This Laundry Tip Is Key to Getting Your Clothes to Dry Faster
Half the pain of laundry day — besides that heaping pile of clothes waiting for your attention – is all of the rules and guidelines you need to memorize to get it right: Separate lights and darks, turn denim inside out, don’t use fabric softener on certain types of fabrics… and let’s not even talk about the advanced degree you need to decode all of those laundry symbols. But there’s one more small tip you should commit to memory — and that’s regularly cleaning your dryer vent. No, we’re not talking about clearing the lint trap, which is the internal component where fuzz builds up, after every cycle. We’re talking about the tubing that exhausts the hot air and lint out of the machine. Ensuring the dryer vent is clear not only makes your machine run so much more efficiently, but it can also spare you a serious hazard: a dryer fire. “If the dryer vent is clogged or even partially blocked, airflow is impeded and the wet air gets trapped, making clothes take way longer to dry,” says Carolyn Forté, executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab. “A clogged or blocked dryer vent is also a fire hazard, since lint is extremely flammable, and fires can easily start if it builds up too much.” Even a clog at the vent outlet — whether from leaves, debris or a birds’ nest — on the outside of your house can impede and slow down drying or create a fire hazard. A clear vent also helps reduce the overall energy required to dry your clothes, which can lower your electricity bill over time. It can even extend the life of the appliance, saving you money on repairs or replacements in the long-run.So how often should you give your dryer vent a good clean? “It’s a good idea to have the entire vent professionally cleaned yearly,” says Forté. “It’s also important to keep the area around the back of the dryer and into the duct as clean as possible on a regular basis.” Bill Oxford//Getty ImagesIf you suspect your dryer may not be working at full capacity, there are some signs that you may have a venting issue. The most obvious? If your dryer is taking longer than usual to dry clothes or the temperature inside the dryer seams weak, it’s a strong indicator that airflow may be restricted. Unusual sounds — like the motor working harder than normal — could also signal a blockage in the vent, as can excessive moisture or lint build-up around the venting — inside or out. When in doubt, check to make sure air comes through when you start the dryer, says Forté. Take a peek outside, too. When you start the dryer, you should feel and/or see hot air blowing out from where your dryer vent exits (typically a small hood with a flap or cover). If you notice anything unusual, ring a professional vent cleaning service or a dryer repair technician for help. WE BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW THISBrigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women’s Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more. More