Maintenance procedure · Written to ASD-STE100 Issue 9 · Formatted to ANSI Z535

Clothes Dryer Lint Filter Cleaning

Domestic tumble dryers with a removable lint filter — the every-load clean, the six-monthly residue clean that almost nobody does, and why the two manufacturers disagree about wetting the mesh
ApplicabilityDomestic vented, condenser and heat-pump clothes dryers with a removable lint filter in the door opening or the top panel
Task time13 min to 17 min editorial estimate, not a measurement
PersonnelOne
Revisionv1 · 2026-07-29
BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Before you begin. This procedure is general reference information, not professional advice. Equipment varies by manufacturer, model, and year. Always follow the documentation supplied with your equipment — where it differs from this page, follow the manufacturer. Verify that you have the tools, the working conditions, and the ability to do this task safely. If anything is unclear, if the equipment is damaged, or if the task exceeds your experience, stop and use a qualified professional. You are responsible for your own safety and for the outcome. This site accepts no liability for any loss, damage, or injury arising from the use of this information.

Specifications marked unverified could not be traced to a manufacturer source. Do not rely on them — obtain the value from your equipment documentation.

Summary

Everybody knows to pull the fluff off the filter. Far fewer people know that detergent and fabric softener leave an invisible film on the mesh that fluff will not lift, and that this film is what turns a one-cycle load into a two-cycle load. Whirlpool publishes a separate six-monthly job for it — hot water, a nylon brush and liquid detergent — and that job is the reason this page exists as something more than "empty the fluff".

The stakes are not just drying time. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that failure to clean was the leading contributing factor in home clothes dryer fires between 2018 and 2020, at 31 percent, and the CPSC states that lint build-up blocks the air flow, causes heat build-up and results in a fire in some dryers. So the every-load clean is a fire-prevention task and it is written here as one. This page covers the filter only. The duct behind the machine is a separate job with separate tools, and it has its own page.

Safety

WARNING

CLEAN THE LINT FILTER BEFORE OR AFTER EACH LOAD.
The CPSC says that lint blocks the flow of air. Heat then collects in the dryer and a fire can start.

Necessary equipment

ItemNote
Nylon brushWhirlpool names a nylon brush for the residue clean.
Narrow brushA narrow brush reaches into the housing of the lint filter.
Vacuum cleaner with a hose optionalGE Appliances names a vacuum cleaner with a hose for the housing.
Clean towelThe towel dries the lint filter after the residue clean.
Refuse bagPut the lint into the bag immediately.
Liquid detergent materialWhirlpool names a liquid detergent for the residue clean.
Hot water materialWhirlpool and GE Appliances each name hot or warm water for the residue clean.

Prepare the dryer

Estimated under a minute

WARNING

SET THE DRYER TO OFF BEFORE YOU REMOVE THE LINT FILTER.
The drum and the air in it stay hot after a program. Hot air can burn your skin.

  1. Set the dryer to OFF.
    <1m
  2. Make sure that the drum is empty.
    <1m
  3. Put a refuse bag near the dryer.
    <1m

Remove the lint filter

Estimated 1 min

  1. Find the lint filter.
    • Most dryers hold the lint filter in the door opening or in the top panel.
    • The documentation for your model gives the position.
    <1m
  2. Remove the lint filter from its housing.
    • Whirlpool tells you to move the lint filter straight up.
    • GE Appliances tells you to hold the filter at the top center and lift it.
    <1m
  3. Look at the lint filter against a light.
    • A film of residue on the mesh is difficult to see.
    <1m

Remove the lint

Estimated 3 min to 5 min

NOTEDo this before or after each load. The CPSC, Samsung and GE Appliances each give this interval.
Lint removal method — dry or wet
Unverified — do not rely on this value
CONSULT THE MANUFACTURER DOCUMENTATION FOR YOUR MODEL. THE TWO MANUFACTURERS GIVE OPPOSITE METHODS

No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.

Two tier-1 manufacturer sources give directly opposite instructions for the same everyday action. Whirlpool (whirlpool-dryer-lint-screen, accessed 2026-07-29) says to roll the lint off the screen with your fingers, and states as a caution: do not rinse or wash the screen to remove lint, because wet lint is hard to remove. GE Appliances (ge-dryer-lint-filter, accessed 2026-07-29) says to clean the filter by placing your moistened fingers at the corner of the filter and wiping in a downward motion. One maker tells you to keep the mesh dry while you take the lint off and the other tells you to wet your fingers first. This page does not average them and does not choose between them. Use the method in the documentation for your own machine. The disagreement is about lint removal only: both makers agree that the separate residue clean uses water and a detergent.
Lint filter cleaning interval
Unverified — do not rely on this value
CONSULT THE MANUFACTURER DOCUMENTATION. THE CPSC, SAMSUNG AND GE APPLIANCES EACH GIVE EVERY LOAD

No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.

NOTICE

DO NOT USE WATER TO REMOVE THE LINT.
Whirlpool says that wet lint is hard to remove.

  1. Remove the lint from the mesh with your fingers.
    • Whirlpool tells you to use dry fingers on a dry filter.
    • GE Appliances tells you to use wet fingers in a downward direction.
    • The two manufacturers do not agree. Use the method in your own documentation.
    <1m
  2. Put the lint into the refuse bag.
    • Do not put the lint into the drum or onto the floor.
    <1m
WARNING

DISCONNECT THE DRYER FROM THE ELECTRICAL SUPPLY BEFORE YOU CLEAN THE HOUSING.
GE Appliances tells you to disconnect the dryer first. Contact with the supply can give you an electric shock.

  1. Clean the housing of the lint filter with a narrow brush.
    • GE Appliances names an appliance brush, a lint brush or a vacuum cleaner hose.
    • Samsung names a pipe cleaner for this space.
    • Lint collects in the housing and no reader ever looks there.
    2m

Remove the residue

Estimated 6 min to 8 min

NOTEDo this every six months. Whirlpool gives this interval for its own dryers.
Residue cleaning interval
Unverified — do not rely on this value
CONSULT THE MANUFACTURER DOCUMENTATION FOR THE INTERVAL

No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.

  1. Do the residue clean every six months.
    • Whirlpool gives an interval of six months for its own dryers.
    • Whirlpool says that detergent and fabric softener leave a residue on the mesh.
    • Do the residue clean more frequently if the loads dry slowly.
    <1m
  2. Wet the two sides of the lint filter with hot water.
    <1m
  3. Put a liquid detergent and hot water on the nylon brush.
    • GE Appliances names a soap in warm water for the same job.
    <1m
  4. Clean the mesh with the nylon brush.
    • Clean the two sides of the mesh.
    • Do not use a wire brush. A wire brush can cut the mesh.
    2m
  5. Rinse the lint filter with hot water.
    • Water that goes through the mesh easily shows a clean filter.
    <1m
  6. Examine the mesh for a hole or a tear.
    • A hole in the mesh lets the lint into the machine.
    • Speak to the manufacturer for a replacement part.
    <1m
NOTICE

DRY THE LINT FILTER FULLY BEFORE YOU INSTALL IT.
Water on the mesh holds the lint of the next load.

  1. Dry the lint filter fully with a clean towel.
    • Whirlpool tells you to dry the filter fully with a clean towel.
    2m

Install the lint filter

Estimated under a minute

WARNING

DO NOT OPERATE THE DRYER WITHOUT THE LINT FILTER IN ITS POSITION.
Samsung gives this instruction for its own dryers. Lint in the machine can start a fire.

  1. Install the lint filter in its housing.
    <1m
  2. Make sure that the lint filter is fully in its position.
    • A filter that is not fully in its position lets the lint past it.
    <1m

After the job

Estimated 1 min

  1. Record the date of the residue clean.
    • The next residue clean is six months after this date.
    <1m
  2. If the loads stay damp after a full program, examine the exhaust duct.
    • The CPSC says that a damp load can show a blocked lint filter or a blocked duct.
    • The duct is a different job. This page does not cover it.
    <1m

Terminology

This page uses one term for each item and holds it throughout, as ASD-STE100 requires. Equipment sellers and other guides use the names below for the same parts.

lint filter
Also called: lint screen, lint trap, fluff filter, dryer filter, lint catcher, dryer screen, the mesh thing in the door, tumble dryer filter
clothes dryer
Also called: tumble dryer, dryer, tumbler, drier, condenser dryer, heat pump dryer, vented dryer
residue
Also called: film, waxy film, dryer sheet residue, fabric softener build-up, buildup, gunk
housing
Also called: lint trap slot, filter slot, the hole the filter goes in, filter compartment, lint duct

When to use a professional

Stop if the mesh has a hole, a tear or a bent frame. A damaged filter lets the lint into the machine. This procedure does not repair it. Speak to the manufacturer for a replacement part.

Stop if the loads stay damp after a clean filter and a clear duct. The cause is then the heater, the thermostat, the moisture sensor or the air path inside the machine. This procedure does not reach any of them.

Stop if you can smell smoke during a program. Set the dryer to OFF. Disconnect the dryer from the electrical supply. Speak to an appliance technician before you use the machine again.

Do not move a dryer that uses gas. A damaged connection can cause an explosion. Speak to a qualified person.

Common questions

Do I really need to clean the lint filter every single load?

Yes, and the instruction comes from a government safety agency as well as from the makers. The CPSC's own dryer safety publication says to clean the lint screen or filter before or after drying each load of clothes, Samsung says to clean it before or after every load to prevent fire risk, and GE says after each use. There is no disagreement between any of the sources on this page about it. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that failure to clean was the leading contributing factor in home clothes dryer fires from 2018 to 2020, at 31 percent.

Should I use wet fingers or dry fingers to take the fluff off?

The two manufacturers we checked tell you to do opposite things, which is why this page will not pick one. Whirlpool says to roll the lint off with your fingers and adds a specific caution: do not rinse or wash the screen to remove lint, because wet lint is hard to remove. GE says to clean the filter by putting your moistened fingers at the corner and wiping downward. If you own a Whirlpool, dry; if you own a GE, damp; if you own something else, look it up. Both makers agree that the separate deep clean uses water.

What is the invisible film on my lint filter?

Residue from laundry detergent and fabric softener — dryer sheets are the usual culprit. Whirlpool describes it directly: detergent and fabric softener residue builds up on the lint screen and can cause longer drying times or make the dryer stop before the load is completely dry. It is nearly invisible because it is a film across the mesh rather than a layer on top of it. Pulling fluff off will never remove it, which is why Whirlpool publishes a separate cleaning job for it.

How do I deep clean a lint filter?

Whirlpool's method is the one written out on this page: take the loose lint off dry first, wet both sides of the screen with hot water, wet a nylon brush with hot water and liquid detergent, scrub the screen to remove the residue, rinse with hot water, and dry it thoroughly with a clean towel. GE describes the same job more briefly for filters used with fabric softener or anti-static conditioner — warm soapy water to remove the residue from the filter screen. Get it properly dry before it goes back in.

How often should I do the deep clean?

Whirlpool is the only source on this page that names an interval: clean the lint screen with a nylon brush every six months, or more often if it becomes clogged with residue. GE says to wash it periodically if you use fabric softener or an anti-static conditioner, without giving a frequency, and Samsung and the CPSC address only the every-load clean. Six months is a reasonable working answer, but bring it forward if loads start needing two cycles.

Can I run the dryer for one load without the filter?

No. Samsung states it flatly: do not operate the dryer without the lint filter in place. Without it the lint goes straight into the machine and into the duct, which is exactly the accumulation the CPSC describes as blocking airflow, causing heat build-up and resulting in a fire in some dryers. If the filter is drying after a deep clean, wait.

Is this the same job as cleaning the dryer vent?

No, and doing one does not excuse the other. The filter catches most of the lint every load and lives inside the machine; the exhaust duct is the pipe from the back of the dryer to the outside wall, and it collects what gets past the filter over months and years. Different tools, different interval, different page. If your loads are still damp with a clean filter, the duct is the next thing to look at.

Sources

Every specification on this page is traced to one of these sources. Tier 1 is a manufacturer document, a published standard, or a government safety authority. See Standards for the full tiering rule.

  1. Tier 1Overheated Clothes Dryers Can Cause Fires (CPSC Publication 5022)U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission · accessed 2026-07-29 · re-verification due 2027-01-25
  2. Tier 1Appliance and Electrical Fire SafetyU.S. Fire Administration (Federal Emergency Management Agency) · accessed 2026-07-29 · re-verification due 2027-01-25
  3. Tier 1Cleaning the Lint Screen on a DryerWhirlpool Corporation (Whirlpool Product Help) · accessed 2026-07-29 · re-verification due 2027-01-25
  4. Tier 1Dryer - How to Clean Lint FilterGE Appliances, a Haier company (GE Appliances Support) · accessed 2026-07-29 · re-verification due 2027-01-25
  5. Tier 1How to clean your Samsung dryerSamsung Electronics America · accessed 2026-07-29 · re-verification due 2027-01-25

Revision history

Current version 1 · updated 2026-07-29 · next review due 2027-07-29

  1. v1 · 2026-07-29First draft. Sourced to CPSC publication 5022 and U.S. Fire Administration dryer fire data for the fire hazard, and to Whirlpool, GE Appliances and Samsung lint filter documentation for the method. The lint removal method publishes as consult-the-manufacturer with a conflict note: Whirlpool prohibits wetting the screen to remove lint and GE prescribes moistened fingers for the same action. Three of the five sources are already registered; the two new manufacturer entries are staged in data/sources-additions-clean-a-tumble-dryer-lint-filter.json for merge into data/sources.json by an authorized actor.

Corrections to this page are listed in the public corrections log. Reports that are credible and not yet verified are listed in the public errata register, and an open one renders above the step it concerns.

Comments and corrections

Found an error? A correction with a manufacturer source is applied and logged publicly. You can also write to corrections@fixchecklist.com.

Every step above carries its own report control, which tags the report with that step so a correction reaches the right place. For anything about the procedure as a whole — the order of the sections, a step that is missing, something that did not match your equipment — use this: report something about this whole procedure.

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