5 Essential Dryer Maintenance Tips to Increase Longevity

We put our dryers through a lot when you stop to think about it. If you also happen to have children, then it seems likely that you are putting your dryer through at least one or two loads every single day. Indeed, we rely greatly on this appliance. Naturally, it is understandable why people want to maintain their dryer. The more you know about DIY dryer maintenance, the more use you will get out of your dryer over the long-term.

At the same time, dryer maintenance tips aren’t just a matter of making sure your dryer is working at optimal levels. For example, the buildup of lint can be extremely dangerous, as far as fire hazards are concerned. You will also be stuck with a dryer that has to work harder to achieve anything. This can drive up your energy costs.

Keeping all of this in mind, there are a number of tips that can help you to save money, protect the substantial financial investment you have made in your dryer, and ensure your dryer does not become a risk to your health, or even to your life.

Dryer Maintenance Tips to Increase Longevity

Here are some easy tips and suggestions for dryer maintenance that you are going to want to keep in mind if you are keen to avoid any of the problems we mentioned above:

Clean the lint filter/lint trap before every load

This may seem like overkill, but we are talking about an action that you can complete in just a few minutes. The more lint builds up in your dryer, the greater a fire hazard the dryer is going to become.

Don’t overload the machine

No one really wants to be responsible for two loads in the dryer, but overloading your dryer can cause a lot of problems. At the very least, you can seriously mess with the functionality of your dryer. Keep in mind that in order for your dryer to be effective, it needs to have enough room for the hot air to circulate. This hot air is responsible for drying the clothes. When you overstuff the dryer, the hot air fails to circulate. In other words, you may think that you are saving time, but you aren’t.

 

Only dry clean items in your dryer

Again, your dryer works by circulating hot air. This means that your dryer isn’t going to be able to do much with things that are still dirty. Check the information attached to your dryer for information on cleaning liquids like gasoline. Generally speaking, these things should not be put in your dryer.

Clean the vent twice per year

There is a cleaning brush specifically for this task that can prove to be extremely useful. Keep in mind that two times per year is just the minimum. You are certainly welcome to clean your vents more than twice a year. You should also keep an eye out for anything that might be obstructing the airflow of your dryer. Not only can such obstructions prove to decrease the functionality of your dryer, but they can also provide you with a serious fire hazard. If you don’t feel like cleaning your dryer vents on your own, don’t be afraid to call in professionals. Sure, you’ll have to spend money, but you will also find that the costs are quite reasonable.

Clean the outside/inside of your dryer

If you are using an electric dryer, make sure everything has been unplugged. In addition to having enough space between the appliance and the wall, in order to maintain optimal ventilation, you will also want to use a mild cleaner to remove dirt and stains from the inside and outside of your dryer.

Appliance repair service areas: Scarborough, Markham, and Mississauga.