I have a Kenmore Elite dryer that is 7 yrs old. There is a panel on the front bottom of the dryer. When the dryer is opened to remove clothes there is a removable filter that slips into that bottom panel that must be cleaned after every use.

The dryer is not drying well, which leads me to believe that it needs to be cleaned. I have pulled back the dryer and cleaned out the back trap. The only remaining place to clean is the slot that the removable filter slips into. When I look down the slot that the removable filter slips into there is a lot of dust (oh no fire hazard) but I can't get the front panel off and the warranty/instructions do not indicate how to do this either (oh great). Please help! How do I get the front panel off? Perhaps it does not come off, but it seems like it should. I don't want my house to go up and flames and I would like to attempt this myself before I have to schedule a service call.

I have a Kenmore Elite dryer that is 7 yrs old. There is a panel on the front bottom of the dryer. When the dryer is opened to remove clothes there is a removable filter that slips into that bottom panel that must be cleaned after every use.

The dryer is not drying well, which leads me to believe that it needs to be cleaned. I have pulled back the dryer and cleaned out the back trap. The only remaining place to clean is the slot that the removable filter slips into. When I look down the slot that the removable filter slips into there is alot of dust (oh no fire hazard) but I can't get the front panel off and the warranty/instructions do not indicate how to do this either (oh great). Please help! How do I get the front panel off? Perhaps it does not come off, but it seems like it should. I don't want my house to go up and flames and I would like to attempt this myself before I have to schedule a service call.

On my Kenmore Elite HE3, the lint filter slides into some guides that are part of a plastic bracket on the inside of the dryer. There are three screws that hold this piece in place, and when removed, you can get a crevice tool into the space, and pretty far down the air path to the left.

CAUTION!!! There are TWO (2) wires that connect to the plastic bracket, which (I think) are a part of the moisture sensing circuit. If you pop off that bracket after removing the screws, the wires will come loose, and may fall down into the inside. That will require you to remove the toekick panel to get the wires back up so you can reconnect them. (Note the genuine experience coming through?)

There is also a dryer cleaner kit I got from Bed Bath and Beyond that has a longer crevice tool that lets me reach in even further. You will be able to clean much further without removing the plastic bracket.

Take a look at Bed Bath & Beyond Product (http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=13936560)