What the heck is this secret compartment in my tumble dryer

[toomuchlikemyusername]

I've always thought I was being a sensible grown up by diligently emptying the door filter of my tumble dryer on a regular basis and removing all the fluff so it was good and safe and all that...go me!

Today, with some lockdown time on my hands I was giving it a spring clean and pondered what the flap at the bottom of the dryer was hiding.

I opened it up to discover another large filter which could be slid out. It was covered in a layer of damp, dusty grot with added slime around the seal for good measure

It's now had a good clean out. I've discovered £1.01, a zip attachment and a false finger nail (thanks Dd).

I've also spotted a neat little diagram that tells me I should have been cleaning this out once a month.

I now feel a bit that it's taken me about 3 years to find this grot spot. (But I did enjoy the manky mess). Am I the only person who didn't know about these secret places in tumble dryers. I am agog!

I think it is the condenser.
Recently replaced my Tumble dryer and the new one has a self cleanly condenser.

You can WASH this in the freaking shower?!! So the disgusting and tedious job of cleaning it out whenever that goddam red light comes on is one I could have outsourced to the shower!?!!?!!?

Not sure whether to be thrilled at this news for the future or absolutely furious I didn't know it before.

Ooooh well I never knew. Ive just found mune and guven it a good blast with the shower head in the bath. I now have a bath with fluffy water in tgat i daren't let down the plug hole in case i block it. Engineer DP is thinking if a solution whilst I have a brew.

Sorry about typos. I have lock down nails that i cant be bothered getting off and i cant see what im typing.

Mine had a sponge thing. I put it in the dishwasher.

I used the shower to start with but quickly progressed to the garden hose. No blocked plug to bother with. Unless it’s cold and raining when I resort to the shower. But TBH that’s when the dryer is on most.

I actually get disappointed if I don’t get a good fluff haul when I clean it.

Mine doesn't have one of these but it does have the dryer sensor that doesn't dry. It's the most half arsed thing ever. Looky I dried that corner of the sheet, I'm done now! I don't care about the rest of it.

You are supposed to clean it once a month. My dryer stops drying as efficiently if it is clogged

Ok so we blocked the plug hole with a sponge which caught all the fluff but let the water out. Ive chucked the sponge. Got a fabulous fluff haul. Garden hose next time. So pleased I read this thread.

Ooooh your drying time is going to be so much quicker now OP! Can't believe it's not been done in 3 years 😱 I can tell when ours needs doing because the drying time gets longer and I end up needing to put it on an extra cycle. After cleaning it it's amazing how much quicker it is.

I use the hosepipe outside and then once the fluff is dried out a bit I sweep it up.

It takes much longer to dry your clothes if the filter is clogged . You will be amazed how much quicker it is.
Anyway whilst we are on the subject does anyone have any tips to dry it off. It takes ages ! I normally let it drip outside then put on the top of a radiator with a towel underneath to finish but it is a pain if you have more drying and it is still damp. Can you put them back wet ?
Someone enlighten me please !

Great solution to the fluff catching conundrum there!

I remain agog at the while thing (and take a little comfort that there's at least one person on this thread who didn't know about this secret compartment. At least I am not doing the walk of shame alone )

Mine looks like yours OP. It needs cleaning regularly and I notice that stuff takes much longer to dry when it needs doing. I have been doing it on the slabs but end up with grey/purple slime every where

Mine goes back in wet

@GinLimeandLemonade
You beat me too it !

I had noticed that the washing didn't always dry too well. I'd put it down to it just being extra wet that day

Now I need to it rain on a day I do my washing (I am a line dryer most of the time).

OMG you found it.

I used to have one & I used to blast it with the shower head (shower head twisted to intense jet wash super charge only permitted for this operation)

I miss doing that, I got a heated airer instead

I blast my with the hose, my washing takes longer to dry when it needs done.

Fuck what the f

Justgivemesomepeace an old fashioned sieve?

Christ pressed too soon.

I've never opened mine. Better go and see if it's full of crap

I have a dog so this filter is normally full of dog hair and fluff - yuck, I take it outside and hose it down in the garden as I don't want all of that fluff and gunk going down the sink and blocking it. Job done.

I did not know this! In my defence I only got a tumble dryer at the grand old age of 44. Mine is now sparkling clean! Thanks op

@Likefootball
You have a self cleaning condenser ? ( Sighs dreamily). I would love a self cleaning condenser. I NEED one! I MUST have one ( stamps feet petulantly ).

franfine I thought you had fainted at the sight of it