Clean your dryer vent about once a year. Learn the signs it needs cleaning now, how to check airflow, and what to do next.
If your dryer takes longer to dry, the most likely causes are lint buildup, restricted airflow, overloading, washer spin problems, or a failing part.
If your washing machine smells like mildew, clean the gasket, detergent drawer, washer drum, drain pump filter, and check for detergent buildup or drainage problems.
Clean the drain pump filter when your washer drains slowly, smells musty, or leaves clothes wet. Here is how to check it safely.
Check washer hoses for bulges, cracks, leaks, and corrosion before they fail. Here is what to inspect and when to replace them.
How to deep clean a dryer lint screen, when to do it, and when weak airflow points to the vent instead.
A simple dryer exterior vent check for weak airflow, stuck flaps, lint buildup, and animal guards.
How to clean dryer moisture sensor bars when auto dry shuts off early or clothes stay damp.
Clean a front load washing machine gasket about monthly, sooner if it smells musty or has residue. Here is the safe way to wipe the seal.
A dryer that tumbles but doesn't heat almost always points to a tripped thermal fuse from a clogged vent, a closed gas valve on gas dryers, or a half-power situation on electric dryers.
A thumping dryer is usually worn drum rollers, a failing idler pulley, a damaged drive belt, an unbalanced load, or a foreign object stuck in the drum or blower.
A laundry room maintenance checklist focused on the two big risks: the dryer vent that causes fires and the washer hoses that cause floods.