Reach For One Unexpected Household Item To Easily Clean Your Dryer's Lint Trap

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From long dry times and overheating to error codes and excessive lint buildup, there are a handful of surefire signs you need to clean your dryer lint trap. With such a narrow opening, you might be wondering what fancy tools you need to clean the trap. Well, fortunately, you don't need to purchase any costly gadgets. Instead, you can use a few materials you probably already have lying around the house. By simply attaching a microfibre cloth to a flyswatter, you'll have the perfect tool for wiping out your dryer's lint trap. 

While most of us clean the lint trap's screen after every use, not everyone remembers to clean the trap itself. Keeping your dryer's lint trap clean ensures that air flows through the machine, helping your clothes dry efficiently. Moreover, keeping the trap clear of lint is a matter of safety, as lint is a highly flammable material. A periodic soap-and-water cleaning of the lint trap's screen isn't a bad idea either — be sure to rinse it thoroughly.

Cleaning out your dryer's lint trap is so easy with this genius hack. To get started, grab your flyswatter, like these LifHap Fly Swatters, or any long, slender tool — a butter knife or an old paint stir stick could also work in a pinch. Then, wrap a microfiber cloth around the swatter's surface of your flyswatter, securing it with electrical tape or a rubber band. Now the tool is complete, and it's time to start cleaning.

First, be sure to remove the screen from your lint trap. Then, before going in with the flyswatter, you can give the trap and trap opening a quick clean with your vacuum using the crevice tool attachment. Finally, place the cloth-covered side of your flyswatter into the lint trap and give it a good wipe. Any lint stuck in the trap should attach itself to the cloth. Once the trap is clean, don't throw out the extra lint — there are so many clever ways to reuse dryer lint around your home. Lining your plant pots or making fire starters for your next camping trip are great examples. Moving forward, remember to clean the dryer lint trap screen after every use and do a more thorough clean with your flyswatter about every six months or so.