How can one clean their dryer vent without hiring an outside service?

First, be sure to unplug your dryer, extend your dryer out, not too far though..just the length of your vent, unscrew your vent from the back of the dryer, then slowly slide the vent off. It's recommended at this point that you get some kind of vacuum cleaner, and insert it into the dryer hole. Afterwards, use your vacuum inside the vent tube, reattach the vent tube to the vent, push the dryer back to its position, and go about your day.