I bought a dryer brush (bendable) from either Watkins or Fuller brush and it works good. One thing DH tried to do once a year is pull off the back of the dryer and clean it out (vacumn) very good. He also checked other things as needed.

Cleaning the dryer vent is one of my dreaded tasks. Our metal duct runs behind the dryer, under the floor, through the crawl space and then outside. The run is about 15 feet. I use a brush like the one shown in the B,B & B to keep the dryer itself clean. But it's just as important to disconnect the back and clean out the duct all the way to the outside. We now pay our chimney sweep to do that when he comes for his annual visit.

I had a co-worker who used his leaf blower.... I guess his wife was standing outside and got covered with the lint... not a happy camper...
I can't imagine firing up one of those in my laundry room -- the noise must have been incredible.

i'm so glad you mentioned metal duct, mcmann. that is by far the safest and now, code, in many states...i encourage anyone with the flimsy white plastic to change asap..they're known fire hazards...lol using the leaf blower!

I use my lint brush a lot. I have the nozzle of the shop vacuum running to suck up all the lint under the filter. I do this weekly because my lint filter doesnÂt have a good seal.

Annually I clean the dryer vent hose. IÂve never been able to take the back of the dryer off. It has galvanized screws that wonÂt budge.

I work at a University and we have the campus dorm laundry rooms vents cleaned professionally once a year. My husband does ours at home and also my heating/air conditioning ducts which really keeps the dust down. A bendable brush is what you need for the dryer vent and good for you for cleaning it, it can be a major fire hazard if you didn't.

The plumber that set up my washer and dryer said cleaning the dryer is not as important as it used to be. The newer dryers have a filter on the top of the dryer instead of in the door and doesn't clog near as bad as the door filter.

Thank you for bringing this subject up.

I need to remember to order a kit. I've been looking at some from repairclinic.com. I also noticed a vacuum attachment for cleaning behind the appliances and underneath the refridgerator. That might come in handy!

Here is a link that might be useful: Vent cleaners

Ok, that does it. I'm sold on the leaf blower. LOL! Dh absolutely doesn't want a leaf blower and I've seen a lot of uses for it. I'll add this to the list.

Leaf blowers are multi-purpose. Great for cleaning dryer vents, routine dusting, sweeping, they work great on garage floors and mice get very annoyed when you blow away their nest with 200 mph of wind! For that matter they get annoyed when you blow the mice out of the garage with 200 mph of wind too!

BTW, they also will work nice for blowing dust out of your computer. Use low speed though.

And anyone who says cleaning dryer vents isn't important today doesn't know what they're talking about. Do some quick research on dryer fires. I wouldn't let a quack like that work on anything of mine.

I have the same set up as Mcmann, with the vent line in the crawl space. DD put in a solid metal line, so that's good, but my dryer lint trap is just inside the door of the dryer (not in the door) and the filter pushes down into the cavity and I can see that there is still some lint in there.
It sounds like a good stiff lint brush will do wonders.
I'm also interested in something that attaches to the vacuum, but I think it will have to be flexable to get into the space.
Thanks for all the quick responses, I'm headed downstate (2 hours south) to where a lot of stores are on Thursday and will check out some stuff, plus do a little more online looking.
Kathy G in MI

"The plumber that set up my washer and dryer said cleaning the dryer is not as important as it used to be. The newer dryers have a filter on the top of the dryer instead of in the door and doesn't clog near as bad as the door filter."

Interesting comment. The dryer that I bought in 1971 had the filter on top; but the dryer that we bought earlier this year has the filter at the bottom of the opening into the dryer...

I bought a long wire bendable brush at dollar general, its for dryers & refrigerators, it works just fine. It was about $2.00 It looks like the one in the first picture link.

paw-print, some time when you can get back there (pita i know!) get some handy WD40, and spray those fastners...it should help...it migh have to sit for a few minutes...

When we bought our gas dryer, I insisted in a metal vent tube. I had heard stories of fires with those plastic/nylon flexible hoses.I also bought a brush From Sears (for about $10) which I use to clean the crevices of my dryer lint filter. I faithfully clean the front filter every time start my dryer. I was having trouble with the dryer. I would push the button and the drum would turn but the gas pilot refused to come on. I hade been lax about cleaning the front lint filter. Once I cleaned it, it ran properly every time!

The kit pictured in the blue and white box includes a vacuum attachment, telescoping wide brush, and narrow brush. I bought it at Kmart for $20.

The guy that says it isn't important these days to clean the dryer lint is a fool. Dryer lint is one of the most combustable things you'll ever see. As a matter of fact, I save mine in a grocery bag and use it for starting bonfires. Try it some time and you'll see what I mean. And this is something that does not change.