Extruder is Clicking - Won't Accept Filament or Print!

[CaptainObvious]

And lastly attach a filament cleaner (sponge wrapped around the filament at some point near the extruder)

When I put together my printer I serendipitously (I can't believe I actually spelled that right the first try) found another way to keep the filament clean. The hotend and extruder motor cables go inside a plastic conduit, the ribbed tube kind, it make a look from the side of the printing head to the top of the machine.
The way it's placed the filament rest slightly against that tube, and when the printer is working the back and forth motion of the X axis rattles the filament across the ribs of that tube, I believe that shakes off any dust on the filament because without using any cleaner or anything else I've never had a clog on my extruder.

Edit to add...

I've been meaning to design a "rattler" like that as an accessory for other 3D printers, it would simply be a serrated edge that the filament will rub against as it's pulled in.