A clean tumble dryer is a long-lasting tumble dryer. We have learned this from years of experience working with many different makes and models of appliances. Taking the time to clean the tumble dryer filter, condenser, as well as some of the internal parts will ensure that your appliance is not just hygienic, but also energy efficient and safe.
This article features a step-by-step guide on how to deep clean a tumble dryer, as well as some general tips and advice for its maintenance.
Before you carry out any cleaning or maintenance, ensure that your appliance is fully cooled down, turned off and disconnected at the mains. This is especially important when working on the internal parts of your dryer.
Let's get started with our step-by-step guide on how to clean and maintain your tumble dryer. Simply follow the how-to video or the guide below:
The lint trap (or lint filter) on a tumble dryer prevents fluff, fibres, and other clothes debris from going into the vents of the appliance. It is a crucial component that ensures not only efficiency but also safety, as a clogged-up vent can quickly become a fire hazard.
Ideally, you should check and clean a tumble dryer filter after every cycle. This is important as a clogged lint trap will reduce the airflow into the machine. This will compromise the efficiency of your appliance, cost more in energy bills, and even pose a safety risk if the dryer gets too hot. Thankfully, cleaning the lint filter isn’t difficult.
Here’s how to clean fluff from a tumble dryer:
❗ Note: This applies to condenser tumble dryers only!
If you have a condenser tumble dryer, make sure that you check the water container after every cycle and empty it if necessary. This will allow you to run a full cycle without having to stop halfway through to empty the container.
❗ Note: This applies to condenser and heat pump tumble dryers only!
The tumble dryer heat exchanger turns steam from the dryer drum back into water. However, this steam can contain small fibres and dirt that can clog up the heat exchanger. If this happens, your machine will be much less efficient.
Here’s how to clean the heat exchanger on your tumble dryer:
❗ Note: This applies to vented tumble dryers only!
If you have a vented tumble dryer, you should be sure to regularly check the vent hose. The vent hose directs the warm, damp air inside the tumble dryer to the outside of the machine. If there are kinks or damage on the hose, it will affect the airflow, meaning that it will take much longer for the drying to finish. Also, if there is a hole or a slash, damp air will start escaping into your house. This could lead to mould issues. This is why it is important that if your tumble dryer vent hose is looking damaged or worn, you replace it as soon as possible.
On eSpares, you will find a selection of universal tumble dryer vent hoses – 2.5M, 3M, 4M.
🎥 Watch how to install a vent hose on your vented tumble dryer in our video below:
Make sure you give the rear of your tumble dryer a good clean, as dirt can build up here and affect the performance of your appliance.
Your tumble dryer should be unplugged and the vent hose disconnected before you do this. The first step is to remove the back panel. It will likely be secured with Phillips or a Torx screws, so make sure you acquire the appropriate screwdriver. Then, vacuum around the blower and the vent pipe connection to clean the tumble dryer build-up.
When you've finished, reconnect the vent pipe and reattach the back panel.
You need to make sure that the inside of your tumble dryer drum stays clean, too. Grime and fluff can build up inside the drum, which can then ruin lighter coloured clothing or cause drying to take longer and waste energy.
To clean the drum, all you need to do is wipe it down with a cloth and stainless steel cleaner or white vinegar.
Because your tumble dryer is warm and damp, bacteria and microbes can breed here and lead to unpleasant smells. Clean your tumble dryer door seals by wiping them down with a damp cloth as part of your cleaning routine.
Tumble dryers aren’t too difficult to maintain – however, they can be a drain on your energy bill. Thankfully, there are a few tricks that you can employ to have your machine functioning at top performance while also saving some money. We will discuss them in this section.
A great way to save energy when using your dryer is by using tumble dryer balls. This allows air to circulate in your appliance and helps separate clothing during a cycle. Not to mention, the tumble dryer balls also reduce static and minimise wrinkles on your clothes. The constant tumbling action helps soften fabrics without the need to use chemical softeners and can reduce the drying times up to about 25%.
🎥 The eSpares tumble dryer wool balls are the perfect way to improve the efficiency and lifecycle of your machine. You can learn more about them in this video:
Another great tip to ensure your dryer remains as energy efficient as possible is to ensure you don't overload it. As well as wasting energy, this can cause tumble dryers to overheat and become damaged. Even out loads with items of a similar size and make sure not to overfill with large items such as duvets. We recommend only filling up your drum halfway for maximum efficiency.
Regularly cleaning and maintaining your tumble dryer will prevent it from developing faults, help you save money on energy bills, and keep your appliance lasting for longer. There are certain tasks that should be carried out after every tumble dryer cycle. These include clearing the lint filter and checking the water container. Others, such as cleaning the inside of your machine, should be done around once a month.
🎥 If you need tumble dryer spare parts and accessories, be sure to view our range on eSpares. Finally, for more information and energy-saving tips, you can view our video here:
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