Clean the lint filter before and after each load of laundry. Don’t forget to clean the back of the dryer where lint can build up. Clean lint out of the vent pipe every three months. Have your dryer cleaned regularly by a professional, especially if it is taking longer than normal for clothes to dry. Th principal culprit in dryer-vent fires are the “softener sheets” that are placed into the dryer. Fibers spin off of these sheets and build up in the vent. Many fire professionals recommend not using these sheets. The ducting from the dryer to the outside should be as short as possible and should not have sharp corners or “loops.”
