Step by step: how to clean a dryer lint trap
Safety first. Unplug an electric dryer, or turn off the gas valve and unplug a gas dryer, before you reach or brush down into the lint slot. Never run the dryer without the screen in place or with a torn screen, and never put a wet screen back in.
- 1
Pull the screen straight out
Most screens sit in the door opening or on top of the dryer and lift straight out. Slide it out slowly so lint on the edges does not fall down into the slot.
- 2
Roll the lint off with your fingers
Push the lint from one end to the other with your fingertips or a dry paper towel until it peels off in a sheet. Do not rinse it to get lint off: wet lint clogs the mesh and is much harder to remove. Do this every load.
- 3
Check the screen for residue
Hold the screen up to the light. If the mesh looks dull or waxy, or water beads up instead of running through it, dryer sheet and detergent residue is blocking the airflow and it is time for a wash.
- 4
Wet both sides with hot water
Take the screen to a sink or tub and run hot tap water over both sides. This loosens the waxy film so the brush can lift it.
- 5
Scrub with a nylon brush and detergent
Put a few drops of liquid detergent on a soft nylon brush wet with hot water and scrub both sides of the mesh for 1 to 2 minutes. Use light pressure; a stiff wire brush or heavy scrubbing can tear the mesh or pull it from the frame.
- 6
Rinse and dry completely
Rinse with hot water until no suds are left and water flows straight through the mesh. Pat it dry with a clean towel, then let it air dry for an hour. It must be fully dry before it goes back in.
- 7
Vacuum lint out of the slot
While the screen is out, slide a vacuum crevice tool or a long flexible lint brush gently into the housing and pull out the lint that slipped past the screen. Do not force a brush deep enough to hit the blower or sensors.
- 8
Put it back and push it firmly in place
Slide the dry screen fully into the slot until it seats. A screen that sits loose or crooked lets lint bypass it and collect inside the dryer and vent.
How often should you clean the lint trap?
Clear the lint off every single load, and wash the screen with water and detergent about every six months, or more often if you use dryer sheets.
Whirlpool’s lint screen instructions say to check and clean the screen before every load and to wash it with a nylon brush every six months, or more often if residue builds up. Whirlpool and Maytag both explain that detergent and fabric softener residue on the screen can make drying take longer or make the dryer stop before the load is dry, and that the screen is probably clogged if lint falls off while it is still in the dryer.
This is not only about drying time. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean was the leading factor in the ignition of home clothes dryer fires from 2018 to 2020, at 31%.
How to clean lint out of the rest of the dryer
Lint that gets past the screen builds up in the slot, inside the cabinet and in the vent duct, so a clean screen alone is not enough if drying still takes long.
| Where lint collects | How to clean it | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Lint screen | Roll lint off by hand; wash with brush and detergent | Every load; wash every 6 months |
| Screen housing (the slot) | Vacuum crevice tool or flexible lint brush | Every few months |
| Vent duct and outside hood | Disconnect and brush or vacuum the duct; clear the flap outside | At least once a year |
| Inside the cabinet | Appliance technician, as part of a service | If you see lint around the drum or smell scorching |
For the duct, follow our dryer vent cleaning guide, and for the drum and door seal see how to clean a dryer.
Heat pump, ventless and compact dryers
Ventless and heat pump dryers usually have more than one filter, and they need cleaning more often because there is no vent to carry fine lint outside.
On Whirlpool’s compact heat pump dryer, the door screen is cleaned every load and a second bottom filter with a foam pad is cleared when the indicator light comes on, about every five cycles. Whirlpool also warns not to run that dryer with the lint screen loose, damaged, blocked or missing, because it can overheat and damage both the dryer and your clothes. Other brands differ, so check your manual for where each filter sits and how often to clear it.
Mistakes to avoid
- Rinsing the screen under the tap to get the lint off, which turns it into wet felt stuck in the mesh.
- Only cleaning the screen when it looks full instead of every load.
- Ignoring a waxy film from dryer sheets because the screen looks lint free.
- Putting the screen back while it is still wet.
- Running the dryer with a torn screen or with the screen pulled out.
- Pushing a stiff brush deep into the slot and bending sensors or hitting the blower.
Products that make this easier
Optional. Everything above works with basic supplies; these just save time or effort.
- See it on Amazon
For the slot
Flexible dryer lint brush (long)
A long, bendable brush reaches lint that drops below the screen where your fingers cannot. Go gently so you do not push lint further in.
- See it on Amazon
Pulls lint out
Dryer lint vacuum attachment
A thin, flat hose fits most vacuum hoses and pulls lint out of the screen housing instead of pushing it down. Check the fit for your vacuum.
- See it on Amazon
Soft scrubber
OXO Good Grips Deep Clean Brush Set
The small nylon brush is the right stiffness for scrubbing residue off the mesh without tearing it.
- See it on Amazon
Less screen residue
Wool dryer balls
Softening laundry with wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets leaves no waxy film on the screen. They will not soften as much as sheets do.
As an Amazon Associate, Broombook earns from qualifying purchases. Links open the product on Amazon, where sizes, sellers and prices change.