When my grandmother first showed me her simple method for cleaning a clogged dryer vent, I wasn’t convinced it would make much difference. She didn’t have expensive equipment or a complicated cleaning routine. Just a vacuum, a flexible vent brush, and an old leaf blower she kept in the garage. With her familiar confident smile, she explained that maintaining the dryer vent was one household chore she never overlooked.

At first, I thought she was simply being old-fashioned. But Grandma explained that lint doesn’t just collect in the removable lint trap. Over time, it can also accumulate inside the exhaust duct, restricting airflow and creating a potential fire hazard. A clogged vent may also cause longer drying times and unnecessary energy consumption. She repeated her cleaning routine twice a year, and that afternoon, she decided it was time to show me exactly how she did it.

Continue below to discover Grandma’s cleaning method and one important safety precaution.