When my grandma first showed me how she cleans a clogged dryer vent, I honestly didn’t think it would work. She didn’t use any fancy tools or call a repair service — just a vacuum, a brush, and an old leaf blower from the garage. With a confident smile, she said, “This keeps your dryer working well, keeps your home safe, and costs almost nothing.” And she was right.
A lot of people don’t know that a blocked dryer vent is more than just annoying — it can actually cause fires. The U.S. Fire Administration says clothes dryers start about 2,900 house fires every year, mostly because the vents aren’t cleaned. Plus, lint buildup makes the dryer work less efficiently, raises your energy bills, and makes the machine wear out faster.
So when Grandma told me this was something I had to do, I paid attention.
Her Easy and Smart Way to Clean a Dryer Vent
Here’s the simple method my grandma taught me — and I still use it today:
✅ Step 1: Stay Safe First
Unplug the dryer. If it uses gas, turn off the gas valve too. Then gently move the dryer a little away from the wall so you can reach the back.
✅ Step 2: Vacuum the Vent
Use a vacuum with a hose to suck out all the dust and lint from the back vent and the floor around it. You’ll be surprised how much collects there, even if you clean the lint trap often.
✅ Step 3: Use a Brush
Get a long, flexible vent brush (they’re cheap at hardware stores) and push it gently inside the vent. Twist and move it around to loosen any lint stuck inside.
✅ Step 4: Vacuum Again
Go back in with the vacuum to remove the loose lint and dust.
✅ Step 5: Blow It from Outside
Here’s Grandma’s clever trick: go outside to where the vent lets air out of your house. Take off the vent cover (usually just a few screws). Put the leaf blower nozzle into the vent and give it a few blasts. You’ll see dust and lint shoot out — it’s oddly satisfying!
✅ Step 6: Put Everything Back and Test
Screw the vent cover back on, plug the dryer in, and slide it back into place. Run a short cycle with a small load. You’ll notice right away — the dryer is quieter, dries faster, and doesn’t feel as hot.
The Results
After I did this with Grandma for the first time, I was shocked. The dryer worked like it was new again. Clothes dried faster and more evenly, and the slight burning smell I hadn’t noticed before was gone. Most importantly, the risk of fire was much lower.
Grandma always did this once in the spring and once before winter — and now, so do I.
When she first showed me this, I doubted it. No fancy tools or expensive services — just a vacuum, a brush, and an old leaf blower. But with a confident smile, she said, “This keeps your dryer working, keeps your home safe, and costs almost nothing.” And she was absolutely right.
Most people don’t know that a blocked dryer vent isn’t just annoying — it can actually be dangerous. The U.S. Fire Administration says clothes dryers start about 2,900 house fires every year, and the main reason is that people don’t clean the vents. On top of that, lint buildup makes the dryer work harder, uses more electricity, and wears the machine out faster.
So when Grandma told me this was something I had to do, I paid attention.
Her Easy, Safe, and Smart Way to Clean a Dryer Vent
Here’s the simple method she taught me — and I’ve been doing it ever since:
✅ Step 1: Safety First
Unplug the dryer. If it uses gas, turn off the gas valve too. Then gently pull the machine a bit away from the wall so you can reach the back.
✅ Step 2: Vacuum the Vent
Use a vacuum with a hose to suck out any lint and dust from the back vent and the floor around it. You’ll be surprised how much collects there, even if you always clean the lint trap.
✅ Step 3: Brush the Inside
Use a long, flexible vent brush (they’re usually under $20) and push it inside the duct. Twist and move it around gently to loosen any lint stuck inside.
✅ Step 4: Vacuum Again
Go back in with the vacuum to remove all the loose lint and dust you just brushed free.
✅ Step 5: Blow It Out from the Outside
Here’s Grandma’s smart trick: go outside to where the vent blows air out of the house. Remove the cover (usually just a few screws), then stick a leaf blower nozzle into the vent. Give it a few blasts. You’ll see dust and lint fly out — it’s surprisingly satisfying!
✅ Step 6: Put It Back Together and Test
Put the vent cover back on, plug the dryer in, and push it back into place. Run a short cycle with a small load. You’ll probably notice right away — the dryer is quieter, dries faster, and doesn’t get as hot.
The Results
The first time I did this with Grandma, I couldn’t believe the difference. The dryer worked like it was new. Clothes dried more evenly and more quickly, and the slight burning smell I hadn’t noticed before disappeared. Most importantly, the fire risk was much lower.
She always did this once in the spring and once before winter — and now I do too.