Dryer lint escapes through tiny gaps around the edges of the dryer drum and falls into the cabinet, especially when the exhaust vent or vent cap is clogged and airflow is restricted.

Does dryer lint go outside?

But where does all that dryer lint go? The moist air is forced through the dryer's lint filter and out the back of the dryer. That's why a dryer duct that should be vented to the outside of the home. This exterior vent is crucial, since you can't expel the water-laden air back into your laundry room.

What happens to dryer lint?

While you may be amazed at the amount of lint that you find in your dryer's lint trap, the reality is that much of the lint from your clothes still makes it past the lint trap and into the ductwork that exhausts it to the exterior of your home. Over time, that ductwork becomes more and more clogged with that lint.