When was the last time you cleaned your dryer vent? If you can’t remember, then you’re probably overdue. Even though you take the lint off of the lint trap each time you use your dryer, there’s no guarantee that your dryer vent is as clean as the trap.
Since dryer vents are hard to reach without the proper tools, we recommend a dryer vent cleaning kit to remove any lint blockages. We might see new technologies soon, just like the water filter vacuum cleaners that are superior in some many ways vs hepa vacuums.
Check out our best dryer vent cleaning kits on the market right now, and a few reasons why you need to clean your dryer vent system regularly to maintain its health and increase life expectancy.
Why Should You Clean Your Dryer Vent?
If you peel the lint off of the lint trap every time you use the dryer, you might think that your dryer is clean and clear of dust and excess lint buildup. You may also think that the dryer vent and the lint trap are the same.
Quick answer
The best dryer vent cleaning kit is the Deflecto Dryer Duct Cleaning Kit, it is an inexpensive option with 6 extensions made of aluminum. This is a great option for a deep and long lasting clean.
The dryer vent system is the ductwork that leads to the outside vent. The dryer vent is often known as the exhaust vent. It’s normal for lint, dust, and debris to build up in the vent each time you dry your clothes. Even if you are vigilant about cleaning the lint trap, it doesn’t mean that the vent is clean. You should clean your dryer vent at least once or twice per year, more times if you use your dryer frequently.
Not only does a clean dryer vent make your dryer run more efficiently but it can prevent house fires too. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, an estimated 2,900 clothes dryer fires occur each year, which results in deaths, injuries, and millions of dollars in property loss.
The majority of dryer fires take place in the cooler months, during fall and winter, and the failure to clean the dryer accounts for about 34 percent of clothes dryer fires. Cleaning your dryer vent is an easy solution for a costly and potentially fatal problem.
Recommended Duct Cleaning Equipment
| #1 | Deflecto Dryer Duct Cleaning Set |  | With 6 extension rods that extend to 12 feet, this type of cleaning kit reaches deep into the ductwork. Can be used manually or attached to a cordless drill to take care of mucky vents easier and quickly. |
| #2 | Holikme Dryer Vent Cleaning Kit |  | Containing a 29-inch long flexible dryer lint brush, a 25-inch flexible hose, attachment, and a round soft brush vacuum attachment. This kit also includes vacuum adapters to reduce mess while cleaning and costs the same as the Vanitek 26″ long stand alone cleaner, making it a bargain. |
| #3 | Holikme Long Flexible Brush |  | The long and narrow brush head combined with a flexible steel rod and stiff bristles makes this tool ideal for those hard to get areas [narrower lint trap openings]. |
How Often Should You Clean Your Dryer Vent?
Cleaning a clothes dryer vent is not as simple as pulling out the lint trap and cleaning off the lint, but for safety reasons, you should plan on cleaning the vent at least once a year. If you use your dryer frequently, you may benefit from three times a year. There’s no rule that says you can’t clean the vent more than a few times a year. A dryer vent cleaning set makes vent cleaning all the easier.
Not sure if your vent needs cleaning? These signs may indicate that your dryer vent needs attention:
Dryers malfunction for a number of reasons, but if your dryer is acting up, it’s easiest to clean your dryer vent and take it from there.
Clothes Dryer Do’s & Don’t’s
Here are a few things that can be done to reduce the chances of a fire occurring and keeping you and your family safe at home.
Dryer Do’s
Dryer Don’t’s
How To Clean Your Dryer
Some homeowners are too overwhelmed at the thought of cleaning their dryer vent and will spend at leas $100 dollars to hire a professional. Cleaning your own dryer vent is fairly simple and relatively inexpensive.
Many experts recommend cleaning out your dryer vent with a vacuum or an air compressor. While these are useful and do an excellent job of clearing out excess lint and dirt, you also need dryer vent cleaning brushes. These brushes come in a variety of types & sizes, and are long enough to reach all hard-to-reach spots in the vent.
Feeling inspired to clean your dryer vent, keep your dryer working more efficiently and reduce utility bills & fire hazards in your home? Check out our top picks for dryer vent cleaning kits.
Deflecto Dryer Duct Cleaning Set
The toughest part of cleaning out your dryer vent is that it’s difficult to reach deep enough into the ductwork. The Deflecto Dryer Duct Cleaning Kit comes with a synthetic 4” brush head, 6 rods that extend to 12 feet when clipped together, and is cheaper than its competitor, the Maritown Dryer Duct Cleaning Kit.
You can attach the Deflecto Dryer Cleaning rod to a power drill to make it easier to clean the vent more quickly, but you don’t need to have a drill to use the brush.
The product is a cheap solution, making it simple for users to reach deep into the ductwork (otherwise impossible to do), keeping them cleaner than ever before.
Positives
Needs Improving
Specifications
- Item weight: 1.05 lbs
- Piece length: 24″
- Piece quantity: 6
- Max length: 12′
- Material: Aluminum connectors, durable white rods & black synthetic brush.
- Duct dimensions: 12′ x 4″
Holikme Dryer Vent Cleaning Kit
The Holikme Dryer Vent Cleaning Kit comes with a 29-inch long flexible dryer lint brush, a 25-inch flexible hose, attachment, and a round soft brush vacuum attachment.
The dryer vent cleaning kit also includes vacuum adapters so that you can attach your dryer vent brush to your vacuum to reduce mess and ensure that the excess lint goes directly into your vacuum.
As well as preventing potential fires, the multiple functionalities on this kit makes it easier for the user to remove the majority of lint within the dryer and/or ducts. This improves performance and efficiency of your machine, which saves time and money on drying clothes.
Positives
Needs Improving
Specifications
- Item weight: 1.59 lbs
- Piece 1: 29″ flexible dryer cleaning brush
- Piece 2: 25″ flexible nozzle hose attachment
- Piece 3: Round soft horsehair brush vacuum attachment
- Piece 4: 1.25″ (32mm) to 1.38″ (35mm) vacuum adaptor
- Piece 5: Dyson vacuum adapter
Holikme Long Flexible Brush
This long flexible dryer vent cleaning brush is long with a narrow brush head, which makes it ideal for narrower lint trap openings. The brush has a wooden handle, flexible steel rod, and a durable and stiff brush for collecting dryer lint and debris.
One thing we love about this uniquely shaped brush is that you can use it for other hard to reach spots like cleaning the coils on your refrigerator. The Holikme brush is available as a two-pack, so you can use these brushes for an extended period before it’s time to replace and buy more.
The flexible neck allows users to get to hard to reach places, such as, u-shaped pipes, under appliances where dust and hair gathers and even within the door cavity of your dryer – this is a simple yet inexpensive all-rounder product.
Positives
Needs Improving
Specifications
- Item weight: 4.2 ounces
- Dimensions: 29″ x 2″ x 1″
- Quantity: 2
- Material: Wooden handle, flexible stainless steel neck, nylon bristles
- Pipe Diameter: 3/4″
Our Top Choice
If you shop around for dryer vent cleaning kits, you might notice that most of the brushes look identical and work similarly. Vent pipe brushes are relatively simple, so you’re not likely to find many that look different from the others. You can compliment your kit with a hardwood floor machine to keep your space clean and fresh.
Our top choice for the best dryer vent kit is the Deflecto Dryer Duct Cleaning Kit. We love the customizable extension rod and the wide brush head to ensure we get all the lint in the hardest spots to reach. The ability to use the brush with a drill, for fast and efficient cleaning, is an added bonus to this invaluable laundry room tool.
References
https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/indoor-vs-outdoor-dryer-vents/
https://homefixated.com/dryer-vent-hoods/
âś“ How to tell when your dryer went is clogged?
There are several warning signs that determine the likelihood your dryer vents need cleaning in order to prevent a malfunction or worse, a fire!🔥
- Finding lint on your clothing or in the door seal.
- Your dryer shutting down. This can happen as your dryer is overworking due to clogged vents.
- Longer than usual drying times. Your vent may not be completely clogged, but any restriction of air flow will result in longer drying times.
âś“ How often should I have my dryer vents cleaned out?
This really depends on many factors such as how often you use your dryer and even the make and model you have. Although dryer fires🔥are not completely common, they still do happen and the culprit is blocked vents!
As a general room of thumb, it's probably best to clean your dryer vents at least once a year to be on the safe side and provide peace of mind.
âś“ Why is my dryer taking so long to dry my clothes?
More often than not, it's not your dryer that's the issue. Like all machines, maintenance is a necessity. The usual culprit is vent blockages (lint accumulation), however, sometimes the issue can be venting configuration.
The easiest thing to check first, is blocked vents, if this resolves your drying time issues, then it's likely your venting configuration is on point.
