Easy Dryer Maintenance Tips

Many ow ners of clothe dryers are unaware of the importance of good dryer maintenance and that a dryer requires maintenance to provide for trouble free operation. For information on how you can provide ongoing maintenance for your dryer, refer to the 7 tips below.

Tip 1 – Protect the Dryer Top

Avoid placing hard or sharp objects on your dryer top. Your dryer top should not be used as a work area. Though the enamel on your dryer is hard, it is easily scratched and chipped. To reduce the chance of damaging your dryer top, place a protective cover over the top, such as an old rug, a piece of leftover carpet, or a thick towel.

Tip 2 – Avoid Placing Heavy Object on Your Dryer

Climbing onto the top of your dryer can bend or dent the dryer surface and can bend or break the levelers under the dryer that keep the dryer from wobbling when it's in use.

Tip 3 – Avoid Using Bleach to Clean Your Dryer

Take care not to use or spill liquid bleach or fabric softeners on your dryer. They can damage your dryer's finish and can lead to rusting of the metal beneath the enamel. A solution of water and soap will generally work well in cleaning your dryer's surface.

Tip 4 – Remove Lint from the Dryer's Lint Trap

After each drying load, check the lint trap. If it has lint on its screen, remove it. Fabric softeners can clog the screen or holes in your lint trap. To remove fabric softener build-up, use soapy water and a brush. A clean lint trap can help avoid possible fires from overheated lint and can shorten your drying time by allowing more air to pass through your dryer.

Tip 5 – Clean Your Dryer Drum

Use a damp sponge or rag to clean hair, lint, and other debris from the surface of your dryer drum. When you hear hard objects clanging in side your moving dryer drum, stop the dryer and remove these objects. This will help avoid damage to the inside surface of your dryer.

Tip 6 – Level Your Dryer

A dryer that is not level can vibrate as the drum turns, placing damaging force on dryer components and loosening them. As you dryer turns when in use, check to see if the dryer moves, shudders, or vibrates. If I does, check the leveler feet under the dryer.

Tip 7 – Clean Your Dryer's Vent Pipe

Disconnect one end of your dryer's vent pipe and examine it for lint build up or debris that can clog it and cause it to overheat. A crimped dryer pipe can prevent lint and debris from being exhausted from your dryer. Examine the vent hole to which your vent pipe is attached.