The Best Lint Removers For Dryers
If you use a drying machine for your laundry at home, you'll be all too familiar with the fuzzy buildup of lint that can coat your clothes and line the machine after each cycle. Lint may seem like a harmless nuisance, but as this desiccated material builds up in your dryer, it can begin to present a serious fire hazard. The U.S. Fire Administration estimates roughly 2300 fires in residential buildings are caused by dryers each year. To be sure that your dryer is safe in operation — and to keep your laundry clean in the process — you should regularly remove lint from the machine.
What to Look For
During our search for the best lint removers on the market today, we had three questions in mind: Does this product allow us to reach the most inaccessible spots in our dryer with ease? Does lint cling to the device, making it easy to remove loose pieces once they have been dislodged? Is the device compact so we can store it out of sight between each clean? Coming out on top was the vacuum attachment from Holikme, which provides powerful suction to extract even the largest lint clumps. This long nozzle extends to remote spots underneath the dryer bin that are impossible to reach with a regular vacuum hose. If you’re looking for ultimate reach, Holikme’s dryer vent cleaning brush can extend to an impressive length of thirty feet. This also makes it a useful tool for other household applications. Read on below to discover the rest of our top picks.
Holikme Dryer Lint Vacuum Attachment
Suck it up
Some of us may have ignored the buildup of lint in our dryers for months or even years, resulting in a thick layer of gunk in need of a power-cleaning solution. This vacuum attachment from Holikme is just the tool you need for a deep and thorough cleaning that’s sure to optimize the performance of your dryer. A flexible nozzle ensures that the cleaning spout will fit snugly on a range of vacuum cleaners. With the handy 25-inch lint brush included in this set, you’ll be able to retrieve every last piece from the drying bin.
Pros:
- This flexible vacuum attachment helps you reach awkward spots in dryers of all shapes and sizes, and it can also be useful for cleaning other hard-to-reach spots around the house.
- The power of vacuum suction helps retrieve far more lint than manual options.
- The plastic nozzle is sturdily built, meaning you can contort it to any angle without snaps or punctures.
Cons:
- This nozzle may make a loud noise during use. If you’re sensitive to high volumes, you might want to consider wearing ear protection while cleaning.
Sealegend V2 Dryer Vent Cleaner Kit
Extend your reach
If you’ve ever tried to give your dryer a thorough cleaning using a standard vacuum hose, you’ll surely have felt the frustration of trying to squeeze these large nozzles into cramped openings. This vacuum hose attachment kit does away with awkwardness, with a 33-inch-long hose that provides deep access into the most difficult spots in your dryer. Cycle between two levels of suction intensity to collect large or fine lint with ease. A guiding wire attached to the tip allows precise control of movement so that you can extract every last piece with no fuss.
Pros:
- With multiple flexible rings in the nozzle attachment, this hose can be easily attached to vacuum cleaners of all shapes and sizes.
- This hose allows a high intensity of suction power for extracting lint. It can even be used to remove socks or other small garments that have fallen through the dryer bin.
- The ribbed hose can be compressed down to a small size for easy storage when not in use.
Cons:
- The inside of the hose is tricky to clean, so be sure to avoid using it in moist conditions.
Holikme Dryer Vent Cleaning Brush (30 Feet)
Suction can be a great way to remove most of the surface lint left in our dryers, but older and well-used machines might need a deep scrubbing before they’re back to their prime. This brush attachment from Holikme uses 12 thick rows of heavy-duty bristles to remove even the hardiest fluff buildup. The modular nylon rod can extend up to 30 feet, and the brush can connect to any power drill with a universal drill bit attachment, allowing you to achieve a high-velocity rotation in otherwise unreachable places.
Pros:
- While this brush attachment is great at reaching obscured spots within our dryers, the utility doesn’t end there. It’s also useful for cleaning air conditioning vents, sewage blocks, and above tall cupboards.
- The power drill attachment offers control over the rotation speed, so you can be sure to deliver the intensity you need without causing damage.
- This brush can help you achieve a high standard of cleaning comparable to professional services that could cost much more money.
Cons:
- Be careful to only use one rotational direction when cleaning with this brush; otherwise, you run the risk of detaching the brush head.
Vanitek Long Flexible Dryer Vent Cleaner (26-Inch)
If your brand new dryer is in tip-top condition, you might not need a deep cleaning solution. Instead, you might be looking for a simple tool to avoid lint buildup between uses. This 26-inch brush allows you to reach all of the hardest spots in your dryer to extract surface lint. Thick and sturdy nylon bristles will cling to any fluffy residue, and a bendable galvanized steel shaft allows you to contort the brush when reaching into chambers below the dryer bin.
Pros:
- The non-slip plastic handle makes it easy to apply firm pressure when cleaning.
- These bristles cling to any small fibers, so this brush is also a great tool for cleaning pet hair from clothing and furniture.
Cons:
- The rubber tip at the end of the rod could become detached after heavy use. If this happens, be sure to replace it to avoid scratching the inside of your dryer.
Blulu Lint Remover Washing Balls
Toss them in
Once we’ve carried out a deep clean on our dryer, we might pack our lint removers away until we notice another buildup. If we really want to combat lint in our dryers, these washing balls provide a great preventative solution that will minimize buildup, making each clean easier. A perforated nylon outer layer attracts and clings to lint during a washing cycle, catching this villain at the scene of the crime. Small and unobtrusive, these balls can fit snuggly within a wash without requiring you to compromise on the volume of your load.
Pros:
- We love the various color options, as they make it easy to identify and remove all varieties of lint after a wash.
- These balls can also help to prevent your clothes from tangling during a wash by providing a protective boundary between larger sheets and garments.
Cons:
- These washing balls will cling to woolen clothing, so be sure to avoid using them when washing your favorite fuzzy jumpers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is lint made of?
Lint is an ever-present companion in the drying cycle, but you might be wondering what it is exactly that forms this ubiquitous fluff. Small fibers can loosen and separate from any fabric during a wash, and when these are passed through the revolutions of a drying cycle, they can become tangled, forming large clumps of lint.
Why is lint so flammable?
One of the top reasons to keep your dryer free of lint is to reduce the risk of fire in your home. Your dryer works to extract moisture from the contents of the bin during a drying cycle, desiccating lint in the process. This means it can be easily ignited as a result. Combine this with the fact that lint is composed of tiny threads of flammable fabrics, and it’s easy to see why this material can form a natural kindling.
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