To clean a Maytag dryer lint filter, slide the screen out of its slot, peel the lint off by hand, check the screen for a film or tears, and slide it back in fully. Do it after every load. A clogged lint screen is the first thing that slows a dryer down, and it makes the dryer work harder and hotter than it should, so this quick habit protects your clothes and the machine.
Why does a Maytag dryer lint filter need cleaning every load?
A dryer moves warm air through the clothes and out through the vent, and the lint screen catches the fibers on the way. When the screen is clogged, the air slows down, the clothes stay damp longer and the dryer runs hotter. Our Maytag dryer vent cleaning guide lists a lint screen that catches less lint than it used to as one sign that lint is going into the vent instead, and it says to clean the lint screen after every load.
A clean screen also helps the moisture sensor in the drum do its job. If your dryer runs long cycles, see Maytag dryer takes too long, which lists the usual causes in order.
How do you clean the lint screen step by step?
- Open the door and find the lint screen. On most dryers it sits in a slot at the front of the drum opening. Your owner’s manual shows where it is on your model.
- Slide the screen straight out. Do not tug at an angle.
- Peel the lint off with your fingers. Fold the screen along its crease if it has one, and roll the lint off in one piece.
- Look at the screen against the light. If you can see a film or if the mesh looks sealed, it needs a deeper clean.
- Look into the empty slot and pick out any lint you can see with your fingers. Do not push anything down into the slot.
- Slide the screen all the way back in until it sits firmly.
Empty the lint into the trash, not onto the floor beside the dryer, where it can be pulled back in or catch a spark.
When does the screen need a deeper clean?
Lint is not the only thing that clogs a screen. Dryer sheets and fabric softener can leave a thin film on the mesh that you cannot brush off, and that film blocks airflow even when the screen looks clean. If lint seems to be sticking to the screen or your drying times are getting longer, wash the screen. Rinse it under warm running water, scrub gently with a soft brush and let it dry completely before it goes back in. Do not put a wet screen in the dryer.
Use a soft brush rather than a stiff one. A bristle that is too hard can distort the mesh and leave gaps for lint to pass through.
What is different on a heat pump dryer?
Our heat pump dryer maintenance guide says Maytag heat pump dryers have two lint filters, the standard filter in the door and a secondary filter in the lower access panel, and that both should be cleaned after every load, or at the very least every other load. The same guide describes cleaning the heat exchanger on a monthly basis, and that is a separate job from the lint screen. Read Maytag heat pump dryer maintenance tips before you open the lower panel on a heat pump model, and follow your owner’s manual for how that panel opens. If you want to know how the system differs, see how Maytag heat pump dryers work.
How do you know when to replace the lint screen?
Replace the screen if the mesh is torn, if the frame is cracked or warped, or if it will not sit firmly in the slot. A screen with a hole lets lint pass through into the housing and the vent, and a screen that does not seat lets lint bypass it. The right replacement for your dryer depends on the model, so use the model number from the label inside the door or on the cabinet when you look for the part, or check your owner’s manual. Do not use a screen made for another model, and never run the dryer without the screen in place.
What if the lint screen is clean and the dryer is still slow?
The lint screen is only the first stop for the air. Behind it there is the housing, the vent hose and the duct to the outside, and any of them can clog. Our Maytag dryer vent cleaning guide walks through the whole run, and the moisture sensor cleaning guide covers the sensor in the drum that decides when the clothes are dry. If you notice a burning smell, stop the dryer, switch off the breaker at the panel while standing on a dry floor and see Maytag dryer burning smell.
Do not open the cabinet of the dryer to reach lint inside. That is for a technician, because the heating and electrical parts are there. Our Maytag dryer repair page explains how a visit works.
