“Lint” refers to visible clumps of textile fibers and other materials typically seen on clothes. It appears because of friction, especially after washing or drying. In newer clothes, it is obvious. Almost all fibers are affected by lint, but it is most common in cotton and wool. Lint appears after tiny fibers get loose from your clothes.
Lint from clothing can be hard to remove, especially if you have cats, dogs, and kids. But your pets are not the only culprits causing lint in your clothes.
The heat from your washer and dryer also causes static electricity, which causes the build-up of dust and lint on your clothes. But, of course, that static electricity has to be grounded somehow, so here’s a simple guide on removing lint from clothing without using expensive products that claim to work wonders.
Read on to find out how to remove lint from clothes (and keep it away in the future).
Causes of lint on clothes:
Lint is undoubtedly one of the most annoying things on your clothing. There are many causes of lint on clothing. Some of them are given below:
- Lint on clothes is a result of improper washing. Lint and other dirt accumulate on clothes when clothes are not washed properly.
- When clothes are not dried properly, lint appears on them.
- Improper storage also leads to lint on clothing. Untidy storage can cause clothes to wrinkle and gather lint.
- Lint is more prone to stick to some types of fabric than others.
- Clothes are more likely to attract lint due to chemicals in fabric softeners.
- Dry cleaning is another cause of lint. Its chemicals build up on clothes and attract lint.
Best ways to remove lint from clothes:
Lint can be incredibly frustrating. It’s a slimy little bugger that lives on your clothes, and if it isn’t removed immediately, it becomes embedded throughout the fibers of your clothing. Even worse is when the lint hides in deep creases of your clothing when you wear it.
So how do you get rid of this pesky lint? There are quite a few methods out there to solve this problem. This article will walk you through 8 different methods for removing lint from your clothes.
1. Use a lint roller:
It is also referred to as a lint remover. This roller is the preferred and most effective method for removing lint from your clothing.
To remove any unwanted fiber:
- Take off the roller’s outer wrap. Usually, it comes in paper packing. Save this and set it aside so you can rewrap the roller after usage.
- Lay out your clothes on a level surface, but if you are in a hurry, you can use a lint roller while wearing the clothes.
- Hold the roller parallel to the clothing. Then sweep it slowly from the top of the clothing to the bottom. Don’t press it hard.
- The roller will be covered in a lot of fluff while moving down.
- Keep doing this until the whole cloth is rolled over and lint-free.
2. Use tape:
Using tape is another quick and simple method for removing lint from clothing. You can use any tape to remove lint from clothing.
To remove lint from clothing using tape:
- Cut a piece of tape that is four or five inches long.
- By joining the tape’s two ends together and wrapping the loop around two of your fingers, you may create a loop with the sticky side facing out.
- Lift the looped tape after applying one side to the clothing. Lint must be adhering to the tape, as you can see.
Everywhere the fuzz is visible on the clothing, repeat this action. If the initial piece of tape is clogged with lint, you might need to make a new loop of tape.
3. Use a lint shaver:
A tiny gadget with a spinning blade called a lint shaver can assist in getting rid of lint from your clothing. You can use it by simply pressing it on the surface of your clothing and then shaving off lint.
4. Using wet hands, lightly scrub the area:
Wool and other hairy textiles respond best to this technique. To remove the lint from the fabric, wet your hands and gently brush them over the surface of the garment.
5. Freeze Your Clothes:
Use this method on delicate fabrics like silk for optimum results. After putting your clothing in a plastic bag, freeze it for about an hour. The cold temperature will make the lint brittle and easy to remove from your clothing.
6. Use pumice stone:
The most effective treatments for problems are frequently natural ones. Pumice stone is well known for being more than just a natural skin exfoliator. It works well at removing lint because of its abrasive texture. Just brush a pumice stone on lint-covered clothing, and then the lint will readily fall off.
7. Remove lint during washing:
A washing machine doesn’t start linting itself but might hasten or worsen it. So, by employing clever strategies in laundry, you can reduce the amount of lint brought on by a washing machine.
Here’s a guide on how to remove lint from your clothing in the washing machine:
Clean the washing machine:
It would be best if you always cleaned the lint trap and other filters after every time you use the washer. As a whole, your washing machine should be clean. There shouldn’t be any debris or odor in the washer. For this purpose, you should use True Fresh Washing Machine Cleaner Tablets.
True Fresh washing machine cleaner is designed to clean your machine’s inner and vital parts. In addition, True Fresh cleaner provides the best defense against dirt and odor.
Turn the garments inside out:
Turning each item inside out before placing it in the washing machine is one of the most significant ways to keep your clothing free of lint during laundering. It works particularly well for clothing items that you are aware are lint-shedders or lint-magnets.
Lint can be trapped and prevented from spreading throughout an entire load of laundry by washing the clothing inside out.
Use distilled white vinegar:
Distilled white vinegar is also excellent for use in laundry. There are several good reasons to always keep distilled white vinegar on hand. Getting rid of the lint on your clothes is one of those reasons.
Add one cup of distilled white vinegar into the rinse cup of your washing machine, or pour it directly into the load during the rinse cycle. All of the bothersome fuzz on your clothing will go.
Select cold water setting:
Use cold water as frequently as you can; it won’t likely loosen the fabric and cause lint to fall out. Hot water damages cotton and linen garments. In addition to maintaining your clothing’s appearance, cold water prevents color fading.
8. Remove lint in the dryer:
Although your dryer is frequently the primary contributor to lint on clothing, if you know what you’re doing, you can also use it to get rid of the bothersome fluff!
Here’s a guide on how to remove lint from your clothing in the dryer:
Use the "air only" dryer setting:
The “air-only,” “air dry,” or “air fluff” setting on your dryer is ideal for capturing lint without over-drying garments and wasting electricity. Unfortunately, these settings are usually ignored.
The air-only cycle is ideal for shaking off lint and pulling it toward your dryer’s lint screen because it uses unheated, room-temperature air.
Use dryer sheets:
Did you know dryer sheets work well as lint magnets? Of course, adding a dryer sheet to your washing regimen will aid in lint reduction and fabric softening.
Use a dryer sheet as a lint roller to rub your lint-covered clothes. Your clothing ought to be lint-free after a few passes. Check out Grove’s assortment if you’re looking for non-toxic, compostable dryer sheets that won’t foul the air or fill up the landfill.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I redry or rewash my garments to get the lint out?
A: Yes. The majority of the remaining lint will be removed if you have the time to run the washer or dryer one more time.
Q: Do All Washers Have Lint Traps?
A: Most of us think that lint traps are only present in dryers. But many washing machines also have lint traps. They protect your clothing from becoming overly soiled with dirt.
Conclusion:
In this article, you have learned why lint sticks to clothes. In addition, you have learned the fastest ways to remove lint from clothing. Overall, it’s relatively easy to remove lint from garments. You can maintain lint-free clothing all year long with a little bit of work. Find the technique that works best for you and your dress from the methods mentioned above.
