Isn’t it annoying when you’re about to leave the house for an important event only to realize your outfit has lint on it? How can you get rid of the lint?
Below are the best household hacks to remove lint from clothes. Practice them so you’ll always look your best.
What is lint?
Lint forms out of tiny threads from garments that have loosened due to routine maintenance. The loosening causes frequently used clothing to become thin over time.
Static cling causes lint to gather together, so you’ll notice white particles or pills on your clothes after washing them. Lint can also clump together as a thick grey cloud in your dryer’s lint filter.
Several textile fibers, including linen, polyester, wool, and cotton, are lint producers. But, fabrics like spandex are more lint resistant because their fibers are sturdier, longer, and non-woven.
10 Household Hacks to Remove Lint from Clothes
1. Patting with wide sticky tape
Find a piece of wide tape that is about two inches wide or slightly wider than the width of your hand. The broader the sticky tape used, the greater the area covered.
Cut a few-inch-long length of tape. Extend your hand with your fingers intertwined. Roll the tape over your fingers, sticky side out, overlapping the edges.
With your fingers, lightly pat the affected area, sticky side down. Make sure the tape is working in the same direction as the fabric’s weave, usually up-and-down.
Pull the tape off after smoothing it down with your finger. The pilling should fall off with the tape when you remove it.
When the tape is no longer sticky, rotate the tape around your fingers until the dirty portion is facing you. Continue to pat the clothing with the new side of the tape. Repeat until all lint is gone.
2. Washing clothes inside-out
If you have lint-attracting clothes, you can avoid sticky lint problems in the first place. Avoid shedding by washing these garments inside out ahead of time.
Putting your clothes in your washing machine inside-out will reduce the loosening of as many fibers, which can cause lint. Also, any lint that forms in the wash is less likely to attach to them anywhere visible.
3. Using dryer sheets
Dryer sheets have great antistatic qualities. They get rid of lint from clothing effectively, even when used outside the dryer.
Simply brush the surface of your garment with a single dryer sheet until the fibers disappear. Brushing will get rid of the fuzz.
4. Using Distilled White Vinegar
You can also remove lint with distilled white vinegar if you have some on hand. Say goodbye to bothersome fuzz from sweaters and towels by adding a cup of vinegar to your clothes during the last rinse cycle.
5. Spritzing an Antistatic Spray
You can use this spray if you see lint on your clothing after washing them or when you’re about to leave your house and don’t have time to rewash them.
Spritz some on your attire and let it dry. You’ll notice that the lint will come off to some extent.
6. Rubbing with a pumice stone
Not only does a pumice stone remove dry, dead skin, but it also removes lint from clothing. If you have lint-covered sweaters or fleece, use a pumice stone to remove lint. You’ll be amazed at how well it captures and removes lint.
Instead of going against the weave of the fabric, go with it. Also, avoid rubbing too hard or going over the same spot too often. The pumice stone will remove the fabric’s top layer.
You might get a hole if you keep going over the same area.
Do not use a pumice stone on wool, cotton, or any delicate or glossy fabric, such as silk or satin.
7. Using Velcro
Velcro is a brand name for hook and loop fasteners used to replace buttons and snaps in shoes and garments. But it also proves useful in removing lint from clothes.
Cut a piece of Velcro about the size of your hand. Rub the rough side of the Velcro against the clothing from the bottom up.
If the lint accumulates at the bottom of your garment, you may use tape or a lint roller to remove it.
8. Trying a scouring pad
Scour pads are excellent for more than just cleaning iron pots and pans in the kitchen. They also aid in the removal of lint from your clothing.
To begin, soak a scouring pad in water. Remove the extra liquid by squeezing it. Then, using the rough side of the scouring pad, carefully scrub your clothes in a downward motion.
9. Blowing with a hairdryer
A hairdryer will not only speed the drying of your damp hair but will also improve the appearance of your clothes. To look clean and well-dressed in seconds, wet a fresh dryer sheet and gently apply it on your lint-covered clothing.
Make sure that you adjust your hairdryer to a cool setting.
10. Running a disposable razor
This hack is excellent for lint that has penetrated the fabric deeply. Place your garment on any flat surface, such as a counter, to begin.
Position the razor near the top of the clothing. Drag the razor a few inches down the garment. Lift it and take off any lint.
Pull the razor along with the fabric, pausing every few inches to tap off the lint. Make sure not to cut into the fabric so the garment will not get damaged and unwearable.
How to Prevent Lint from Getting on Clothes
When removing lint from clothes, it would be best to know how to prevent garments from acquiring lint on them in the first place. It will save you time and energy. Here are some easy tips that you can implement right away.
Wash items that cause lint separately
Determine the sort of fabric that produces lint. Chenille, towels, velvet, and flannel are more likely than others to shed lint in the washer. So, to prevent lint from migrating to your other clothes in the wash, wash them separately.
If you can’t wash them separately, flip the lint-attracting items inside-out before placing them in the washer.
Add white vinegar to your wash
Drop ¼ cup of white vinegar into the washing machine Vinegar will aid in the removal of lint from garments. It will also help in reducing lint stickiness.
Empty pockets before you wash your clothes
Check the pockets first before beginning your laundry. Remove any materials that can disintegrate in the washing and generate even more lint, such as tissue paper.
Remove lint on clothes before washing them
If a garment has a lot of lint on it, consider de-fuzzing it first using any of the ten household hacks outlined above it before dropping it in the washer. If you don’t get rid of the lint, it will just spread to other clothes. Soon, you’ll have more clothes to remove lint off.
Give washed garments a good shake
Before putting items in the dryer, shake each thoroughly first. Shaking can help you knock off any lint that may have stuck onto your clothes.
Use dryer sheets in the washer dryer
If you’ll only tumble-dry a few items, you’ll need half of a dryer sheet. For a regular load, you’ll need a full-sized sheet. Static is what causes lint to attach to garments in the first place. The dryer sheet will help eliminate it.
Clean the lint filter in your washer after each cycle
If possible, detach the filter then tap the lint into a dustbin. If you can’t get the filter out, use your fingers to scoop the lint out. Without doing this, the lint may end up on your clothing when you dry them the next time.
Clean the lint filter regularly. Wipe it with a clean, dry cloth once all the lint is gone. Cleaning will take some time, but it will be well worth it.
Air-dry washed clothes
Dryers collect a lot of lint, which they might transfer to your garments if they aren’t clean. Air-drying your garments will help reduce lint. Any bits of lint may also be blown away by the wind.
[How Long Does It Take To Air-Dry Your Clothes?]
Handwash expensive garments
Because you are not swirling the items within the machine during hand washing, the thread fibers are less likely to break away.
But handwashing is time-intensive, so it’s not a viable alternative for your everyday clothing.
Use this technique only for very costly items that will come off unattractive if washed in the machine.
Deep clean your washer
Do a deep cleaning of your washer every two months by running an empty cycle with vinegar or detergent. Deep cleaning will eliminate the lint and grime that accumulated in your machine.
Summary
Having lint on clothes is never fun. Yet, outlined above are the best household hacks to remove lint from clothes, so you may still wear your favorite clothing anytime.
Also, if you follow the easy tips above on preventing lint from getting on clothes, removing lint from clothes will be easier.
Jessica Oliver is a fashion enthusiast with more than ten years of experience in the industry. She previously managed her own clothing store in New York before becoming a mother of three. With a passion for sustainability and a desire to share clothing care and recycling tips.