How to clear out the base of an outdoor clothes dryer?
November 11, 2013 9:04 AM Subscribe
I have an outdoor clothes dryer in my yard. The pole fits into a pipe about 1.75 inches in diameter and about 6 - 8 inches deep. This pipe is gradually filling up with dirt and debris and I want to clean it out. The pipe does not come out of the ground. How can I get all the junk out of the hole? (This is not as easy as it might seem.)
Thanks.
Best answer: Or a domestic hoover with the foot of a pair of tights fitted over the end of the wand.
posted by DarlingBri at 9:08 AM on November 11, 2013
posted by DarlingBri at 9:08 AM on November 11, 2013
Stick a hose in there.
posted by bricoleur at 9:22 AM on November 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by bricoleur at 9:22 AM on November 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
Pressure washer.
posted by windykites at 10:00 AM on November 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by windykites at 10:00 AM on November 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
Loosen the debris with a stick or something like that, then blow a leaf blower across the top.
posted by deadmessenger at 10:07 AM on November 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by deadmessenger at 10:07 AM on November 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: After it's clean, I'd make a cap for it, or even just get a small flat brick to put over it when not in use.
posted by tilde at 10:24 AM on November 11, 2013
posted by tilde at 10:24 AM on November 11, 2013
Sounds like you need something like this. They're used to clean the clay out out of a baseball base anchor on a ball field.
Alternatively, you could look at the hardware store for a margin trowel or tuck pointer. Either of those might do the trick, and you can find them in a limited range of widths and lengths.
posted by Shohn at 11:27 AM on November 11, 2013
Alternatively, you could look at the hardware store for a margin trowel or tuck pointer. Either of those might do the trick, and you can find them in a limited range of widths and lengths.
posted by Shohn at 11:27 AM on November 11, 2013
Poke the gunk with something sturdy (long screwdriver, butter knife, old pair of scissors, whatever fits), while simultaneously vacuuming it out with a shopvac. Repeat until there's nothing in there, then cover the pipe with a rock or a rubber drain stopper so you don't have to do it again.
posted by mgar at 11:27 AM on November 11, 2013
posted by mgar at 11:27 AM on November 11, 2013
Seconding a pressure washer. It has all sorts of uses besides cleaning out holes and are kind of fun to use. IMHO it’s the greatest invention for outdoor cleaning ever!
posted by a_green_man at 4:17 PM on November 11, 2013
posted by a_green_man at 4:17 PM on November 11, 2013
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posted by Betelgeuse at 9:05 AM on November 11, 2013 [1 favorite]