Commercial Gas Dryer Maintenance & Cleaning
The feeling of falling behind on your daily tasks that should have been done hours ago can be a source of stress and anxiety, especially if you’re waiting on the service technician to make their grand entrance. But before your employees start imitating the focal point in “The Scream” painting, you should try implementing some essential commercial gas dryer maintenance and cleaning procedures into their routines.
Fortunately, you can perform most of these commercial gas dryer maintenance and cleaning tips on your own, so you can save those service calls for when you really need them.
Do Gas Dryers Need Maintenance?
Yes, commercial gas dryers need to undergo regular maintenance to sustain their cleaning and energy efficiency, safety and performance. The main concern that arises from neglecting routine commercial gas dryer maintenance and cleaning is the increased risk of fires, but it can also reduce its usable life.
Remember, preventative maintenance is vital to reducing the frequency and cost of repairs and downtime. Check your manufacturer’s manual for cleaning recommendations tailor-made for your commercial dryer.
How Do You Maintain a Gas Dryer?
Although commercial gas dryers don’t require hours upon hours of manual labor to maintain, they still need a little love and attention to prevent them from seizing on the job and leaving your customers down a machine or you short of clean towels, linens and aprons.
Here are a few bullets that should appear on you on your commercial gas dryer maintenance and cleaning hit list:
- Read your manufacturer’s manual – The manufacturer’s manual is the best source of information when it comes to caring for your commercial dryer. Certain cleaning chemicals, tools and practices can void your warranty, so it’s important to give it a quick once over before creating a cleaning schedule.
- Defuzz the lint screen – Beyond the basic delinting after every load, you should deep clean it once every six months with warm water, a soft nylon brush and liquid detergent. After time, detergent and fabric softeners left on the fabric can build up on the lint screen, leaving a residue that can clog the filter and cause poor performance.
- Clean the drum – A dirty dryer might seem like an oxymoron – after all, you’re only putting clean clothes into the drum. But believe it or not, detergent residue and other debris can accumulate over time and affect its performance. Read the section below for a step-by-step guide to cleaning a commercial dryer’s drum.
- Schedule routine, professional maintenance – Schedule routine maintenance and cleaning for your commercial gas dryer at least once a year. A certified service technician possesses the knowledge and training to safely clean and inspect any internal components you can’t access or is too dangerous to do on your own.
- Ensure your gas dryer is level – An unlevel dryer can cause quite a few problems you may not even be aware of. For one, internal components may experience uneven wear and tear, calling for frequent replacements. It can also cause your commercial dryer to make more noise than it should and generate vibrations that tear up your floors.
How Do You Clean a Commercial Dryer Drum?
Besides delinting the filter, cleaning the drum is one of the best things you could do to prolong the life of your dryer. It’s fast and easy, and it’s one of those cases where a little effort will go a long way in maintaining your commercial gas dryer. This is how you clean a dryer drum:
Supplies You’ll Need
- White vinegar solution
- Microfiber cloth
- Vacuum
- Vacuum brush attachment
Procedure
- Step 1. Unplug the commercial gas dryer – Safety first! Whenever handling or dismantling electric or gas-powered machines or components for cleaning or maintenance, you should ensure your safety by first cutting power to your equipment. As an extra precaution, don’t forget to shut off the gas supply line!
- Step 2. Vacuum out the lint – After so many cycles of drying clothes, linens and towels, it’s only natural that there will be some accumulation of lint that didn’t make its way to the trap. You can remove the excess lint with a vacuum brush attachment to reach the areas a wet rag cannot.
- Step 3. Wipe down the drum – Wipe down the interior with a damp microfiber cloth. If you want an all-natural and non-flammable way to also sanitize the interior, you can mix together equal parts vinegar and water to apply to the drum.
- Step 4. Rinse & Dry the drum – Rinse the drum with fresh water and allow ample time to dry out to remove cleaning residues and odors. You can speed up this process by popping a load of clean towels to ensure the dryer completely dries out. But first, don’t forget to plug in the dryer and turn on the gas supply line!