Note that if you unplug the wires & plugs to the moisture sensor, it is likely that the wires & plugs will slide back inside and to the bottom of the dryer when you’re not looking, so you’ll get to learn how to take the bottom panel off to retrieve the wires. If the Dryer is plugged in when the wires disappear into the bottom area, please do not use any item made of metal to try to retrieve them. Dryers have 220 volt connections, and you really don’t want to touch one with anything metal while you’re holding the other end. When you realize you’ll have take the bottom panel off to safely retrieve the wires (only have to remove 2 screws, one at each bottom front corner, if you’re lucky) go ahead and remove the cover from the blower motor. Ours had so much dust in the vanes(or blades) that in half of them the spaces between vanes were completely filled, severely reducing the air flow; it’s a miracle that the blower vanes could move any air at all. But it is 20 years old and has never had any maintenance except our cleaning the filter after each use, occasionally vacuuming the area directly under the filter, and vacuuming the exhaust vent pipe every few years.
The matching washing machine has never had a service call, but I’ve used epoxy, etc., to fix cracks in the plastic in the round door, to keep the glass where it is supposed to be and to prevent leaks. Loctite HY 4070 (comes with 4 mixing/dispensing nozzles) Adhesive will “weld” plastic together permanently in 5 or 6 minutes, if you keep the parts in close contact. A primer (typically made of n-HEPTANE) or common rubber cement solvent, will clean the surfaces to be joined and make the weld stronger and more permanent. The primer dries very quickly.
Thanks for making this video, and challenging us to dive in and get the job done. I’m also glad that Sears provided User Manuals and Parts Diagrams with part numbers for each machine, and that I had sense enough to keep them in the same drawer in the laundry room for the past 20 years.
I’m not technical at all but out of sheer frustration I decided to follow your instructions. It worked perfectly! Thank you.
Good for you! Glad you took the plunge and did it yourself. Feel great eh!
@@DansWay -I had to keep starting and stopping the video but it was well worth it and I saved money 💰. Lol
I am NOT mechanical at all! But I did everything Dan said to do and it worked! I got all that extra lint out of my dryer and it runs so much better! Thank you Dan! You’re amazing!!!
It would be great if manufacturers would supply a lint cleaning tool to help with these problems
But then you wouldn't need a new one so soon.
They sell skinny brushes to do this. I have a couple of them.
And there are skinny attachments you can hook up to your regular vacuum to do it without taking it apart.
@@ellenhofer3343 But why do we have to go to this much trouble with brushes and vacuums and what not. Design the thing properly. I just had to replace the gosh darned heating element because I wasn't able to do any of this.
@@denisepaulsenful that's my feeling, too.
Where I live its at least $350-$400 to clean the vent and I don't know that it includes cleaning inside the dryer.
The fires start inside the dryers from over heating from what I was advised.
@@denisepaulsenful Part A : It's not a design problem. In 60 years of consumer use of electric/gas clothes dryers, brand competition, and government regulation, ... if a better way existed, it would have been marketed long ago. It's just a reality of normal maintenance of a home. A machine you bought, where like a car owner's checking their car's brake fluids, tire pressure etc, ... the price of failure to maintain can be dangerous.
Part B : If the "I wasn't able to do any of this " is a financial problem, senior citizen, or a disability issue there may be an agency in your region that has volunteers ... my small city has an agency that has vetted people ... mainly retired guys from building trades who volunteer through the agency to help with household issues. Maybe your local Fire Department has suggestions ...referrals ..? They don't like dryer fires either. If it's a lack of confidence, maybe your local school board, or college has evening adult classes in basic building tech? Lot's of women are in trades now. Offer to trade something you do with a neighbor ... art ... cooking, music, for an hour of help to learn how to do it this time, so you can do it next time.
Thank you. I’m a quilter and don’t really want to summons a duct cleaner several times a year to keep my lint trap clean and free. I’m 53 and it took me about 10 minutes to do exactly as you showed in your video. 👏👏👏
I think the most valuable information or “quick tip” was when you suggested practicing putting it back together before starting. I don’t know why I’ve never thought to do this with, really, anything I’ve had to take apart and reassemble in that past. I will always do that from now on!
Also thanks so much for this video, I can’t believe how much you sucked out of there!! I’ll get to cleaning mine now!
P.s. wow are you ever easy on the eyes too 😍😜
I had never considered this extended cleaning method for my dryer's lint catcher so I'm glad to know what to do going forward. It would have been nice to see the interior after crevice tool cleaning though I'm sure it looked great. Thanks for this tutorial. It was my first time watching one of your videos...but not my last.
All of the above 👍🏼
Absolutely! I wanted to see the "AFTER" and he never showed it.
I LOVE your simple approach to help me get my dryer vent really cleaned out, when I couldn't access it before now. The best two words you said were: be blessed. That made me smile, because you blessed me with this video. May you also be blessed!
... just wanted to say - IT WORKED like a charm and my teenagers were able to do it by themselves. They were not happy when I gave them this chore - but i told my husband they needed “some excitement” in their lives since there’s no baseball these days! 😉.
Thanks again for this awesome video! You’ve gained a follower! 👍🏽
😂😂
Michelle William's, great idea and when they get a place of their own, knowing how to do that will come in handy.😏
Widow here I did not take mine apart like you have but I keep a small hand held vac by my drye and vac it frequently . I aldo use my small battery operated yard blower puttung the small attachmemt thru that maze you so sucessfully handled. Being much older than uou growing up we were always told dryer lint was very hazardous, flamable. I jeep a tin of it in my survival kit because it certainly can make man made fire combust quickly. Ad Fritos for accelerate, THANK you, good job!
Thanks for the comments! Please be sure to check the exhaust port outside to be sure there isn't a bunch of clogged lint down there forming a dam. That is another hidden way the lint builds up. My neighbor purchased a new dryer because her's stopped dryng only to find out the exhaust hose was packed solid right where it leads outside. Lesson learned the hard way! Take care, and Merry Christmas!
This worked for me. Thank you. The removable lint tray would only reinsert 95% of the way. All of my drawstrings were catching on to the lint tray and staying caught the entire drying cycle. This broke so many drawstrings. I didn't even have to watch the entire video to understand what needed to be done. Thanks again.
Putting your items that have drawstrings into net bags (like for bras, but they come in a variety of sizes) will protect your drawstrings and dryer. I usually use them as an easy identifier of items that aren't to go into the dryer (that should hang dry or lie flat to dry), but also use them for items with easily tangled strings or fringe.
This is part of the reason that so many house fires get started. They should definitely make it easier to access
I mean, all he used was 1 tool.
@@chato9475 some of us are incapable of getting on the ground and sticking our head in there.
Okay we can get on the ground. It’s getting up that’s impossible
@@chato9475 it still doesn’t account for cleaning lower in the dryer leading out to the exhaust hose, unfortunately.
@@decimanightelf4135 Yeah there should be a hatch or something, that we can open from the front below the door
I would have washed the parts before reassembling.
Absolutely ! And I would have used a damp rag to wipe everything. I can’t wait to do this tomorrow.
@@sleevedaftersixty4255 me too and I would have laid a towel down inside the dryer so the screws and screwdriver wouldn’t scratch the inside of the drum...but that’s ‘me’. Otherwise, this guy did a great job. His wife is lucky.
B24 Liberator Me too!,
Me three lol. (His wife would have, too I suspect)
Why didn’t you wash the parts before putting it back together?
Thank you. People just don’t understand how important it is to do this because it can easily start a fire. Bless you for showing us how to do this. Truly you will save lives 🌺🌸🌺
Thanks!
Thanks so much for the tip! Sorry I didn't comment earlier. Have a Merry Christmas / New Years.
You just saved my night, I was trying to clean out the lint trap and got a chopstick stuck inside (fun fact this is not how you do it!!!) and i panicked until i found this video. Easy to follow 11/10 THANK YOY
Haha, awesome! Thanks for that laugh. So glad this video was helpful for you 🤣
WOWWW!!!! I can’t believe how much lint you got out. Thats amazing. I am watching videos for re-grouting a shower and this popped up. Needless to say my hubby will have a project to do this afternoon once the shower is done🤣🤣
I did started reading through a few comments wondering if anyone else was curious about the screws you put in the drum edge but then showed you vacuumed out the drum edge. I was waiting for a cling clang clunk oops. 😂😂 I’m subscribing! Great video thanks for it!!!!!!
I love the put back together first idea & will do with everything from now on; & I will clean the parts before reattaching as some have said. And these companies should definitely make it easier to access.
Thanks again😊
After seeing him drop the screws inside the drum, I was waiting to hear them get sucked up in the vacuum.
HaHa. Me too. I am here to ask If anyone else wondered about that.
@@user-px7nh7vs4b I never thought of that... I wasn't vacuuming the main barrel, so I didn't see the issue with leaving them there ;-)
Like the vacuum
I was worried about scratching the drum
@@josettegiacobbi1115 shark vacuum are the best.
Good, video, Dan. Thank you for posting. One suggestion, and I know most people know this, but I think they should be reminded to unplug the unit from any electrical connection first!
Absolutely! Wish I had shown that step one...
We know this, but we forget. Thanks for the reminder.
My washer and dryer plugs are EXTREMELY difficult to reach. I di8see any electrical wiring in the area he was working...I'm not arguing that it is a good safeguard, but is it absolutely necessary? If so, I'd never be able to do this on my own....Also, definite thumbs up, Dan. You seem like a great guy to have around the house..lol
@@adrienneyt2250 Yes! It is ABSOLUTELY necessary. But I have same problem as you that my dryer plug is also extremely difficult to reach. What was easy to reach was my circuit breaker box. I just turned the dryer breaker off.
I clean my screen after every use & never use fabric softener or dryer sheets. But sure enough, when I pulled my screen & shone a flashlight into the compartment, it was full of sticky lint. Followed this video & cleaned it completely. Then had my husband run the dryer & as I stood outside & more popped out of the vent. Seems to be staying clean but this is going become a regular cleaning routine. Great video!
Thanks for the comments Barbara!
Wanted to share something that happened with my dryer. It would count down the time then reset to the original time. After watching your video and finding out out where the sensor is I checked it out and found a few strands of hair were bridged across making a contact. Removed the hair and fixed. Thanks.
Wow, thanks for sharing that situation. Interesting.
There was a fire in my apartment building’s communal dryer a few weeks ago. The Mainteance supervisor for the property owner blamed the tenants, saying that they don’t clean the lint trap. In the 10 years I have lived in this building, only once did I find the lint trap un-emptied when I used the dryer. This video confirms that regular deep cleaning is necessary to keep these machines safe to use. Especially in a multi-family apartment building. I have also since learned that the lint can smolder for hours before flames and/or smoke are detected.
Funny story. I had a client that I consult for risk management and they owned about 45 apartment complexes. I made a recommendation to insure their maintenance people check and clean the lint trap and exhaust hoses every 6 month minimum.
He didnt want to do it because it would be too time consuming. He didnt think lint could catch on fire. Its fuel and highly combustible. Heating elements and lint are a bad mix.
Yes, he had already had a dryer fire at one of his properties.
Some people just do not care and prefer the mighty dollar.
@@sw.1984 Truth
I'm living in an eight-plex in which every unit has one of these dryers; and although the building is only two years old, my dryer is caked with unreachable lint. After watching this video, I feel confident to disassemble and clean it out; but I am very concerned that others in the building will not clean theirs and a fire will result. I was glad to hear that the dryer in the video had not been cleaned out for 6 - 7 years, so the threat of fire in my building probably is not imminent.
@@sw.1984 An apartment manager told me that the lint never dries out in the machine, and so is not a fire hazard. I wrapped some duct tape around the end of a rubber tube, and fished out lint to show him that it was bone dry. It still didn’t convince him because none of his colleagues had ever heard of it being a problem.
@@DovidM fire waiting to happen!
I was in the middle of this exact job, got hung up one screw, was wondering if there were any screws that had to be accessed from under the dryer, searched YT, and found the answer quick with this vid. Thanks for making my life little easier and showing the steps. Glad I didn’t start looking under the dryer for more screws!
Haha, awesome! Glad you got it. Merry Christmas!
Very helpful video. A friend of mine moved into a beautiful home with a washer and dryer installed, but we’re going to take her old ones from the house she just sold and put them in instead.
But I told her I would look into finding out how to clean the lint out of the dryer so she doesn’t have to do all of that moving around, and all I knew is that you could clean the lint coming through the tubing to leave the house. Never knew you could do it this way also.
I highly suggest cleaning everything. Disconnect the vent from the dryer and clean through the back, the lint will likely be compacted, but it’s easily lifted by raking it with your fingers, or a clean toilet bowl brush. From there clean out the tube from your dryer to your vent, I use a shop vac for that, lastly clear out the vent itself. Not only will you save on electricity from your dryer working more efficiently, but you’ll avoid a devastating lint fire.
Thank You!!! We need awesome people like you to show us how to clean inside the dryer since manufacturers choose to keep manufacturing dryers with old designs and old technology for the lint trap. I can’t wait to share it!!
Haha, cool. Thanks for sharing!
Great video bud, made it super easy . I did clean my dryer . Wasn’t done from 2 years. Half a bucket lint and dirt came out. Appreciate your help bud. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Glad it helped. Half a bucket, wow!
I hate that type of lint trap, but that is what is in my current dryer. Instead of pulling everything apart, use a good vacuum to get rid of the lint. Another option is to use the bristle brushes made to clean refrigerator coild. They are fairly long, and pick up most of the lint not caught in the trap.
Great job, like what others say, wipe clean the parts. I use a damp cloth. Also be warned, if you do use the blow gun, have the vacuum attached to the exit in the rear of the dryer. This way the loose stuff gets sucked and forced into the vacuum. If you just blow the lint into the dryer, you can accidently force lint to go inside the heating element compartment, then you can get loose lint onto the heater element and cause a fire your next start.
Thanks for making this comment, as I was considering doing this and wondering if that could happen. Now I absolutely will not do that.
I did our dryer today. Plenty of dense lint and some grit on the bottom below the lint trap. I had to duct tape a narrow hose to the vacuum to get down there. While I was at it, I also took the exhaust pipes apart to discover a uniform lint layer approximately 1/3 of an inch thick the whole length of the pipe, which I also vacuumed out. There was way more than I expected. Thanks for the motivation and demonstration.
Hey Dave, great work! Yah a lot can build up over time. Just not something we normally think about. Glad the video was helpful. I like your duct-tape idea too!
TYSM. I couldn't figure out how to clean the lint frim the bottom at all after trying to use a few items to scrap them up. Glad i RUclips and found you r video. Especially demonstrating. I will try it later.
Thank you for this!
Make sure to clean out the vent hose too! That gets filled up over time and becomes a fire hazard.
We save the lint to use as a fire starter in our wood stove. It’s VERY flammable. 🔥
Exactly! This is only half the job for sure...
Old egg cartons with candle wax mixed with lint are the best fire starters ever!
I securely taped a plastic tube to the end of the vacuum cleaner hose and removed the lint a clump at a time. The lint will form a ball on the end of the tube and the suction will keep it stuck there until you pull it off. This method requires repeatedly inserting the plastic tube, moving it around in the cavity and removing the tube until no more lint comes out. I used this method on a dryer that required the whole front of the machine to be removed to get at the lint buildup. I was dealing with a stacking washer and dryer squeezed into a small condo closet so I wasn't about to take things apart.
YOU are a lifesaver. I moved into my place and I cleaned out all of the appliances. I notice so much lint below the lint trap. I could NOT have done it without you. THANKS!
So glad this video was helpful to you. Have a good one!
Used this approach today on my mother-in-law's Maytag 3000 series dryer that is over 10 years old and suddenly had a burning smell which I figured for a belt or motor. Nope. 2 cubic feet of lint later, and it is working like a champ. Thanks!
Wow, 2ft? Where else did you find that much material?
Thank you for this. It has bugged me how much lint is in the bottom of my dryer. Now I know how to clean my dryer out. Thank you! I love my Shark.
Let us know how it goes! 👍
@@DansWay I will, thank you!
Should also take the panel off and do inside under the drum.
I did ours and there was an inch thick layer of lint covering everything and it was actually starting to burn where the heat element was. Glad I caught it before a fire happened.
The repairman cleaned mine out really good. It was really bad under the drum the dryer is 10 years old and was never opened.
I have always cleaned the vent duct out the vent is in an exterior wall so haven't had clogging issues.
I use a dryer brush to push all the lint out the exhaust during the next cycle.
I couldn't believe all the lint that buildup in the bottome over the 10 years of operation.
Good thing it was caught it too was starting to burn it was really thick reason for having repairman the drum belt broke when the repairman came to fix it he discovered a blanket of lint in the dryer about to catch fire.
I had no idea the dryer was about to go up in flames I would have kept using the dryer if it had not broken down.
We're dealing with this right now. Thanks for taking time to show this. Our dryer is at about 8 years.
Hi Dan! We just bought a house in Portland which came with a super linty dryer. I turned to RUclips for help this morning and we just successfully cleaned out like 6 cups of lint and dirt with your guidance! Such a fun surprise to find your video.
Hey there! So fun that you got this done yourself. Did you also clean out the back exhaust and tube?
@@DansWay yes! The pocket around the lint trap was the worst of it though.
@@DansWay Do you have a video for those as well? This is my 1st video of yours that I’ve seen. I knew there was gunk down inside, but didn’t know how to get to it - thank you!
@@4kiitieslady I'm sorry, but I don't know what video you are asking about?
Tip I have discovered cleaning ur dryer as well ..Take a swifter and it will wipe the lint off or use just a dryer sheet! It works fabulous!!
Hey Catherine, thanks for the suggestion! Do you also wipe the lint-trap itself with the dryer sheet? Some people have commented that the lint trap mesh gets clogged due to residue, so perhaps the dryer sheet would remove that as well. I do often laugh when people complain that I didn't wipe down the inside better. For me, it is just going to get dusty on the next load so it is the buildup, not the presence, of debris that I don't want to allow. Have a great one!
Thanks Dan, long story short, we let our niece use our vacation home and we think she tossed some wet beach towels into the dryer. We have had sand for a few weeks. I’m going to use your video for one more clean.
I made an adaptor for the vacuum to fit into narrow spaces like a dryer or the refrigerator coils. Just go to Home Depot or Lowe’s and grab a 3 clear PVC hoses. Start with a size with an Outside Diameter that fits your vacuum. Then get one smaller, and a third one smaller so they all fit together, and tape them up.
Nice way to get it cleaned out!
I’ve been wondering how to clean this and trying to get my vacuum in there never thought of taking it apart thank you 🙏
Suggestion: Use a vacuum to draw out excess lint before disassembly of the parts, and then again afterwards of course. Using a "Linteater dryer vent cleaner" kit (with extra rods) also prevents fires in the wall duct that goes to the outside of the house and it is a good idea to do cleaning every 9 months to a year to keep the dryer working efficiently. Some dryers have a sensor that indicates percentage of clearance in the vent. Tip: Take a photo of the parts before you take them apart.
Thanks for the comments James. Do you use something like this? amzn.to/3HXowwL
@@DansWay I have something like that tool and just cleaned out my dryer exhaust hose and vent tube going up the inside of the wall to the roof last weekend. Was able to suck out lots of lint. My dryer had stopped working and displayed the error message: vent clogged. Now it works fine. But... I also saw all that lint like your wife saw and will now be cleaning out the front end also. I'll probably remove the whole front cover of the dryer so as to get access to all the lint I can.
@@esong21956 Sounds like you are doing a really thorough job!
😊😊
How do we find the socks the dryer steals from us?🤔
Great question! Perhaps some form of magic randomly turns them into lint which is why we have so much lint??? 😂
They’re actually in the washer. Lol
@@apiecemaker1163 Yup. I've found them in the washer before, lots of them hiding behind the tub.
There under your bed
Ask the dog 🐶 😆
I have this same model dryer. I do this cleaning every 6 months. I use a lint lizard attachment on the vacuum and a bottle cleaner to knock the lint loose. Any component I pull out of the dryer gets washed.
Thank you! We have done all kinds of things to figure this issue out. I am at my wits end trying to resolve this issue. I will try this as well!
Please let me know how it works out!
It would have been good to see how clean it looked inside the little compartment. We saw dirt in the vacuum but it just would’ve been cool to see what it look like inside of the area you just cleaned.
Yah, so sorry I missed that shot!
I wanted to see it too! Lol!
Thank you very much. You're an inspiration. I thought I was going to have to remove the back of my Magic Chef dryer but found out I could clean tons of lint out of the front. I appreciate your straight forward video without any stupid music or effects.
ALSO, check the expanding dryer hose at least once a year ... maybe simply replace it. Lots of the superfine lint gets stuck in there ....
I've taken mine apart twice for maintenance. I've replaced sensors the first time and the entire burner unit the second time. You would be totally amazed how much stuff is inside the burner unit. Luckily for me, mine is electric. If it was gas, that dryer dust can be a bigger hazard. If your clothes aren't getting dry with one drying cycle, clean out all the ducts and open the burner access panel on the back of most dryers and inspect it for flammable material. Save your money, increase your machine life and maybe save your own lives. Great video Dan, Keep up the good teaching. JC
Thanks for the info Liz. Sounds like you have done a lot to keep your dryer running safely!
It was nice to see someone show how simple these jobs can be for nearly anyone. I would like to recommend, where ever possible to either wear a nuisance-dust mask or place a fan to blow the fine dust away from you as that stuff is nasty to inhale. What about the fan and the exhaust end? There are special brush sets available to help clean these awkward-to-reach areas; they are easy to clean for most dryers and will be amazed at the very fine dust you get rid of. The extremely fine dust that accumulates is also very combustable. I cleaned my whole dryer in about 30 minutes including the vent pipe and do it annually to be on the safe side. No lint build-up also means a more efficient dryer using less time and power to dry a load of wash. Cheers.
Great job Michael. You are really doing more than most of us for sure... ;-)
I can not start to tell you how helpful this was. I had about the same amount in the dryer y’all had. I washed everything before putting it back together. Thank you for the great video.
You're very welcome!
great though I was waiting for the after shot of what it looked like inside the trap after you vacuumed it out. ... never got that money shot.
Haha, so true! I guess you will have to trust me that it was 95% cleaner than before...
I was too 😔. Great video though!
Yes, me too!!!
Yep!...In videos like these...REMEMBER: We ALWAYS NEED THAT AFTER SHOT!!!!! 😎🖒🖒...😂😂
@@DansWay My dryer has lots of lint in it and looks like yours. But mine makes a ton of noise. Do you think lint could be the source of the noise?
I found your video 2 days ago so, I decided to give this a try and it was easy because of your instructions. Thank you so much!
Your wife is one lucky lady. I have to watch videos like yours so I can figure out how to do things. My husband doesn't have a clue as to how to do anything nor is he willing to learn.
Sorry about that! At least this is one you can tackle yourself with a screwdriver.
Or suggest that a $200 service call as the other option... Hitting a guy in the wallet is equivalent like hitting below the belt, it often moves us guys to action...
You can purchase a dryer vent cleaning kit which will include a universal adapter which will connect to any vacuum cleaner. The adapter has a vacuum hose small enough to get down in their and vacuum
Thank you
Thanks Dan! You made me hero w/my wife for the day! Well... for at few hours at least.
Naw.... she forgot about it already.
Still appreciate the video. ;)
LOL!!! 😭 That was hysterical. Thanks for the comment.
Access to the innards of different dryer models varies greatly. On some it is necessary to pop the skins off, something that may take a couple of hours of effort, but would allow thorough cleaning of the cabinet with a vacuum cleaner, especially near the heating element of electric dryers or the burner of gas dryers.
You can have the front off of most dryers in about 20 minutes, less than that for someone who does it for a living.
@@jimnaden5594 - I agree, but I'm an amateur when it comes to my first attempt at all things. It's the "learning curve". Once I know the tricks of where to stick the putty knife to release the hidden spring steel catches that hold the panels in place, it goes much faster.
I’ve been wanting to do this, but didn’t think I could just unscrew it and put back together. You gave me the confidence that I needed. Thank you. You just got a new subscriber. 😄
I used a vent brush and a hose which attaches to my sweeper to clean out mine. Worked great.
Thanks buddy .. i just followed you're instructions screw by screw ! The build up wasn't to bad at all , i am surprised . It is spiffy clean now & so happy !
I vacuum my coils on my refrigerator to remove the build up dust every 3-4 months .
If you do this your refrigerator will keep cooler for longer so it don't run so often !!!
Thank you for this video from NC ! 👍💐
Reminds me of the time the service guys took apart my LG washer dryer to fix some problem and found a huge amount of dusty lint trapped between the drum and the metal sheet. The machine was 2 years old only but had at least 4 kg of debris 😳 Terribly designed piece of junk.
That dirty grill was so annoying but I didn't think there was anything I could do about it. Saw this and immediately went and tried it out! Worked beautifully. A little swearing with the damn side screws that didn't want to go back in, but wow, the whole thing is wonderfully clean!! Thank you so much... 😀
Haha! Glad you persevered and got it done! Now you can do this as often as needed. Keep it up! Now take a look at the exhaust side for sure.
@@DansWay Will do!
This wonderful cleaning probably would prevent a fire but also restricts the air flow. You will have a more efficient dryer and save money! Great job 👏!
Thanks for the comment Ray!
Wife and spent and hour and a half trying to clean this out before realizing you could do what you just did! Subscribed to try to learn before wasting all that time next time
Awesome. Thanks for subscribing Benny! What else would you like to see shown, repaired, or maintained?
Would love to see how to get top rack out of a ge gdwf150v55es dishwasher! Our does not come out after removing end caps-there is some kind of additional stop that keeps it from rolling out
Thank you for making this video! Never deep cleaned a lint trap before, and now feeling confident I can go clean mine.
The algorithm brought me here today. This is the kind of content I need, so I'm a new sub!
Welcome to the family!
In the 1960s, my mother was ready to buy another dryer, as the two-year old one no longer seemed to dry. I replaced the thermostat; it seemed to help a little but not enough to justify keeping the dryer. I then opened it up, dissected it, and removed lots more than 4 cups' worth of fluff! After a through cleaning and reassembly, she used the dryer for several more years without difficulty. (I vaguely recall that this was the dryer I later also had to change the drive belt on.)
Awesome story, thanks for that!
I watched the entire video and don't even own a dryer
Me too!
Lmbo
😄😄😄
Same..it’s his voice in thay dryer that is soothing lol
Ha, ha.
I've been wanting to do this to our dryer for about 4 years now and today is the day I'll do it. Thank you for the simple instructions. Shark vacs are the best! Even after buying a new different brand, I still found the Shark to be way better so I put the other one up for a backup. Off to get my screwdriver now. Good day
Excellent video to clean out filter area all the gadgets couldn’t get to it. Thank you
Thanks Deborah!
Great video - thanks!! I found on my model DLGX5681W, that the 4 screws that hold the lint trap together were slightly different lengths. It's best to keep track of which part of the device they're meant for.
He Marx, thanks for the additional detail for that model. Definitely need to keep track of the screws if they end up being different! Have a good one...
Before you reassembled it why didn't you show the after so we can see how clean you got it down there?
Yah sorry I totally missed that shot in the video. I wish I could edit a video after posting but that’s not allowed. Just imagine it 98% dust bunny free... 😬✅
YES!!! Came in the comments for this!
Had NO idea the lint could be cleaned out this way-so so much easier! For some reason the lint situation has always freaked me out-just one of those weird “isms” (not bad enough to be a phobia haha, but thinking about what I may not be getting out of there takes up WAY too much real estate in my brain-and I need it all for other uses! THANK YOU SO MUCH for opening my eyes to to this hack situation-I’m off to see what awaits me now! Armed with a long hose attachment that attaches to my vacuum woohooo!
Sounds like you are going to have way more fun with this task than most!
Thanks. I taped afoot long 3/4" tube to a vacuum cleaner and it pulled out a lot of lint.
Thank you - that’s exactly what I was looking for to unscrew the plastic thing !
I have a transparent 1/2 inch pipe connected to a shop vac using PVC reducers. It does a good job of sucking everything out. Also remember to vacuum the 4 inch hose that goes to the outside. This is very important.
Take the screws out of the dryer before you start vacuuming and put in a safe place like a baggie or plate
Hold up! ...A guy who does what his wife asks? You rock Dan! 👍 Plus this is great info
Yes, Mr Holt, you rock and do the Stroll, air to ground
Simp🤣
Lol
OMGman!!! You're my new best friend. My dryer has been driving me bonkers with the lint trap popping out on its own and snagging my clothes. Life changer! Thank you
Haha, glad to have you as a friend!😄
Nice job. I especially liked your pointing out the need to observe reassembly steps while doing disassembly, something the inexperienced (or even the experienced) DIYer might overlook. It might also be helpful to take digital pictures as disassembly progresses, so that there is less dependency on fallible human memory.
Thought I was doing well cleaning the vent from the outside. 😂 I will do this too. Thanks!
You made this look easy. My dryer door was in the way so it was a giant pain to use the screwdriver at arms length, turning the screws the wrong way. Had to break out a makeup mirror to see what I was doing. Got it done tho! Thanks for the tips!
Thank you, Dan. You’re a life saver. I’m glad I watched your video. I always wondered how to get the debris embedded deep below the filter. I have the same kind of dryer. I’m so happy now. I’m going to give it a try.🙂
Good point. Hubby regularly uses the crevice tool to pull that stuff out. Have never seen that one can pull that shroud off
Thank you! We just moved into a house that came with a washer and dryer. The previous owners did no maintenance what so ever. We have a very similar dryer as yours so this perfect! Other videos I watched didn’t give as much detail, didn’t show unscrewing everything, didn’t show hardly anything lol. Best video for this task by far!
Thanks so much. Did you get the job completed? Be sure to clean the exhaust side as well.
@@DansWay We did!! Cleaned out everything. The filter wasn’t sitting flush either and cleaning everything out helped make it fit the way it’s supposed to. People really should properly clean when selling their home lol
Sounds great! Good job taking this on.