How Often Should You Clean Your Dryer Vent?
Answer 5 questions about your setup and laundry habits. You'll get a personalized cleaning schedule — because "once a year" is only right for some households.
1. How many loads of laundry does your household dry per week?
Why "Once a Year" Isn't Always Right
The annual cleaning recommendation is a minimum baseline for an average household with an average-length duct run. But dryer vent lint accumulation is driven by three real variables: how many loads you run, how long your duct is (longer duct = more surface area = more lint sticks), and what you're drying (towels and pet bedding shed dramatically more lint than lightweight clothing).
A household running 12 loads per week of towels and pet blankets through a 30-foot duct needs cleaning every 4–6 months. A household running 3 loads per week of light clothing through a 12-foot run might go 18–24 months safely. The quiz above gives you a personalized answer based on your actual situation.
For full details, see the Dryer Vent Cleaning Schedule Guide.