Your dryer has a second lint filter you've never seen

Most people clean the lint screen after every load. That's a great habit. But here's something many people don't know: the screen doesn't catch everything.

Some lint slips past the screen every time you dry a load. It ends up in the space the screen slides into, and further along inside the dryer. Over months and years, that lint packs in. On some dryers there's even a second screen or lint trap that most owners never notice.

We think of all of this as your dryer's "second lint filter." It's worth knowing where it is.

Why it matters

Your dryer needs to move a lot of air. Warm air passes through your clothes, picks up moisture and lint, then goes out through the screen, the blower and the vent to the outside.

When lint builds up past the screen, that air can't move freely. You might notice:

• Clothes taking longer to dry, or needing two cycles
• The dryer or the laundry room feeling hotter than usual
• A burning or hot-lint smell
• The dryer shutting off part way through a cycle
• Lint showing up on clean clothes or around the dryer door

Lint is also very easy to burn. Keeping it away from the heat is one of the simplest things you can do to keep your dryer working well and safely.

Where the hidden lint collects

Every dryer is a bit different, so check your owner's manual for your model. In general, look at these spots:

1. The lint screen housing. This is the slot the screen slides into. Lint builds up on the walls and at the bottom of this opening.
2. A second screen or trap. Some dryers have one inside the door opening or behind a small cover. Your manual will show it if your model has one.
3. Inside the cabinet and blower. Lint that gets past the housing can collect around the blower wheel and the air duct inside the dryer. This part needs the dryer opened up.
4. The vent and outside hood. The duct behind the dryer and the flap on the outside wall can clog too.

What you can safely do yourself

1. Unplug the dryer before you clean anything past the lint screen.
2. Pull out the lint screen and clean it as usual. If it looks waxy or water won't pass through it, wash it with warm water and a little dish soap, then let it dry fully before putting it back.
3. Shine a flashlight into the screen housing. If you see lint packed on the sides or bottom, you've found your "second lint filter."
4. Use a long, narrow vacuum attachment or a dryer lint brush to reach down into the housing. Go gently so you don't push lint further in.
5. Check your manual for a second screen and clean it the same way if your dryer has one.
6. Go outside and check the vent hood. With the dryer running, you should feel air pushing out. If the flap barely moves, the vent may be blocked.
7. Plug it back in and run a short cycle to make sure everything sounds and feels normal.

Do this every few months, or more often if you do a lot of laundry or have pets.

When to stop and call a technician

Some jobs are best left to a pro. Please stop and call a technician if:

• You smell burning, even after cleaning
• The dryer keeps shutting off mid-cycle
• Clothes still take a long time to dry after you've cleaned the screen, housing and vent
• You'd need to take panels off the dryer to reach the lint
• You hear new squealing, thumping or grinding sounds
• You see scorch marks, melted plastic or damaged wires

Cleaning inside the cabinet means taking the dryer apart around the heater and wiring. We open it up, clean out the blower and the inside duct, and check the parts that keep the dryer from overheating.

Watch the video

Need a hand?

X Appliance Inc. is a family-owned appliance repair business based in Haldimand County. If your dryer is taking forever, running hot or shutting off, we can take a look.

Call or text 905-531-7000 · Request service at xappliance.ca · Hours: Mon–Fri 9–7, Sat 9–4, Sun closed.