TL;DR: dryer maintenance
- Every load: empty the lint screen. GE, Whirlpool Canada, Samsung Canada and State Farm all say so.
- Once a month: wipe the drum. Every few months: wash the screen, clean the lint housing and wipe the moisture sensor bars.
- Once a year at least: check that the vent is clear. Sources differ on how often, and the strictest says yearly.
- What a repair costs: a dryer repair runs $150 to $400 all-in; the lint-packed dryer below came to about $300. The upkeep takes a brush, a vacuum and some time.
- Dryer not heating already? Call 647-834-4646. The visit is $89, credited to the repair when you approve it.
Dryer maintenance comes down to a few small jobs on a schedule: the lint screen every load, the lint housing and drum on a calendar, and the vent at least once a year. Most of it takes only a brush, a vacuum and some time, and it keeps open the airflow path the makers link to slow drying and fire risk. Below: the schedule, where the makers disagree, and a lint-packed Whirlpool we were called to in Bradford after it stopped heating.
How often should dryer maintenance happen?
Empty the lint screen every load, and put the other jobs on a calendar: the drum once a month, the screen wash, lint housing and sensor bars every few months, and a vent check at least once a year. The sources do not agree on every interval, so the table names who says what.
| How often | The job | What the sources say |
|---|---|---|
| Every load | Empty the lint screen by hand | GE, Whirlpool Canada, Samsung Canada and State Farm all say every load. |
| Once a month | Wipe the drum | GE and State Farm both say monthly. Samsung Canada says check the lint housing and drum monthly. |
| Every few months | Wash the screen; clean the lint housing; wipe the moisture sensor bars; vacuum behind and under the dryer; make sure it sits level | GE says rinse the screen every few months and clean the lint trap every few months. Whirlpool Canada and Maytag say wash the screen every six months, and iFixit says every 3 to 6 months. Samsung Canada lists the sensor bars every few months. State Farm says vacuum behind and under the dryer every few months and keep it level. |
| At least once a year | Check, and if needed clean, the vent | GE, Samsung Canada and iFixit say yearly. Whirlpool Canada’s 16-tips guide says every two years. |
When two sources disagree, go with the stricter interval. The vent check is simple: run the dryer and see whether air comes out of the outside vent.
Why does dryer maintenance matter?
Dryer maintenance keeps lint out of the airflow path. When lint blocks the screen, the cabinet or the vent, drying takes longer, the dryer runs hotter and the fire risk rises.
GE puts it plainly: a clogged lint filter blocks airflow, which means longer drying times and higher energy bills, and it is also a fire hazard. Maytag adds that regular care can help reduce wear and tear on the machine, and State Farm notes that ignoring it may lead to costly repairs. iFixit says airflow problems are among the common causes of an electric dryer overheating.
Fire is the serious end of it. Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal figures, reported by CTV News in June 2025, count 648 dryer fires in the province between 2019 and 2023. The same report passes on the Fire Marshal’s advice: clean the lint trap after each load, check that the outdoor vent is unobstructed, and turn the dryer off when you leave home or go to bed. In the United States, NFPA data for 2010 to 2014 found dust, fibre or lint (26%) tied with clothing (26%) as the leading items first ignited in dryer fires.
Dryer maintenance checklist, step by step
Unplug the dryer before any job beyond the lint screen. On a gas dryer, Whirlpool Canada has you close the gas shut-off valve before any vent work.
Every load: empty the lint screen
Cleaning dryer lint off the screen takes your fingers, not water or a brush. Pull the screen, take the lint off by hand, and slide it back. Do not scrub it or rinse it under water for this every-load clean, because wet lint is harder to remove. Never run the dryer without the screen in place. And do not overload the drum, since the load needs room for air to circulate.
Every month: the drum
Wipe the drum monthly to remove residue from softener and dryer sheets, with the dryer unplugged and the door left open until it is dry.
Every few months: the screen, the housing, the feet and the floor
Fabric softener and dryer sheets leave a residue on the mesh that a swipe will not remove, and it can lengthen drying times. Wash the screen in warm soapy water with a soft brush, rinse it and let it dry completely. iFixit has a quick test: put a little water on the screen. If it beads up or puddles, there is residue, and the screen needs another wash.
Then clean the housing the screen sits in. Unplug the dryer, take the screen out and vacuum the slot with a crevice tool or a lint brush. Wipe the moisture sensor bars inside the drum with a soft cloth dampened with warm water and mild soap. Residue on them can make the dryer stop too soon.
Unplug the dryer first. If the dryer shakes or moves while it runs, adjust its feet so it sits level, because parts wear faster when it does not. Then vacuum behind and under it.
Once a year: check the vent
Even with a spotless screen, lint settles in the vent. Run the dryer and go outside: you should feel warm air moving out of the outside vent. If you cannot feel it, or if drying times are dragging, the vent may be clogged.
How often dryer vent cleaning is needed depends on who you ask: GE, Samsung Canada and iFixit say yearly, and Whirlpool Canada’s 16-tips guide says every two years. The safest reading is to check every year and clean when the check says so.
We repair dryers; we do not clean vents. If your vent runs a long way, or ends on the roof or in the attic, hire a vent-cleaning company. Whirlpool Canada, iFixit, Samsung Canada and State Farm all point readers to a professional when the vent is hard to reach.
Inside the cabinet: the part a technician sees
Lint also collects inside the dryer cabinet, behind the drum, around the motor and the blower. iFixit describes cleaning there as the harder job, one for someone comfortable opening the dryer; we suggest leaving it to a technician. The photos below show what that space looked like on a dryer that had stopped heating.
A dryer that stopped heating: what we found in Bradford
A Whirlpool electric dryer in Bradford did not work properly and did not heat. This is the cabinet with the front panel off.
In the open cabinet, the lint had spread over the floor pan. The blower inlet was packed and the heater duct was darkened.
We replaced the heating element and the thermal fuse, and cleaned out the inside of the dryer. The job came to about $300, parts and labour. If yours has stopped heating, start with our clothes dryer not heating checks.
Did the lint cause it?
We can’t say for sure. A thermal fuse is the dryer’s last line of defence: when it blows, the dryer either stops or runs with no heat. iFixit says it can fail from heat or simply with age, and it lists airflow problems among the common causes of overheating. Its advice after a blown fuse is not to stop at the fuse: check the vent and the blower wheel for lint. On this job, the inside of the dryer was cleaned out along with the two new parts.
What does skipping dryer maintenance cost?
Skipping it costs drying time and energy first, GE says, and State Farm notes it may lead to costly repairs. A dryer repair runs $150 to $400 all-in; the lint-packed dryer above came to about $300. Every repair carries a written 90-day warranty on parts and labour.
Compare that with what dryer maintenance takes: a soft brush, a vacuum, soap and water, and time on a schedule. No schedule makes a dryer repair-proof; what it does is keep the airflow path open, which is the thing the sources and the Ontario fire marshal keep coming back to. For a part-by-part price list, see our dryer repair cost guide.
Signs your dryer is already overdue
These signs say the airflow path may be blocked:
- The dryer runs for much longer than it should, or clothes are still damp after one cycle.
- The dryer feels hotter than normal, or there is a musty smell.
- You cannot feel air moving out of the outside vent.
Clothes that take too long to dry have their own guide: why a dryer takes too long to dry clothes. If the drum spins but there is no heat at all, see our guide to a clothes dryer not heating.
What can you do yourself, and when should you call?
You can do everything in the every-load, every-few-months and monthly sections yourself, with the dryer unplugged. Check the vent once a year. If the vent is out of reach, hire a vent-cleaning company, since we do not offer that service. Our DIY dryer repair guide covers the checks you can safely make before you call.
Call us if the dryer spins but does not heat, if drying times keep getting longer after you have cleaned the screen and checked the vent, or if you would rather not open the cabinet. We come same-day, 24/7, 365 days a year, with a 2-hour arrival window and a text ahead, in a van stocked with parts. See our dryer repair service page for the full service.
Dryer not heating, or drying slowly? The visit is $89 and comes off the repair when you approve it. Licensed and insured. Appliance Forever has 15+ years of experience.
Dryer maintenance: quick answers
How often should I do dryer maintenance?
Empty the lint screen every load, wipe the drum monthly, wash the screen and clean the lint housing every few months, and check the vent at least once a year.
How often should I clean dryer lint?
Cleaning dryer lint off the screen belongs after every load. Wash the screen itself every few months, because softener and dryer sheets leave a residue that a swipe will not remove.
How often should the dryer vent be cleaned?
GE, Samsung Canada and iFixit say at least once a year, and Whirlpool Canada’s 16-tips guide says every two years. We recommend checking yearly. We do not clean vents, so for a vent that is hard to reach, hire a vent-cleaning company.
Can I do clothes dryer maintenance myself?
Yes, for the screen, the housing, the sensor bars, the drum and the floor around the dryer. Unplug it first. Opening the cabinet to vacuum behind the drum is a bigger job, and not everyone will want to do it.
Is dryer maintenance cheaper than a repair?
The upkeep takes a soft brush, a vacuum, soap and water and a little time, while a dryer repair runs $150 to $400 all-in. No schedule can promise you will never need a repair, but a blocked airflow path is one thing you can control.
Dryer maintenance question, or a dryer that will not heat?
We come out same-day across the GTA, York Region and Simcoe County. Dryer repairs run $150 to $400 all-in. Go ahead and the $89 visit is credited; every repair has a written 90-day warranty on parts and labour. Book through our contact page.
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