Cleaning lint out of the vents with an old, dry toothbrush, picking out anything stubborn with tweezers, and vacuuming with the hose attachment usually gets a dead blow dryer running again — and regular care like this makes it last a lot longer before needing to be replaced.
Three Handy Hints for Home and Garden Maintenance
A few maintenance hints for around the house and the garden, starting with a quick fix for a blow dryer that's suddenly stopped working.
Clean Out a Clogged Blow Dryer
Use Newspaper Under Mulch to Block Weeds
Laying several layers of newspaper down before mulching helps keep weeds out for an entire season, since it's porous enough to let water and nutrients through but blocks the light weeds need to germinate — and earthworms love to eat it, slowly composting it into the soil.
Dust a Lampshade With a Fabric Softener Sheet
A fabric softener sheet, even one that's already been through the dryer, pulls dust off a lampshade and leaves behind an anti-static layer that keeps dust from settling as quickly afterward.
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This edition is part of the Genius House Hacks archive: 20+ years of tips, rebuilt from the original Handy Hints newsletter. Browse more hacks →