Lint Trap

Dryer stopped drying (I capitalized "dryer" because it is an important character in this scenario).

I hate Dryer. Several friends have come over to use Dryer because it's more convenient to hang out in my house and do laundry than it is to go to the laundromat... but at the end of the cycle they check the clothes in Dryer and find the clothes still damp so they restart Dryer then eat some of my food then check their clothes again and find them still damp so they restart Dryer and eat more of my food then check the dryer again and find the clothes still damp so they get mad because all of their valuable time is being wasted and they have lots of other important things they could be doing.

Frankly, I was embarrassed. When being used for my appliances I like to deliver good service and Dryer wasn't cutting it. Something needed to be done.

So I did the following.

Intro: Call Dad using my most desperate voice so he'll agree to talk me through what to do.

Step 1: Locate the problem

1.a. check the lint trap (duh). If there's no lint there...

1.b. check the tube thingy coming out the back of Dryer. There may be a clamp you have to squeeze or a screw to undo the metal ring holding the tube thingy on. If there's no lint there...

1.c. check the other end of the tube thingy leading to outside. If there's no lint there...

1.d. get a flashlight, remove the lint trap, look inside the lint trap slot and discover a ton of lint.

Step 2: Remove the lint

1.a. recruit an endebted friend to shine the flashlight into the lint trap while you work.

1.b. use various tools and kitchen utensils to fish the lint out (I recommend a wooden spoon and a spatula).

Step 3: Run a load of laundry and hold your breath until you know if it worked.

My lint trap.

The lint I dug out of my lint trap.

The various tools I used (hint: spatula and wooden spoon proved the most effective).