Dryer lint trap: how often to clean it, how to wash it, and where it is

Updated October 12, 2026 · Every figure checked twice against its source · How we verify

Clean the dryer lint trap every load: the NFPA, the CPSC and Samsung say before or after each load, and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) says before and after each cycle. Roll the lint off with your fingers. Whirlpool and Maytag say not to rinse the screen for everyday cleaning, and to scrub it with a nylon brush, hot water and liquid detergent every six months, or sooner if residue clogs it. Never run the dryer without it. The screen does not catch all the lint: the USFA says lint is also carried through the vent system.

How do you clean the lint trap on a dryer?

For the everyday clean, Whirlpool's and Maytag's help pages give the same four steps:

1. Pull the screen out. Pull the lint screen straight up (Whirlpool, Maytag). If necessary, press the tab to release and open the screen (Whirlpool owner's manual).
2. Roll the lint off. Roll lint off the screen with your fingers (Whirlpool, Maytag). LG says you can also vacuum the lint filter.
3. Keep it dry. Do not rinse or wash the screen to remove lint; Whirlpool and Maytag say wet lint is hard to remove.
4. Push it back. Close the lint screen and push it firmly back into place (Whirlpool, Maytag).

Whirlpool's owner's manual says a screen blocked by lint can increase drying time. Its help page says a clogged screen obstructs airflow, which makes drying take longer and uses more energy.

How often to clean the dryer lint trap: every load, before or after

Every source we read says to clean the main lint screen every load. They differ only on timing. The NFPA's tip sheet says to clean the lint filter before or after each load of laundry, and the CPSC says to make sure it is clean before or after each use. The USFA says before and after each cycle.

The makers split the same way. Samsung's manual and Whirlpool's owner's manual say before or after each load. LG's DL*X400 manual says after every cycle, while its troubleshooting table says to remove the lint before every load. GE says to remove and clean the lint filter each time it is used. Samsung's cleaning page adds that if you clean only before or after a cycle, Samsung recommends before, since that leaves less lint for the dryer to deal with, but both is better.

Some loads need more. LG says loads that produce high amounts of lint, such as new bath towels, may require pausing the cycle to clean the filter. Samsung's manual says to clean the filter during the cycle for clothes that naturally build up lint.

Where is the lint trap on a dryer?

Whirlpool's owner's manual says the lint screen may be in the door opening or on the top of the dryer, depending on model. LG's manual says to open the dryer door and pull the lint filter straight up. Samsung's manual says to open the door and pull the lint filter out from inside the drum, then open it by separating it at the top.

Brand details, including the Check Vent and airflow codes that point past the screen, are on our pages for Whirlpool dryers, LG dryers and Samsung dryers.

Cleaning the lint filter on a dryer with water

Whirlpool and Maytag say laundry detergent and fabric softener residue can build up on the lint screen. That buildup can cause longer drying times or make the dryer stop before the load is completely dry. Their steps for the deep clean, every six months or more often if it clogs:

1. Remove the loose lint. Roll lint off the screen with your fingers (Whirlpool, Maytag).
2. Wet it. Wet both sides of the lint screen with hot water (Whirlpool, Maytag).
3. Scrub it. Wet a nylon brush with hot water and liquid detergent and scrub the screen to remove residue buildup (Whirlpool, Maytag).
4. Rinse it. Rinse the screen with hot water (Whirlpool, Maytag).
5. Dry it and reinstall it. Thoroughly dry the screen with a clean towel, then put it back in the dryer (Whirlpool, Maytag).

LG gives a shorter version: if the lint filter is very dirty or clogged with fabric softener, wash it in warm, soapy water and let it dry thoroughly before reinstalling. GE says the filter can be washed with warm soapy water to remove fabric softener residue. On its DLHC1455 heat pump dryer, LG says the inner filter must be completely dry before use or it could cause an unpleasant odor.

Signs your lint screen is clogged

• Lint falls off in the dryer. Whirlpool and Maytag say the screen is probably clogged if lint falls off while the screen is in the dryer.
• Hold it up to a light. LG says to hold the cleaned filter up to a light to see if it is dirty or clogged.
• Long or damp loads. Whirlpool says clothes taking longer than usual to dry, or coming out damp, could mean lint buildup is affecting airflow.

Whirlpool's owner's manual adds that if lint falls off the screen into the dryer while you remove it, check the exhaust hood and remove the lint.

Dryer lint trap housing: cleaning around the screen

Whirlpool and Maytag say to clean the space where the lint screen sits as needed, using a vacuum to gently remove lint that has collected outside the screen. Samsung says a pipe cleaner can clear out the lint filter compartment. The NFPA says to remove lint that has collected around the drum, and the USFA says not to forget the back of the dryer, where lint can build up.

Inside the cabinet, Whirlpool and LG point to a professional. Whirlpool's owner's manual says lint inside the dryer cabinet should be removed every 2 years, or more often depending on use, by a qualified appliance service or ventilation system cleaner. LG's manual says not to disassemble the appliance yourself, and that the interior and the exhaust duct should be cleaned periodically by qualified service personnel.

Never run the dryer without the lint filter

The USFA says not to operate a clothes dryer without a lint filter, or with one that is loose, damaged or clogged. Whirlpool says running the dryer with the screen loose, damaged, blocked or missing can cause overheating and damage to both the dryer and fabrics. Samsung says a damaged or broken lint filter may reduce performance, cause a fire, or both. The NFPA and the CPSC both say not to use the dryer without a lint filter.

Some dryers will not run without one. Whirlpool says its HybridCare dryer will not operate without its filter, and LG says its DLHC1455 heat pump dryer will not operate without the lint filter in place.

Do dryers have 2 lint traps?

Some do. Whirlpool's HybridCare dryers have a lint screen in the door opening, cleaned every load, and a second HybridCare filter at the bottom front of the dryer, cleaned when its light comes on every five cycles. LG's DLHC1455 heat pump dryer uses a 2-piece lint filter: clean the inner filter before and after use, and the outer filter after 10 drying cycles or when lint has built up on it.

Why the lint trap matters: lint is what burns

The USFA's report on clothes dryer fires in residential buildings (2008 to 2010 data) found failure to clean was the leading factor contributing to ignition, at 34 percent. Dust, fiber and lint, at 28 percent, and clothing not on a person, at 27 percent, were the leading items first ignited. The report says reduced airflow from lint buildup in the screen or other areas around the dryer can keep a dryer from operating efficiently and possibly make it overheat. The USFA's flyer says you are at higher risk of a dryer fire if you do not clean the lint filter and the dryer vents.

Dryer vent lint trap: what the screen does not catch

A clean screen is half the job. The USFA says that while much of the lint is trapped by the dryer's filter, lint is also carried through the vent system along with moist air. Whirlpool's venting specifications say fine particles of lint will pass through the screen and be exhausted out of the dryer, and GE says the vent carries excess lint not captured by the lint filter.

The screen can also warn you about the vent. Maytag says that when house venting is restricted, there is little air movement, so you may see very little lint on the screen and only at the bottom of it. On a dryer with the screen on top, Maytag's check is to pull the screen, run Air Dry or Air Fluff, and feel for air in the lint trap area: little or no air means the venting is probably restricted.

The NFPA says to clean lint out of the vent pipe once a year, or more often if clothes take longer than normal to dry, or have a dryer lint removal service do it. The CPSC says at least once a year. Whirlpool's owner's manual says to remove lint from the entire length of the vent system at least every 2 years. The full schedule is in how often to clean a dryer vent, and the steps are in how to clean a dryer vent. If you would rather have the duct cleaned by a pro, see dryer vent cleaning, or use the form below and we will send your request to a company that serves your ZIP code.

Sources

1. Whirlpool Product Help, "Cleaning the Lint Screen on a Dryer", last updated Sep 3, 2026: producthelp.whirlpool.com
2. Whirlpool Product Help, "Cleaning the Lint Screen and Filter on a HybridCare Dryer", last updated Jan 8, 2024: producthelp.whirlpool.com
3. Whirlpool, Electric Dryer Owner's Manual, W11685596C: whirlpool.com
4. Whirlpool, "Dryer venting specifications" (W11688180A): whirlpool.com
5. Maytag Product Help, "Cleaning the Lint Screen on a Dryer", last updated Sep 3, 2026: producthelp.maytag.com
6. Maytag Product Help, "How to tell if your Maytag Dryer Vent may be Blocked or Restricted": producthelp.maytag.com
7. LG, Owner's Manual, DL*X400** / DL*X408**, "Cleaning the Lint Filter": gscs-manual.lge.com
8. LG, Owner's Manual, DL*X400** / DL*X408**, Troubleshooting, "Operation": gscs-manual.lge.com
9. LG, Owner's Manual, DL*X400** / DL*X408**, Warning statements, "Maintenance": gscs-manual.lge.com
10. LG, Owner's Manual, DLHC1455*, "Cleaning the Lint Filter": gscs-manual.lge.com
11. Samsung, "How to clean your Samsung dryer": samsung.com
12. Samsung, Dryer User manual, DVE(G)45T6005* / DVE(G)45T6000*: downloadcenter.samsung.com
13. GE Appliances, "Dryer: Taking Too Long To Dry Clothes or Not Drying at All": products.geappliances.com
14. GE Appliances, "Dryer: Check Vent Sensor Alert": products.geappliances.com
15. National Fire Protection Association, "Clothes Dryer Safety" tip sheet, 2018: nfpa.org
16. U.S. Fire Administration, "Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010)", Topical Fire Report Series Volume 13, Issue 7, August 2012: usfa.fema.gov
17. U.S. Fire Administration, "Clothes Dryer Fire Safety" flyer: usfa.fema.gov
18. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, "Save Daylight, Save Lives; Replace Batteries in Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms", March 8, 2023: cpsc.gov

All sources read October 12, 2026.