Brushes for Dryer Vent Cleaning

Manual Brush Cleaning

• Dryer vent brushes look like the classic chimney sweeping brush. They are rounded, between 3 and 5 inches in diameter, but unlike chimney cleaning brushes, dryer brushes are made of nylon. Nylon brushes will easily remove any lint buildup in the vent system, yet will not damage duct work that is made of plastic.
  
  Dryer vent brushes need to be matched to the basic diameter of your vent pipe, and can be found either online or at any hardware store. The brushes can be purchased alone, or in a package with extension rods that will allow you to snake the brush through the entire duct-work exhaust system, thoroughly cleaning and removing lint and dirt buildup along the way.
  
  As a regular maintenance procedure, as long as you are cleaning out your lint filter with each dryer load, schedule a once per year brushing out of your dryer vent. If you notice a decrease in dryer performance at any time during the year, even with regular lint trap cleaning, chances are it is a clogged vent exhaust and it is time to brush out the vent.
  
  

Rotary Brush Cleaning

• If you have an electric or heavy-duty portable drill, another option is a drill attachment for a powered dryer brush. They look much the same as a manual type, come in the same brush sizes, and can also be found online or at your neighborhood hardware store. The main difference is that they will have a tapered drill chuck adapter specifically made to work with any drill. Sometimes known as dryer augers, they will come with either rigid or flexible shafts, and depending upon how your vent and exhaust pipe twists or bends, you will need to determine the correct type for your needs.