How to avoid lint from other laundry

Short answer: Lint mostly comes from towels and new towelling fabric, and it shows up most clearly on smooth, dark clothes. Wash towelling separately and follow a few simple steps, and you avoid most of the problem.

Towelling sheds the most lint

Towels and other towelling fabric shed the most lint in their first ten to fifteen washes, as loose fibres from the weave work themselves free. Wash them together and apart from other laundry during that period, so the lint does not get a chance to settle elsewhere. See bamboo towels.

Smooth fabric collects the most

Lint shows up most clearly on smooth, dark fabric, because the light fibres contrast sharply with the surface. That is why black and navy trousers always look worst after a wash with towelling in the same load. See bamboo underwear for men.

Turn garments inside out

Turned inside out before washing, a garment traps lint on the inside rather than the outside, where it is far more visible. It takes only a few seconds per item and makes a real difference, especially on close-fitting clothes like underwear and t-shirts.

Empty the tumble dryer filter

A full filter in the tumble dryer sends lint back onto the clothes instead of catching it, and the effect disappears entirely if the filter is rarely emptied. Empty it every time you run a dry, and both the dryer and the result stay good. See bamboo bedding.

Remove it afterwards

A lint roller or a damp hand removes most of the lint after drying, and it takes only a few seconds per item. If you do not have a roller handy, tape or a wet sponge works almost as well on most fabrics.

Sort into groups

Split the laundry into towelling, smooth dark and smooth light, instead of just dark and light. Washing the three groups separately cuts the lint problem sharply, because smooth fabric never meets towelling in the drum. See bamboo underwear for women.

New towelling needs extra care

New towelling sheds the most in its very first washes, so wash new towels on their own for the first three or four times before mixing them with the rest of the laundry. After that the amount drops sharply and you can wash them with other towelling as usual.

Use a lower spin for towelling

A high spin presses lint deeper into the weave of other clothes if they are washed together. Washing towelling separately at a slightly lower spin keeps the towels in better shape and means less lint at the next wash.

Clean the drum regularly

Lint and fibres also build up in the drum itself and in the rubber seal around the door over time. An empty wash with no clothes now and then keeps the machine clean and stops old lint landing on the next load. See washing and care.

Frequently asked questions

Where does lint on clothes come from?

Mostly from towels and other towelling fabric, which sheds loose fibres in their first ten to fifteen washes. Wash towelling separately during that period so the lint does not settle in other clothes.