How do I clean a tumble dryer?

Tumble dryers work by moving hot air through fabric, and lint restricts that airflow. Restricted airflow means longer cycles, higher running costs, and accumulated flammable material near a heating element. It is a genuine fire risk and it's entirely preventable.

Safety

What you'll need

• Vacuum with a crevice tool
• Soft brush
• Cloths
• Bowl for the condenser unit (optional)

Step by step

1. Clean the lint filter after every load, without exception.Pull it out, peel the lint off, and check the mesh is genuinely clear. This is the single most important habit.
2. Wash the filter in warm soapy water monthly.Fabric conditioner leaves an invisible film on the mesh that restricts airflow even when it looks clean.
3. Unplug the machine before cleaning anything internal.You'll be reaching into the housing near electrical components.
4. Vacuum the filter housing with a crevice tool.Lint accumulates below the filter where it can't be seen and can't be pulled out by hand.
5. For a condenser dryer, remove and rinse the condenser unit monthly.It's usually behind a flap at the bottom front. Rinse it under a tap until the water runs clear and let it dry fully.
6. For a heat pump dryer, clean the secondary filter and heat exchanger per the manual.These have an extra filter that people frequently don't know about, and a blocked one causes very long cycles.
7. For a vented dryer, check the hose and the external vent are clear.A crushed or blocked hose kills performance and traps lint. Check the outside grille isn't blocked by debris or a nest.
8. Empty the water container after every load if it isn't plumbed in.A full container stops the cycle, usually partway through.

Tips

• If drying times have crept up over months, it's almost always airflow — filter, condenser or vent — rather than the machine failing.
• Skipping fabric conditioner reduces the film that builds on the filter mesh.
• Shake items out before loading. Bunched fabric dries unevenly and takes far longer.
• Don't overload — a dryer needs tumbling space to work. Overloading is a common reason for damp clothes at the end of a full cycle.

Common mistakes

• Not cleaning the filter every load — It's the primary fire risk and the main cause of long drying times.
• Never cleaning the condenser — Airflow drops steadily and cycles get progressively longer and more expensive.
• Running the dryer overnight or when out — A recognised fire risk. Run it when you're at home and awake.
• Drying oil-contaminated cloths — Residual oil can self-heat in a warm pile of fabric and ignite.

Questions people ask