Getting Rid of Dryer Lint

I receive an amazing amount of forwarded e-mail each day from well-meaning friends and relatives. Most times I take a quick glance and then delete them. One such email was one from a coworker concerning lint buildup on my dryer lint screen. However, I received the same forwarded e-mail from various sources over the following weeks, and decided to take a closer look.

The gist of the e-mail is that even though you can remove your lint screen from your dryer and see right through it, the screen is still clogged with lint to the point that your dryer is not working efficiently, and not drying your clothes in the allotted cycle time.

To disprove the theory, I followed the instructions in the e-mail. To my amazement, the caution was point-on. Although I could see no visible lint on the screen, it was most definitely clogged—completely. If you want to get rid of dryer lint from your lint screen, follow these simple steps:

1. Take your lint screen from your dryer and pull off all of the lint.
2. Hold the screen under a sink faucet with the cupped side down and run water over the screen.
3. Turn the water off, allowing the screen to stay in position. If some of the water runs through, while some of it pools inside the screen, then the screen is clogged with dryer lint.
4. Turn the screen over inside of the sink and rub it with dishwashing liquid. If you have an old toothbrush, brush the screen vigorously, then spray the screen with water until all of the soap clears away.
5. Now run water through the screen. It will not pool, and the screen is clear. Dry it with a paper towel and replace it inside the dryer.

The next time you run the dryer, chances are that more lint than usual will collect on the screen since it is now able to do its job properly.

If you still have problems with lint accumulation on clothing, unplug the dryer and remove the back panel. Vacuum all around the dryer and inside of it. Clean the handles of the lint screen with mild detergent and water. Thoroughly dry the screen before placing in the dryer. Use the recommended amount of dryer sheets per load as using more will add to the problem of lint filter clogs.

Clean your dryer vent and tubing at least every two years. Keep the area around your dryer clutter-free. Clean the outside of the dryer frequently with a soft cloth and water. Check the lint filter of your washing machine to make sure that it is clear of lint. Many people do not realize that washing machines have lint filters, so make sure that you find yours and clean it. Doing so will help reduce dryer lint when you use your dryer.