Would you rather have white fluff stuck on your black pants or dark lint speckled on your white shirt? Want to avoid both options? Removing lint from clothing doesn’t have to be a hassle. Follow these seven hacks and see for yourself.
What is lint? You may not be able to specifically say what exactly lint is, but you know the immediate feeling of frustration when you see it all too well. Nothing ruins an outfit faster than a bunch of pesky fuzz all over it, as it can be unsightly. You have two options: dedicating 15 minutes of your already chaotic morning to lint-rolling yourself back to flawlessness, or mastering the art of removing lint from your clothes. Thankfully, with the right tips and tricks, you’ll have lint free clothes in no time!
What is Lint? Where Does It Come From?
Due to friction, tiny bits of pesky fabric fibers are shed from the edges of our clothes called lint. Lint tends to get combined with dirt and stray hairs. This is why the dryer contains a lint screen filter because the wear and tear of the drying cycle pull fibers loose. To prevent dryer lint from getting on your clothes, clean the lint trap after every use. Natural fiber fabric, like cotton, linen, knit. or wool, attract more lint. Whereas synthetic fibers, polyester or nylon, create very little.
1. Use Dryer Sheets
Before hitting the dryer’s start button, toss a dryer sheet in! Not only will it reduce dryer lint, but it will also soften your clothes. The antistatic properties of the sheet work outside the dryer. Simply give your lint-infested clothes a good rubdown, and just like magic, you’ll have lint free clothes that smell like springtime.
2. Grab a Pumice Stone
A stone of many talents, the pumice stone is a convenient tool to remove dryer lint. It’s commonly known for removing dead skin cells from feet, elbows, and hands. Just as you would lightly run the pumice stone along your body, you would do the same with a pair of lint-covered sweatpants, jackets, or shirts to restore the surface back to its store-bought youth. The process of removing lint from clothing should only take a few minutes. We recommend using a pumice stone on cotton or wool clothing. Never use the stone against silk or satin materials, because it’ll ruin the look more than the lint ever did.
3. Wash with Distilled Vinegar
The secret ingredient to washing has been hiding in your kitchen this whole time. With your next load of laundry, along with your detergent, try adding a cup of distilled vinegar to the last rinse while in the washing machine. The vinegar’s properties prevent static, which means dryer lint and pet hair are less likely to annoyingly cling to your clothing.
4. Scouring Pads
Don’t leave the kitchen yet—on your way out, grab the heavy-duty scouring pads. Scour pads are especially helpful in and out of the kitchen. The small pad of durable, abrasive material easily cleans burnt messes left behind by pans and cast irons and picking up lint. Gently rub it against the fabric until fluff is lifted. Scouring pads are versatile fuzz catchers must-have.
5. Wash Inside-Out
Turn that frown upside down or in this case, don’t pout, turn that blouse inside-out. One of our favorite pieces of clothing is bound to be a lint magnetic. By washing the clothing item inside, you avoid sticky lint and minimize shedding by reducing the friction on the outside parts of your clothes. Other benefits include: buttons, sequins, etc are protected, long-lasting color, and, overall, extend wearability.
6. Masking Tape
Don’t have a lint roller? It’s okay, masking tape is your new best friend. Tackle lint frustrations with the sticky side of the tape to pick up lint and extra hair from your dog cuddle session for a fur-free fit.
6. Give the Hairdryer a Try
Now retrace your steps back to the bathroom and grab your hairdryer. This trick comes in handy removing lint from clothing when you’re running late, especially if there’s an excessive amount. With one hand, brush with a pumice stone, a damp dryer sheet, or cloth bush. With the other, blast it with the cool-high setting on your blow dryer for best results! And voila: you never have to deal with white lint on dark clothing or dark lint on white clothing. Welcome to a world of lint free clothes.