Guide to remove lint from clothing
Lint sticking to clothes after laundry day is frustrating and can prevent you and your family from looking your best.
Lint can be minimized with just a few everyday household items and a little bit of knowledge.
Let’s take a look at how you can remove lint!
You will need:
- Masking tape
- Lint roller
- Dryer sheets
Tip 1: Turn everything inside out
To help prevent lint and pilling from forming on the outside of the fabric, turn each piece of clothing inside out and then wash in cold water on a gentle cycle. By turning your clothes inside out, you can prevent lint and pilling from clinging to the outside of your clothes.
You can also add fabric softener to your load as a preventative measure against lint from forming. Before starting, it’s best to review the manufacturer’s instructions to confirm that fabric softener is safe to add to your washer.
Tip 2: Dry with an “air only” settings
You can take a hands-off approach by letting your dryer remove lint with a no-heat or air-dry cycle. Adding a dryer sheet is also effective as it can shake and tumble lint from your favourite dress or sweatshirt. If you want to increase tumbling, you can include a few clean towels to the load.
Don’t forget that regularly cleaning your dryer’s lint trap will prevent lint residue and help maintain your Whirlpool® Dryer.
As always, refer to your garment’s care tag for optimal dryer settings.
Tip 3: Masking tape or a lint roller
Search your junk drawer for masking tape or a lint roller as both have a knack for removing lint.
To use masking tape, wrap your hand with the sticky side facing out. Use the blotting method on your clothing to remove lint formations, fuzz or pesky pet hair.
Lint rollers are even easier. Just roll the device along the fabric to capture lint.
Use both methods if you want to be thorough. First, remove as much lint as you can with masking tape and then go over the garment with a lint roller.
What is lint?
Lint is derived from the fabric fibres of clothing. The heat and friction from washing and drying force these fibres to break free of the fabric. Lint is also caused by the daily wear and tear experienced by clothing.
Tips to prevent lint from getting on my clothes
One way to prevent lint and pilling is to reduce the amount of heat, static and friction your clothes experience daily.
By using these tips, you can help minimize the amount of lint that will cling to your garments.
Sort your laundry
Always separate your heavy fabrics from your lighter fabrics. You should also sort by colours.Clean your washer
Check your appliance's use and care guide for the exact cleaning instructions for your washer.
Fasten harder materials
Fastening harder materials like zippers and buttons can help minimize or even prevent fabrics from rubbing against them.
Dry on a low-heat drying setting
Dry your clothes with a low-heat setting to help prevent damage and lint from forming. Before drying, always confirm the optimal dryer settings with your garment's care tag.Maintain your dryer
Routinely perform dryer maintenance and clean the lint trap after every load.Turn clothes inside out before washing
Remembering to turn your articles of clothing inside out can help protect their outer layer from the friction they would typically endure in the washing cycle.Wash in cold water and use gentle cycles
Always wash your clothes in cold water using a gentle setting. You want to avoid overloading the washing machine. Make sure you follow your product’s care tag to learn about washing cycles and dryer settings that can help extend your clothing’s lifespan.
Dealing with lint on black pants, jackets or shirts
You can safely remove lint from black pants, shirts and jackets by blotting the affected areas with masking tape and/or with a lint roller. Black clothing doubles as lint magnets, but you can help minimize or prevent buildup and pilling by reducing the amount of heat, friction and static that occurs while washing and drying your black clothing.
Some more tips to remove lint:
Here are a few more ways that can help remove lint from your clothing:
Try wearing fewer layers of clothing to reduce the amount of friction they experience.
Make sure you use the correct amount of laundry detergent
Include fabric softener in your laundry routine.
One way to ensure you are using the correct amount of laundry detergent is with the Swash® Laundry Detergent* Precision Pour Cap. The precision pour cap will help ensure you use the exact amount of detergent that your clothing needs.
*Swash brand is owned and distributed by Whirlpool Corporation.
Shop Whirlpool® washers and dryers
Whirlpool® Washers and Dryers are available in a wide variety of models. Each can help protect your clothes so that you and your family look their best. Use our Appliance Finder Tool to find the right model for your household.
