How to clean a dryer vent

Updated September 23, 2026 · Every figure checked twice against its source · How we verify

To clean a dryer vent, unplug the dryer, pull it out, disconnect the hose, run a rotating brush and a vacuum through the duct from inside to the outside hood, clear the hood, then reconnect everything and test that the outside flap opens. A brush kit costs $15 to $50, according to HomeGuide. The NFPA says to do this once a year, or sooner if clothes take longer than normal to dry.

What you need

How to clean a dryer vent, step by step

1. Unplug the dryer. On a gas dryer, also turn off the supply valve, which is how Fixr describes professionals starting the job.
2. Clean the lint screen and its housing. The NFPA says to remove lint that has collected around the drum, and the USFA says not to forget the back of the dryer. Every six months, wash the screen with a nylon brush (USFA).
3. Pull the dryer out and disconnect the transition duct at the dryer and at the wall. Look at what it is made of. Whirlpool says not to use flexible plastic or foil-type duct because it can collapse, crush and trap lint. Replace it if that is what you have.
4. Vacuum the dryer's exhaust outlet and the opening of the wall duct.
5. Brush the duct from inside toward the outside. Feed the brush in, add rod sections as it goes, and work it back and forth while it rotates. Follow your kit's instructions on drill speed and direction.
6. Vacuum again to pull out the lint the brush loosened, from both ends if you can reach the outside.
7. Clear the outside hood. Remove lint and any nesting material, and check the flap swings freely. Do not add a screen: the code says screens shall not be installed at the duct termination (IRC M1502.3).
8. Reconnect the duct correctly. The code wants the insert end of each section pointing in the direction of airflow, joints sealed and mechanically fastened, and no screws sticking more than 1/8 inch into the duct (IRC M1502.4.2).
9. Push the dryer back without crushing the hose, then test. Run a heated cycle and check outside that the flap opens and air flows. Fixr says professionals run a 15 to 20 minute test.

How to use a dryer vent cleaning kit

Most kits are flexible rods that screw together with a brush head on the end, and many fit a drill. HomeGuide says most include a vacuum hose attachment and a rotary brush. Start with two or three rods, push the spinning brush into the duct, pull it back to empty the lint, then add a rod and go further. Stop when the brush comes out at the hood, or when you meet resistance you cannot pass. A brush that will not go further can mean a sharp elbow, a crushed section or a nest, and forcing the brush past it risks damaging the duct.

How to clean dryer vent without moving dryer

You can brush the duct from the outside hood toward the house without touching the dryer, and on some layouts that reaches most of the run. It leaves out two things: the transition hose behind the dryer, which is where crushing and kinking happen, and the lint around the dryer's own outlet. Once a year, pull the dryer out and do the full job.

How to clean dryer vent inside dryer

Pull the lint screen and vacuum the slot it sits in with a narrow nozzle or a lint brush. That is the part of the dryer's interior a homeowner should clean. The USFA says the interior of the dryer and the venting system should be serviced and cleaned periodically by qualified service personnel. Lint inside the cabinet, near the heater, is their job, not a DIY one.

How to clean dryer hose

Disconnect the transition hose at both ends, take it outside, and push a brush or vacuum through it. If it is a white vinyl hose or thin, crinkly foil, replace it instead of cleaning it: the USFA recommends replacing coiled-wire foil or plastic venting with rigid, non-ribbed metal duct. The code allows a single listed transition duct of up to 8 feet, not concealed in a wall.

How to clean dryer vent with leaf blower

A leaf blower pointed into the duct from inside can push loose lint out of a short, straight run. It will not scrub off lint stuck to the walls, and it does nothing for a nest or a stuck flap. If you try it, clear the outside hood first and check the flap is free. A rotating brush does the job properly.

When to call a professional

• The vent exits on the roof. Roof work carries a fall risk; HomeGuide prices roof vent cleaning at $150 to $250.
• Your run is longer than your brush, or has so many elbows the brush will not pass.
• There is a nest. Fixr prices bird nest removal at $150 to $400.
• The duct is crushed or disconnected inside a wall or ceiling.
• Drying is still slow after a cleaning. See signs of a clogged dryer vent.

What a professional dryer vent cleaning service should include is on our service page. Prices by location and company are in the dryer vent cleaning cost guide, and the form below sends your request to a local company.

Sources

1. NFPA, "Clothes dryer safety" tip sheet: nfpa.org
2. U.S. Fire Administration, "Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008 to 2010)", August 2012: usfa.fema.gov
3. International Code Council, 2021 International Residential Code, section M1502: codes.iccsafe.org
4. Whirlpool, "Dryer venting specifications" (W11688180A): whirlpool.com
5. HomeGuide, "How much does dryer vent cleaning cost?", page dated April 29, 2024: homeguide.com
6. Fixr, "Dryer vent cleaning cost", updated January 31, 2025: fixr.com

All sources read September 23, 2026.