Should You Empty the Lint Trap Before or After Running the Dryer?

It's a known fact that emptying the lint trap is important because it speeds up the drying process and helps prevent a fire hazard. But here's the big question: Should you empty the lint trap before or after running the dryer? To get a clear answer, we went directly to the pros.

Steve Schmahl, virtual appliance expert at Frontdoor,  is sharing why he recommends emptying the lint trap directly before you run your dryer. Spoiler alert: it has to do with ensuring maximum air flow during a drying cycle which a full lint trap will prevent. Keep reading to learn more about what lint buildup actually is, the importance of removing it between every drying cycle, and why you should empty the lint trap before you run the dryer.

 

Why It's Important to Empty Your Dryer Lint Trap

"Lint is the buildup of small pieces of yarn, thread, and fabric that come from clothing during the drying cycle," Schmahl explains. As a load of laundry is going through a drying cycle, the designated airflow inside the appliance carries lint to the vent trap where it collects and is stored. The trap is specifically designed for the purpose of catching the soft and fuzzy pieces of fabric that shed while your clothing is drying. "The lint trap accumulates lint while it is drying clothes and is typically full at the end of the load," Schmahl says.

Emptying the lint trap between every dryer cycle is crucial both for safety reasons and to speed up the drying process. A full lint trap can cause a fire hazard, because the soft material is flammable and can easily catch on fire when it comes into contact with the high heat of the dryer. Additionally, emptying the lint trap will help your appliance run at maximum capacity. A vent trap that's filled with a thick layer of lint prevents air from circulating around the dryer as it should, causing decreased effectiveness.

A clean and empty lint trap however allows for good air circulation during the drying cycle, which will help clothes dry faster, saving you time and money on energy bills. Additionally, when air can flow through the appliance as designed, it helps reduce wrinkling in clothes, saving you from having to iron or steam everything.

 

Empty the Lint Trap Before Running the Dryer, Not After

When it comes to whether you should empty the lint trap before or after a dryer cycle, Schmahl says you should do it each time you put wet clothes in. "I suggest checking and emptying the lint trap before running your dryer," he says.

He explains that cleaning the trap before the start of the cycle rather than the end of the drying cycle ensures that you don't get lint all over your clean clothes. He also points out that a clean lint trap before a drying cycle results in faster and proper drying; "A clean trap ensures good air flow and efficient drying, and makes sure nothing impedes airflow and effects drying success," he says.

 

Be Sure to Clean Both Parts of the Trap

It is always best to follow the manufacturer's directions when it comes to cleaning your dryer, including the lint trap. If you don't have the instructions, the basic cleaning method is two-part: you will need to clean both the lint trap and the slot into which it fits.

Before running a drying cycle, remove the lint trap to inspect whether it needs to be emptied. Make sure you have a large enough trash can in your laundry room where you can dispose of the lint buildup without carrying and spreading it throughout the house. Remove the visible lint buildup using your hands, then vacuum both the trap and the slot in which it fits. If you notice any stubborn lint or residue on the vent trap, rinse it under warm water, then let it air try completely before returning it into the designated slot.

Lint is so fine that it quickly spreads onto surfaces, so check the top of your dryer and wipe away any "lint dust" using a damp paper towel to ensure you don't have to remove lint from clean clothes fresh out of the dryer. Additionally, you will want to clean out the dryer vent once or twice a year based on how frequently you run the appliance.

 

 

Source: Sabella, M. (2025d, March 27). Should you empty the lint trap before or after running the dryer? Better Homes & Gardens. https://www.bhg.com/empty-lint-trap-before-or-after-dryer-8759874