Empty the Tank
The water that your dryer draws from your laundry has to go somewhere, too. With condenser dryers, as with heat pump dryers, there are two ways to get rid of the condensation. The moisture can be collected in the dryer’s built-in reservoir. Is this the case with your dryer? If so, read the reservoir regularly, preferably after every drying cycle. The condensation can be rinsed out into the sink. If so, you do not need to do this. The moisture will be evacuated directly to the drain with a drainage hose. However, you should regularly check that the hose is attached correctly and is not damaged or blocked, as this could be dangerous.
If you have an air-discharge dryer, the moist air is expelled to the outside via an exhaust hose. Also check regularly to make sure the air outlet hose is clean. Clean and empty the exhaust hose with a vacuum cleaner.
Empty the lint filter
During the drying process, lint and dust particles come loose from your laundry. They get trapped in the dryer’s lint filter and in the door and doorway. It’s important to clean these parts regularly if you want your dryer to keep doing its job properly. This is because a build-up of dirt and lint can cause the dryer to take longer to dry and use more energy.
In addition, if lint gets into the dryer’s interior, it can damage the appliance and, at worst, cause a fire. To keep your dryer’s energy consumption low and to reduce the fire hazard, keep the dryer and the lint filter clean. The dryer door and doorway can be cleaned with a damp cloth, and the lint filter can be conveniently removed from the dryer and rinsed under the tap. It is also important to keep your dryer’s condenser clean. With almost all condenser dryers, you clean the condenser manually.
Your dryer’s manual will tell you exactly how and how often to do this. Many condenser dryers allow you to take the condenser out of the dryer and rinse it under the tap or shower head.
Many heat pump dryers have a self-cleaning condenser, so you don’t have to do this. Other heat pump dryers let you clean the condenser manually, but not by taking it out of the dryer.
Outside and inside
The outside and inside of your dryer also needs to be cleaned regularly, no matter what type of dryer you have. The best way to do this is with a damp cloth and warm soapy water with a mild detergent.
Moisture sensor
When cleaning the inside of the dryer, don’t forget the moisture sensor. This is located inside the drum and detects how much moisture is left in your laundry. If the sensor is dirty, you won’t be able to make this assessment properly and you’ll be drying less energy-efficiently.