how to remove lint from clothes

How To Remove Lint From Clothes And Other Prevention Methods

Ian Mutuli
Updated on
Ian Mutuli

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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It is very irritating to see bobbles of fiber on your clothes. But there's a faster way to get lint off clothing without having to pick it off one by one. Bad news: lint isn’t just going to appear on clothes. If your upholstery is cotton blend type of fabric, it will show on it as well. You really do not want lint on dark clothes for obvious reasons. Nonetheless, there are tons of lint removers that we will explore the next sections.

What Is Lint, And Why Does It Appear?

In simple terms, lint is any fabric fibers that 'sheds' from clothes or fabric. Lint can develop on your clothes from wearing clothes, washing or drying. When friction is present, the fabric fibers loosen off and then later on come off and stick to clothes during a wash cycle. Lint tends to cling better to certain fabrics than others. The makeup of fabrics including wool, linen and cotton, have short fibers. Excessive lint stuck to the clothes.

Why does stubborn lint form on clothes? When fibers are broken (because they rub together and wear down), they clump up and become excess lint. You can also get stubborn lint balls that can stick to other clothes as well as other fabric. When fabrics shed from the edges of the clothes, Lint balls are formed. However, even natural fabrics like cotton and wool are famous for having lint. Additionally, fabrics such as rayon don't produce lint.

Most of the times, getting lint out can be annoying. Once you have those small bobbles on your clothes, it’s a while until they are out. Clothes that aren’t lint laden should not be mixed in with the clothes that are. If not, you’ll just be rid of lint on all your clothes. Having more lint means more problem. We also talk about ways to remove lint from clothes and other things you can use for lint removal.

Which is the Best Lint Remover?

1) Scotch-Brite Lint Roller Value Pack

Scotch-Brite Lint Roller Value Pack, Works Great On Pet...
  • Picks up lint, fur, fuzz, hair and debris for a crisp, clean look
  • Reliable Scotch Brand adhesive ; Handle Material : Plastic
  • Tears cleanly down to the last sheet
  • Great for use on clothing, furniture and more. The lint roller...
  • Handle is ergonomically designed to fit comfortably in your hand....

This lint roller is good to remove lint from clothes, pet fur, and other loose fibers. In addition, the second use of this lint roller will brush away the remaining lint. They don't care about the clothing. Any type of fuzz clings to the very sticky scotch tape. The sticky side of this lint roller also features an ergonomic handle for a sure, firm grip in your hand. Of course, once your lint roller arrives, you can get straight to lint rolling.

Pros:

  • Ergonomic handle
  • Tears evenly
  • Multi-purpose
  • Strong adhesive

Cons:

  • Loses sticky factor after a few uses

2) Ezclean 2 Pack Lint Brush

ezclean 2 Pack Lint Brush for Clothes, Couch, Furniture...
  • ✅【Eco-Friendly】Better than wasteful sticky lint rollers, no...
  • ✅【Easy & Quick】Magic velvet lint brush easily & effectively...
  • ✅【Perfect for Pet Owners】ezclean pet hair remover brush...
  • ✅【Thick & Fluffy Bristles】ezclean lint brush is thicker and...
  • ✅【Long Brush Life】The brush is built to last for a long...

It’s one of the best ways to remove any lint from clothes. This is far thicker than any lint brush you can get on the market. With the exception of a lint roller, this is second best. It is double side to help you remove lint in clothes more easily. Lint balls will be gone for lint free clothes. Moreover, it is also a great option for pet owners for any fur, fuzz or debris. It is also a compact clothes brush so that you can freshen up on the go.

Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Multipurpose
  • No power source needed
  • Eco-friendly

Cons:

  • Not suitable for wool

3) iRUNTEK Fabric Lint Remover Wired Use, Plug-in Lint Shaver and Lint Brush

Sale
iRUNTEK Fabric Lint Remover Wired Use, Plug-in Lint...
  • WIRE USE FABRIC SHAVER - Fabric shaver can't rechargeable....
  • 2 IN 1 FABRIC SHAVER - Wired Lint Shaver and Lint Brush 2 in 1,...
  • 6.56FT/2M USB CABLE - Our Sweater Defuzzer extra lengthens the...
  • CAREFULLY CARE FOR FABRICS - Our Lint Remover stainless steel...
  • SATISFACTION GUARANTEED - Package includes: 1*Electric Lint...

iRUNTEK Fabric Lint Remover is available as a wired and plug in with a 2 in 1 lint shaver and brush. It is a versatile tool that uses its agitation system to easily remove fuzz, lint balls, pills, or bobbles from clothes, furniture, carpets, or couches and return fabrics to looking fresh.

iRUNTEK Fabric Lint Remover is a practical and effective tool for keeping fabrics in perfect condition. Designed as a powerful dual functionality device, it’s certainly capable of being used in a variety of ways, though its wired design may detract from convenience in some applications.

Pros:

  • Versatile cleaning applications.
  • Comfortable grip allows for extended use without strain
  • Suitable for clothing, furniture, carpets, and couches
  • No batteries required

Cons:

  • Requires effort and time for large areas or heavy-duty use.
  • May not be ideal for delicate fabrics that can snag or tear.

4) Twinko Max Lint Brush, Lint Remover

Twinko Max Lint Brush, Lint Remover, Pet Hair Remover,...
  • ✅【Widely Use】lint remover keeps lint, fuzz, dust, dandruff...
  • ✅【Easy to Use】Fur remover is quite easy to use. Follow the...
  • ✅【Perfect for Pet Owner】Pet hair remover for laundry can...
  • ✅【Dual Sides Design】Reusable lint cleaner pro is a...
  • ✅【Travel Kit】Handy hair brush cleaner is designed with a...

The Twinko Max Lint Brush is a reusable lint remover that has 2 sides to fight lint, pet hair, or anything that gets stuck to your clothes, sheets or your carpets. Part of its eco friendly design, this tool does not require any disposable lint roller refills, and yet is an essential tool for everyday cleaning.

If you’re looking for a lint and pet hair removal brush that doesn’t break the bank and is an eco conscious solution. It’s not automatic, but its reusable and versatile nature makes it a big help in maintaining a clean environment.

Pros:

  • Suitable for clothes, furniture, carpets, and bedding.
  • Lightweight and compact for travel or on-the-go use.
  • Easy to use.
  • Reduces reliance on single-use adhesive lint rollers.

Cons:

  • Not ideal for deep cleaning
  • May not work as effectively on certain textured or delicate fabrics.

5) LtYioe Lint Remover Shaver LtYioe Fabric Shaver USB Rechargeable

Lint Remover Shaver LtYioe Fabric Shaver USB...
  • GENTLE TO ALL FABRIC - Restore your clothes and fabrics to fresh...
  • EFFICIENT & POWERFUL - This fabric shaver with 5W POWERFUL MOTORS...
  • USB RECHARGEABLE - Designed for travel and home use. The USB...
  • MULTIPLE PROTECTION - Safety is a priority and we guard the...
  • ETACHABLE DESIGN - The handle is designed to fit most people’s...

The LtYioe Lint Remover Shaver is a shaver that is USB rechargeable fabric shaver that gets rid of the lint, fuzz, and pills off sweaters, clothing, and other fabrics. It has a lightweight, ergonomic design, and includes accessories such as extra blades and a cleaning brush, so it’s both portable and at the same time practical for keeping your clothes in tip top shape.

Furthermore, the LtYioe Lint Remover Shaver, is a portable, easy to use way to maintain garments and fabrics free of lint and fuzz. Although it’s not as powerful or effective for heavy-duty use / large suraces, its USB rechargeable design and ergonomic handle make it a convenient choice.

Pros:

  • Comes with a spare blade for extended product life.
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Easy to grip, making long cleaning sessions more comfortable.

Cons:

  • Less effective on heavy-duty lint or thick fabrics compared to larger shavers.

How To Remove Lint From Clothes: DIY Methods

Apart from the a lint roller and dryer sheets we just mentioned above, there are a few other options that you can use. Think of these kinds of handy DIY ways. They are also very accessible apart from being super cheap because most are from your kitchen. This post will tell you how to remove lint from your clothes and also prevent lint from sticking to your clothes.

a) Line Dry

Usually, most lint forms after the rinse cycle inside the air dryer. But there are ways of preventing lint from forming. This is one of the best options for line drying. If you know that a certain piece of clothing creates lint; line drying may work. Once you separate the item you can go ahead and line dry so that it does not create excessive lint. Finally, if you can’t air dry all your laundry when you wash it, pick the ones that get the most lint.

b) Wash Your Clothes Inside Out

Another option that will help you remove lint is to wash your clothes after turning them inside out. You may have that one item you adore, but it shed like crazy. To avoid shedding and minimize lint attracted to other clothes try turning it inside out. And if those fabrics tend to pick up lint, they transfer the lint from one article of clothing to the other when they rub against one another in the washer. Also wash your clothes, run the washer with cold water and don't let the clothes dryer build up lint even on the lint screen with the dryer air only cycle.

c) Sticky Tape

One of my favorite ways to get lint off of clothes is with sticky tape. Sticky tape, however, works best on large items of clothing. Alternatively, if you don’t have sticky tape then masking tape or scotch tape could work on your laundry. However, each of these tapes is wide tape that helps get rid of lint in your laundry. You just have to paste some tape on the problem areas. If you take them off, they should grab every bobble of lint. Besides sticky tape, a disposable will help you shave away lint balls.

d) Vinegar

You can add distilled white vinegar to the last rinse cycle when washing your laundry. All you’re supposed to do is pour one cup of white vinegar into the rinse water in your washer and allow them to remove the lint. To begin the rinse portion, you can start on the special lint – shedding garments that are certified. In fact, distilled white vinegar is your best bet for towels. This will take lint balls away and keep them from forming. You can also use vinegar and/or a fabric softener as well.

e) Hair Dryer

A hairdryer works just as well to remove lint. For this method, you are going to need to use dryer sheets. Once you dampened the dryer, turn on the dryer sheet on a cool setting. For the lint balls, run the dryer sheets over the area, then run it with the cool setting. Soon, you will have a crisp garment.

f) Scouring Pad

Scratchy scouring pad, that you use when washing the dishes is also a great lint remover. In fact, all you have to do is wet it a little, and go to town on the garment with lint balls. It will not ruin your laundry. A wet scouring works just as well to get rid of lint, but a clothes lint roller just might work well. But be careful not to rub a garment down too hard.

How To Prevent Lint From Sticking To Clothes

Before we get the prevention there are many questions we need to answer about what will attract lint, how we prevent it. We’ve discussed in the sections above what it is that sheds a lot of lint, and there are clothes. However, there are fabrics that suck in lint also. For example, linen, and other artificial fabric laundry items, such as rayon. In part, here’s how to remove lint from clothes, and here are some ways to deter lint from sticking to your laundry.

i) Clean The Lint Filter

Every clothes dryer has a lint trap, also known as a dryer's lint screen. If the lint roller or dryer sheets don’t help, then it may be the lint filter. Make sure you clean out the filter after a couple of uses as it helps to create a healthy airflow. To prevent fires, or to make sure your lint trap functions properly, you need a stronger airflow.

ii) Don’t Overload The Dryer

Dark lint on light clothes are probably the most gross looking thing there is. When doing the wash for your clothes, be sure to separate the fabric, and while drying your clothes, don’t put excess in the dryer. Excessive friction will generate more static build up, causing overload. Fibers which are caused to shed due to static will create lint. But also try washing with cold water.

iii) Don’t Store Lint Producing Clothes With Lint Attracting Clothes

It's the easiest way to make sure your clothes are even more likely to give you more lint the next time. It’s very important to store laundry well, especially the lint producing ones. In addition, your clothes always need to be given a good shake to knock away any static that has accumulated. If these methods do not work, then let your laundry go to professional dry cleaning services.

FAQs

1) Can You Rewash Or Re-dry Clothes To Remove Lint?

Yes. If you have the time to re–do your laundry, it may remove any remaining lint. But if you use heat to dry, you are going to have more lint produced. Then, when you wash the laundry again any left lint will shed off.

2) Can I Use Baking Soda To Get Rid Of Lint?

Yes, you can. Detergent mixed with baking soda in the washer will help to decrease static. There's also a bonus: when you put your whites through the wash with baking soda, your whites come out cleaner and brighter. Make sure your washer is on cool water.

3) Will Sorting Out My laundry Help To Reduce Lint?

Short answer, yes. To rid yourself of lint, the first you should do is sorting out your laundry. Separate your clothes as you do now, but put the lint shedders and whatever fabric takes the lint away from the rest. It can be washed separately too.

The Bottom Line

For some reason, no one is always free from bobbles. This means that everyone is prone to lint. Although they’re the nastiest things, the right wash and dryer techniques will help remove most. But some will still remain. Lint balls are stubborn. Fortunately, there are methods outlined above, which will help you easily get rid of any remaining lint.

Ian Mutuli

About the author

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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