As we move further into the colder months, many will now be moving their washing indoors and using tumble dryers to ensure clothes and linens stay warm and dry. Across the UK, tumble dryers have become an indispensable appliance, with most households now owning a machine. However, if you’re finding that your tumble dryer is consistently taking longer than you’d like to dry your clothes, the solution could be simpler than you think.
If you have a tumble dryer, you probably know that it has a filter. Sometimes it’s called a lint filter, other times a fluff filter. Either way, it’s there to catch the fibres that come off your clothes when they’re tumbling around. Like any filter, the one in your tumble dryer needs cleaning for it to work faster and more effectively, according to the appliance experts at Domestic & General.
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They noted that there are three main reasons to clean your tumble dryer filter. Firstly, “it helps your clothes dry faster”. When the filter’s free of fluff, the air can circulate in the dryer better. This allows for the shortest possible drying time.
Second, it will help extend the life of your dryer. A clogged filter makes the appliance work harder, which can damage it over time. Keeping the filter clean could help you avoid a surprise tumble dryer repair.
Lastly, a clean filter will help “keep your energy bills down”. That’s because of the shorter drying times when the filter isn’t blocked up.
On top of these reasons, there’s also a safety aspect to keeping the filter clean. This is because blocked filters can lead to a fire in the dryer’s heating element.
The experts advised: “You should clean the filter inside the dryer’s door after every cycle. Luckily, it only takes a minute to do.”
Before you start, turn the appliance off. If you’ve just used the dryer, give it time to cool down.
Most tumble dryers have a primary filter inside the door. This is the one you should clean after every cycle. It might be found at the bottom front rim of the drum or slotted into the inner face of the door.
Open the door, and you should be able to lift the filter easily. If not, it could be that a stray item from your clothes has snagged on the filter. Take your time to find out what’s wrong, and don’t try to force it.
Most of the time, you can clean the filter with just your hand. For anything that doesn’t come off that way, you can use a vacuum cleaner.
Some people also find it easier to run the filter under a tap. Turn the filter so the linty side is on the bottom, and let the water flow through it from the top.