Fabric Softener Film on a Kenmore Dryer Lint Screen: The Water Test and What to Do

Many Kenmore dryer owners clean the lint screen after every load and still find the dryer slow. The reason is often a thin film left by dryer sheets and fabric softener, which clogs the mesh without leaving any visible lint. Airflow drops and drying time creeps up.

The water test

Take the screen out and run a little water over it. If the water pools on the mesh or runs off in sheets instead of passing through, the screen has a film on it. A clean screen lets water drop through the holes.

How to clean it

1. Pull the screen and remove the visible lint.
2. Scrub it with warm water, dish soap and a soft brush, working from both sides.
3. Rinse until water passes through freely.
4. Let it dry fully before putting it back, since a wet screen will hold lint.

Do the housing too

Lint falls past the screen into the slot it sits in. Use a long brush or the narrow vacuum nozzle to clear that slot, because that lint feeds into the blower area. Do this every few months, and more often when you dry towels or a lot of bedding.

How often

• Lint removal: after every load.
• Water test: about every month.
• Soap scrub: whenever the water test fails.

What it will not fix

A clean screen helps, but it does not clear a vent. If clothes are still damp at the end of the cycle after the screen is clean, look at the vent run next, and then at the heating parts. A screen cannot tell us which one is to blame, only that the first possibility has been ruled out.

If the dryer still runs long after these steps, we can check the vent path and heating on a dryer repair visit. See the service area page for where we work.