I’m going to be using my own dryer as an example – your setup might be a little different based on the machine. But the overall principle is the same for all condenser dryers. Consult your manual if you have any doubts!
STEP 0:MAKE SURE THE MACHINE IS TURNED OFF
This is an easy one – always make sure your machine is turned off before you do anything with it. My manual recommends actually unplugging it or turning it off at the circuit breaker.
STEP 1: LOCATE THE CONDENSER
Now on to the very basics: the condenser element is usually accessible from the front of the machine. That large “window” below the dryer door is where it’s hiding. (By the way, have I mentioned just how much I envy people who have actual laundry rooms? This is our laundry/linen closet and it’s all I get with our current condo setup. Still much better than no laundry of course!)
STEP 2: REMOVE THE ACCESS PANEL
Next, you have to remove the access panel. On my Miele machine, it’s easy to do with this little orange tool – when not in use it clips into the detergent drawer of the washer, so you never have to go rummaging for it.
Tip: the access door is usually made out of plastic, so be careful not to scratch it when removing and setting aside.
STEP 3: REMOVE THE CONDENSER DOOR
Behind the panel, you’ll find another door that seals off the condenser. Unlock the orange latch and take it out.
STEP 4: PULL OUT THE CONDENSER
Now that you’ve gotten past all those different doors, you can finally see the condenser. Once again, unlock the latch and carefully pull it out.
Tip: there might be some lint falling off of the condenser so don’t shake it around too much.
STEP 5: WASH THE CONDENSER
This is the fun part! Put your condenser in the tub or sink and give it a good rinse with warm water (no soap). You want to rinse it from all sides with a fairly strong stream of water until all the lint and debris is gone, but be careful not to bend any of the “wires” that are accessible from the sides.
Tip: make sure you have a net on your drain to catch the lint.
STEP 6: DRY THE CONDENSER
Put the condenser on a towel and let it dry overnight. I’ll be honest, I have put it right back in while still wet on a couple of occasions, but my manual recommends air drying so I try to comply whenever possible.
Tip: spread the towel out ahead of time.
STEP 7: WIPE OFF ANY REMAINING LINT AND PUT EVERYTHING BACK TOGETHER
Once you’re ready to put the condenser back in place, give all the seals a good wipe with a damp microfiber towel and clean out the inside of the condenser area of the machine if you see any lint there. Then assemble everything back together and you are ready to use your dryer again.
WHEN TO CLEAN A CONDENSER DRYER
Now that you know how to clean a condenser dryer, how often do you actually have to do this? Different machines will have different instructions regarding how often maintenance is needed, but the condenser is supposed to be cleaned every 6 months or every 100 uses, whatever comes first. I use the dryer quite a lot, so I try to clean it every 3-4 months if I remember. If not, a sure sign that the condenser needs cleaning for me is when I start seeing lint in the water reservoir.
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