Dryer vent cleaning is a necessity, no matter if your dryer
is at your home or in a commercial building. While it is recommended you get
professional dryer vent cleaning done on an annual basis, there are a few steps
you can take to ensure you don’t need it done more often than that. Here are a
few tips on dryer
vent cleaning from the Minneapolis cleaning experts at Metro Cleaning
Service.
While dryer sheets and fabric softener are both popular ways
to soften your clothing and make them smell fresh, be sure to use both
sparingly. Dryer sheets can cause more lint to build up in your dryer’s lint
filter. Fabric softener can add even more flammable chemicals to your clothing,
and that can cause them to ignite and burn even faster if there is a dryer
fire.
When you are using your dryer, try not to run it for any
longer than 30 to 40 minutes per load. If you have to run your dryer for longer
than 40 minutes, that is usually a good indication that you need to look into professional
dryer vent cleaning services like ours. Running your dryer for 30 to 40 minutes
at a time gives the air in the machine a better chance of properly circulating
through the machine, which could result in less lint build-up in the filter and
in the dryer vent.
If you are drying heavier fabrics, like blankets or
comforters, consider air drying them if that is possible. These types of
materials are better sources of lint than lighter fabrics, so keep them out of
your dryer whenever possible. Air drying might take longer than drying through
your dryer, but this could save you time, money and hassle in the long run.
After each time you use your dryer, clean out the lint trap.
This usually only takes a few seconds and making sure your dryer’s lint trap is
clean not only helps decrease the frequency of dryer vent cleaning. It could
also help increase the life span of your dryer.
Finally, make sure your dryer vents directly outside. It
should never vent into an attic, chimney or crawlspace. It should also have the
proper cap on the part that leads outside in order to prevent birds, squirrels
and other animals from nesting in there.
