What would we be without a tumble dryer? But also remember to clean this fine appliance regularly. This will keep your laundry really fresh and this precious appliance last longer. Mascha is an expert on eco-friendly cleaning and shares her best cleaning hacks with us. This time she shares how she takes good care of her dryer and how she uses it a little more energy efficiently. Guess what? Again, you won't need as much heavy-duty cleaning stuff as you think.
This is how to clean the dryer in an environmentally friendly way
For many households, a dryer remains a commonly used appliance that, according to Milieu Centraal use on average 2.3 times a week. In this way, the appliance provides a lot of convenience; you put the wet laundry in and a while later you take out the dry laundry. No matter if it's pouring outside, you can always count on dry and clean laundry. Ideal, especially in the busy lives we lead these days. But of course, a dryer is not a sustainable appliance, and that's because it uses a lot of energy. By cleaning your dryer regularly, you ensure it lasts longer and is more energy-efficient in use. Win-win!
Difference between condenser dryer and the new dryers
When it comes to sustainability, using a clothes dryer seems like a mortal sin. But fair is fair, in a busy life, many people do use this appliance regularly. By choosing the right appliance, you are already making a big difference to the planet. The most sustainable option is to choose a heat pump dryer. These machines use significantly less energy than conventional condenser dryers. In addition, you can pay attention to energy labels. If you choose a model with a high energy efficiency rating, such as A+++ or A++, you will make the most environmentally friendly choice.
Do you still have an old inefficient dryer in your home? Usually, doing as long as possible with your appliance is the most sustainable. But that doesn't hold true for dryers. Because dryers use so much energy and these appliances have become so much more energy-efficient in recent years, it is better to buy a new one and take the old one to the recycling centre. Who would have ever thought: buying new is sometimes better for the earth!
Eco-friendly cleaning of your tumble dryer
Cleaning for a more sustainable life? Well that's what it looks like. Because by regularly maintaining your clothes dryer, it works better and you can enjoy it for longer. So make sure you clean at least every month. And don't forget to clean the filters after each use! Keeping the filters lint-free improves air circulation. As a result, your dryer works optimally: it dries better and uses less energy. Regularly maintaining your dryer also prevents wear and tear and breakdowns. In short, even more reasons to maintain it properly. And I am happy to explain how to do this in the most environmentally-friendly way possible.
A point to consider when cleaning the dryer is lint-free.
Vinegar is fine, also for eco-friendly cleaning of your dryer
To clean your dryer, you don't need to bring in strong stuff. Well, you can do that in an eco-friendly way too. I use natural vinegar to clean my dryer in an environmentally friendly way. Besides, it saves you money too. Top! Natural vinegar really is a super nice and eco-friendly cleaning product to have in the house. At thegreenlist.nl we clear with some basic cleaning products such as natural vinegar, baking soda, citric acid and green soap just about all jobs around the house. You really don't need an overflowing sink cabinet for that. Not only does it save you money, it also saves you quite a bit of packaging material.
For cleaning the dryer, I also use soda vinegar. You can find wet vinegar in the supermarket in the shelf with (sunflower) oil. This miracle stuff degreases and cleans super and won't cost you a button. Moreover, it is an eco-friendly choice. That's the way we like it! Want to know more about wet vinegar? We previously shared an article with the best cleaning tips for natural vinegar. We are fans!
Eco-friendly cleaning of your tumble dryer
Tools
- dash of vinegar
- soft cloth
- hoover
Instructions
- Check beforehand which type of dryer you have: condenser dryer, heat pump dryer or air discharge dryer. There are differences in cleaning.
- The main dirt in a clothes dryer is dust. The drying cycle causes large amounts of lint to enter the filter. Therefore, it is important to clean the filter after every drying cycle. Remove the filter from the tumble dryer and remove the largest lint by hand. (The lint belongs in the rubbish!) Then you can use your hoover to remove the other lint. If the filter is very dirty, you can rinse it with the shower head or in a tub with a soft brush. Make sure that the lint filter is completely dry before you put it back, otherwise your laundry will take longer to dry.
- Do you have a condenser dryer? If so, remove the condenser to clean it. Consult the manual where the condenser is and how to remove it from your tumble dryer. Rinse the condenser, for example with a shower head. Also clean the drawer opening and seals of the condenser with a soft cloth. Put the condenser back in the machine.
- On a heat pump dryer, you clean the pedestal filter under running water. You can usually find the socket filter on the front left of your dryer behind a flap. Read your machine's manual where your machine's sock filter is located and the best way to clean it. You can carefully clean the cooling fins (which are behind the sock filter) with the brush of your hoover. Do not touch them with your hands as they are very sharp and you can cut yourself. Always read the manual carefully before doing this job, as damage to the cooling fins can cause your clothes dryer to stop working properly. Put the clean filter back in your tumble dryer.
- For a drain dryer, you clean the drain hose for the hot air and outlet vents or roof penetration. To do this, disconnect the hose and clean everything with the hose from your hoover. This prevents clogging and this way the dryer can always get rid of its hot air properly, making it work better.
- After this, clean the dryer drum with a damp cloth topped with a dash of vinegar. This will remove dust and grease from the drum. Check in the manual where your tumble dryer's sensor is located, so you don't skip it. The sensor registers how dry your laundry is. If it is not properly clean, you could be using more energy than necessary because your dryer is not properly measuring that your laundry is dry enough.
- Finally, clean the outside of the tumble dryer with a damp, soft cloth with again a dash of vinegar, so that your dryer is once again grease-free and clean.
Extra durable tumble dryer tips
- To save energy and keep your clothes looking nicer, prefer not to use your tumble dryer too often.
- Did you know that laundry dries faster if you put a dry towel in the drum before starting the programme. That saves time and energy!
- Don't have a drain hose for your dryer's condensation? Then you can empty the condensation water reservoir every time after the dryer. You can reuse this water for a cleaning job or flushing your toilet. Note that this water is not drinkable! Do not throw the condensed water in with your plants either, as it lacks minerals and may contain soap residue!
- Centrifuge your laundry in the washing machine at the highest possible speed. That way the dryer doesn't have to dry as hard and you save a lot of energy!
- Do not put (polyester) fleece in the dryer! This unnecessarily releases microplastics. We previously wrote an extensive article on fleece jumpers and microplastics.
Eco-friendly dryer cleaning
Following this step-by-step plan regularly will keep your dryer clean and working efficiently. That way, your machine will last longer and use less energy. And don't forget to replace your old appliance with an energy-efficient one, as this is the biggest sustainable step. Do you have another great eco-friendly dryer cleaning tip? Let us know. You can get in touch with us via the follow and contact buttons at the bottom of the page.
More sustainable cleaning tips from thegreenlist.nl
- Sustainable washing? Read all about sustainable washing machines and detergent here and here how to clean the washing machine in an environmentally friendly way.
- A clean and fresh fridge? Take a quick look at green cleaning tips.
- Sleep better? This is how you clean your mattress in an environmentally friendly way.
Photo credits: main image: Erika Wittlieb (Pixabay), old washer and dryer: Bububácsi (Pixabay), inside dryer: Thomas Wolter (Pixabay), photos cleaning dryer: Mascha Bongenaar.
