A woman in jeans and a green blouse loads linens into a Maytag Dryer. Next to the appliance is a Maytag Washer and next to the woman is a basket of laundry.

Info Hub: Laundry

How to remove lint from clothes: 3 tips for easy lint removal

After a long day of doing laundry for yourself and your family, the last thing you need is to see lint covering your work clothes, favourite casual outfits or kid’s school or sports uniforms. 

Don’t let lint get in the way of  your family looking sharp. Use these tips to help prevent and remove pesky and stubborn lint from your clothing. Remember, just because lint is annoying doesn’t mean you have to let it win.

TIPS TO REMOVE LINT FROM CLOTHING

It’s normal for lint to cling to clothing. Don’t fret as it can be minimized with only a  few simple laundry tips and run-of-the-mill household items. 

Let’s look at how you can remove lint with these helpful tips:

GATHER THESE SUPPLIES:
  • Dryer sheets
  • Lint roller
  • Masking tape

TIP 1: WASH YOUR CLOTHES INSIDE OUT

By taking the time to prepare your favourite sweatshirt or pants before you do laundry, you can save some time and a lot of the frustration caused by lint. 

Make sure you turn your clothes inside out and wash them on a cold, gentle cycle. This can help prevent lint and pilling from forming on the outside of the fabric.

You can also add fabric softener to your laundry load as a means to help stop the formation of lint.

Maytag tip icon

You should always double-check the manufacturer’s directions before adding fabric softener to your washing machine.

A woman unloads dry laundry from a Maytag Dryer using the hamper door. In front of the dryer is a basket of laundry. Another laundry basket on wheels is next to the dryer.

TIP 2: LET YOUR DRYER DO THE WORK

Let’s start with choosing the right setting. You can remove lint by drying your clothes on either a no-heat or air-dry cycle. 

Another tip is to add a dryer sheet to the mix. Dryer sheets can shake and tumble the lint from clothing. It’s important that you always review a garment’s care tag to learn which dryer settings are recommended. 

If you want, or need, even more tumbling, you can add some clean towels to the load. It’s also important to keep your dryer’s lint trap clean. This can go a long way to keeping lint residue at bay while also helping maintain your Maytag® Dryer.

TIP 3: USE A LINT ROLLER OR MASKING TAPE

All you need is some trusty masking tape or a lint roller.

If you use masking tape, wrap your hand with it, sticky side facing outward. And then simply blot your clothing to remove lint, fuzz or pet hair. 

If you go with a lint roller, just roll the device along the fabric to remove lint.

WHAT IS LINT?

Lint is a product of fabric fibres that break down and apart from clothing from the heat and friction they endure while being washed and dried in laundry appliances. Lint can also come from daily wear and tear.

CAN I PREVENT LINT FROM GETTING ON MY CLOTHES?

You can prevent lint and pilling by reducing how much heat, friction and static your clothes experience on a daily basis. Adding some easy precautionary steps to your laundry routine can help minimize the amount of lint that frustratingly clings to your clothing.

Try these tips to reduce the amount of lint in your life:

  • CLEAN YOUR WASHER
    Read your appliance's use and care guide for instructions on how to clean your model.
  • ALWAYS SORT YOUR LAUNDRY
    By separating your heavy and lighter fabrics and also sorting by colour, you can help prevent lint and damage.
  • FASTEN EVERY ZIPPER AND BUTTON
    If you fasten the harder materials on clothing, you can help prevent fabrics from rubbing against them. This will reduce friction, which can create lint.
  • TURN CLOTHES INSIDE OUT
    Turning your clothes inside out before washing them, can help protect the outer layer from friction.
  • USE A GENTLE WASHING CYCLE
    Try washing your clothes in cold water on a gentle setting to help prevent lint from forming. Also, you should avoid overloading the washer. As always, follow a product’s care tag to learn about the appropriate washing cycles. Otherwise, you could reduce the lifespan of your clothes.
  • ROUTINE DRYER MAINTENANCE
    Performing routine dryer maintenance and cleaning the lint trap after each load are proven ways to help minimize lint and pilling.
  • DRY ON A  LOW-HEAT SETTING
    Using a low-heat setting to dry your clothes can also help safeguard them from lint and other ways they could be harmed. Check each garment's care tag for the recommended dryer settings. 

HOW DO I REMOVE LINT FROM BLACK PANTS, JACKETS OR SHIRTS?

You can safely remove lint from black pants, shirts and jackets the same way as other garments—with masking tape and lint rollers. Yes, black clothing can double as lint magnets but you can prevent buildup and pilling by altering your laundry routine to reduce friction, static and heat. It’s that simple!

MORE LINT REMOVAL TIPS:

You can also consider these two methods to help rid your clothing of lint:

  • Use the right amount of laundry detergent every time, 
  • Wear fewer layers of clothing to create less friction.

Getting the right amount of detergent will help reduce lint. Swash® Laundry Detergent* makes this easy with the Precision Pour Cap, which ensures you use the right amount of detergent every time. 

woman in a green blouse chooses a setting on a Maytag Dryer using the controls. Next to the dryer is a Maytag Washer.

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*Swash brand is owned and distributed by Whirlpool Corporation.