How often should you clean a tumble dryer's lint filter and condenser?

The short answer

Clean the lint filter after every cycle. Both Bosch and AEG say so. The condenser or heat exchanger needs cleaning far less often, but manufacturers give different figures: Bosch says every two weeks for a condenser dryer on one support page and monthly on another, and AEG says to check it once a month and clean it when it is dirty or when the dryer's indicator flashes. Check your own manual, because access to the part and the advice differ by model.

After every cycle

• Lint filter. Bosch recommends cleaning it after every cycle to prevent blockage. AEG says the same, and adds that a clogged filter lengthens drying time and raises energy use.
• Water tank (condenser and heat pump dryers). Bosch and AEG both say to empty it after every cycle. AEG notes the programme stops automatically when the container is full.

The condenser or heat exchanger

This part removes the moisture from the air, and lint builds up on it over time. Bosch says debris on it increases drying time and worsens the result.

• Bosch UK (condenser dryers): clean the EasyClean filter and heat exchanger every two weeks. Its separate heat exchanger page says to clean it several times a month if you use the dryer more than twice a week.
• Bosch Malta support: clean the heat exchanger every month.
• AEG: check the condenser once a month and clean it when the condenser symbol flashes or when it is dirty. AEG also says not to run the dryer while the condenser is blocked with fluff.

Two cautions from the manufacturers themselves. Bosch says its heat exchanger cleaning instructions apply only to dryers without a self-cleaning condenser, and that for a heat pump dryer it does not recommend cleaning the heat exchanger yourself. AEG, by contrast, publishes steps for cleaning the condenser on its heat pump models and warns not to touch the metal surface with bare hands. These are different brands giving different advice, so follow the one in your manual.

Less frequent jobs

AEG's maintenance checklist also lists: wiping the door seal after each use, cleaning the drum every two months, and cleaning the airflow slots every six months. Bosch advises cleaning the moisture sensor when residues of limescale or detergent build up on it, but gives no fixed interval.

Before you rely on this

These are figures two manufacturers publish for their own dryers, not a legal requirement. No other brand is covered here, and the Beko support pages could not be read when this guide was written. Your model's manual is the figure that applies to you.

Track it in Epimeleia

Add the dryer as an item, attach the manual, and set a recurring reminder for the condenser or heat exchanger check, monthly is a reasonable default based on the figures above, unless your manual says otherwise.