Internal Dryer Lint Trap Cleaner?

[Sun Sprite]

We pull out the pull out insert out of the top and clean it regulary. However, we have a dog, and five cats, so have to wash a lot of towels and blankets.

After five years, it quit drying as good, and i looked in with a flashlight, and it is full of lint on the sides where the lint trap is supposed to go. Why did the lint collect on the sides, and not the piece we pull out? how does it collect on that part in the first place?

It is curved, so we can't stick a hand, or anything straight in there. Any suggestions?

[Sun Sprite]

All right, we gave up and took the back off. It took an hour to take apart, clean and put back together. What a night mare amount of lint from five years!

Off to do laundry and dishes!

[Lunacie]

I saw an infomercial for Lint-B-Gone brushes several months ago and have been trying ever since to figure out how to make one for myself. It seems like a really good idea.

http://housewares.drleonards.com/Housewares/Laundry-Cleaning/Lint-B-Gone-Dryer-Brushes/38186.cfm

http://images.drleonards.com/items/38186_large.gif

[PeatBog]

I've been trying to find something comparable to the LintBeGone in a local store to avoid the $20 fee, with no success yet.

[Willow Rosette]

My hand wont fit inside where the pull out thing goes but I can fit the vaccuum attachment in there and it sucks it right out. But the dryer I had when I moved into my apartment would take two cycles to dry my clothes and it took forever. When it finally died on me and my manager got me a new one they brought the same brand and everything and now I get it done in one cycle. I think short of taking it apart (if your capable) is the only way to get it all. Im not capable and would just call my landlord but maybe once a year during spring cleaning it might be a good idea?

[Cindlady2]

I hate those filters on the top! You pull it out and half the lint falls on the dryer! When I had mine I used to do what Visha'sMommy dose. Every couple of years I would pull it out and open it up anyway because it's amazing where the lint will wind up. I always got a ring around the back of the drum too. My ex-FIL was in the appliance business and he said he gets allot of service calls that just need a good cleaning. It will make the dryer last longer too if you give it a good cleaning now and then.