My workaround is (and I've done this at least 10 yrs at this point.) My washer and dryer are not directly beside each other (meaning I can easily squeeze through to the back of my dryer.) The dryer is a not pushed up tight against the back of the wall either. so if I get behind the dryer it's pretty easy for me to do what I need to do...Sort of tight back there but not too tight.
Years ago, I came across a post something complaining of dryer lint. I think it was garden web laundry forum. A lady had said she and her husband lived in a condo and they had to deal with their vent run constantly clogging with dryer lint. Her husband got this idea to use a 1 gallon pain strainer (picture lining the paint strainer into the piece that connects the back of the dryer into the wall sort of like you would line a trash bag into a trash can) About every 4 loads, I get back there, pull it from the back of the dryer, take the strainer out, vacuum the lint off, put it back..It basically catches all the lint that escapes the dryer keeping it from going into the vent run or roof cap
I have the clamp just setting just right to push on/take off the back of the dryer.. It's snug enough not to come off on its own but not overly snug to where I can't get it back on... Takes me about 5 min's to clean and put it back.. It has kept the entire run lint free for ten or so years...I never have an issue with clothes drying since doing this. I could probably go more than 4 loads but I just get used to doing it around 4 loads. Since I'm the only one who does laundry I don't worry about the dryer getting ran and it not being cleaned.
When the lady first told me this is what she and her husband do.. My first thought was a fire hazard...but as long as you keep it clean, it's fine. Not so much as any sign of overheating. In fact, it's probably lessens the fire hazard since it keeps the run clean.. A clogged vent run IS a fire hazard. I remember thinking it might cause the dryer to overhead or it would block some airflow or something still causing the dryer to take longer.. but it does NOT. My clothes dry as fast as my grandma's dryer that was connected to an outside wall venting directly out.
This wouldn't be doable for most laundry situations though. Most people have their washer/dryer touching each other and pushed back up against the wall. (see picture)
I'm forever grateful to the nice lady who told me this. It has saved me such a headache of having something else to worry about doing.
