Lint and hair that clings to bamboo fabric
Short answer: Lint usually comes from towels and terry cloth in the same wash. Sort clothes by fabric type, wash them inside out, and avoid overloading the dryer, and the problem stays well under control.
Where the lint comes from
Lint is loose fibre from other laundry in the same wash or dry cycle. Towels, robes and anything terry cloth shed the most, and dark bamboo fabric shows it most clearly because the contrast is greatest. If there are pets in the home, the fabric also picks up hair from furniture and car seats.
Sort by fabric type, not just colour
The most important habit is keeping terry cloth on its own. Run towels in their own wash, and keep jackets with velcro and zippers away from the finer items. Wash bamboo fabric inside out, so lint settles on the inside rather than showing on the outside.
Removing lint that is already there
A lint roller is fastest for quick fixes, a damp rubber glove works well on pet hair, and a lint brush picks up what the roller misses. If there is a lot, run the garment alone in the dryer on cold for ten minutes, then empty the lint filter thoroughly afterwards.
The dryer and filter play a big role
A clogged lint filter forces air elsewhere and can actually make the lint problem worse over time, since old lint gets blown back onto the clothes. Clean the filter after every dry cycle, and wipe out the housing with a damp cloth now and then to clear leftover fibres.
A wash bag protects delicate pieces
Put thin or delicate bamboo garments in a wash bag together with similar fabric, and friction against rough surfaces and zippers drops noticeably. The bag also keeps a garment's own fibres contained rather than letting them spread to the rest of the load during the spin cycle.
Keeping it away in the wardrobe
Store dark clothing separately from towels and wool items, and avoid placing it directly on a fabric shelf without a liner. A shelf with a smooth surface or a box with a lid keeps garments cleaner between wears, while open shelves collect dust and lint from the room itself.
Travel bags and suitcases need extra care
Pack bamboo clothing separately from terry towels and wool jumpers in a suitcase, ideally in a thin pouch. Tight packing during travel rubs the fabric against other clothes for hours, and lint from terry cloth settles especially easily when nothing gets a chance to air out along the way.
New garments shed the most at first
A brand new bamboo garment often sheds some of its own loose fibres during the first few washes as the fabric settles. This is normal and fades quickly. Wash new pieces on their own the first couple of times, so they do not transfer onto other clothes. See bamboo t-shirt for women.
See also
If the problem persists, check whether terry cloth elsewhere in the household is actually the culprit rather than the bamboo fabric itself. See bamboo towels and bamboo clothing for women for pieces that are easy to keep separate from the rest of the wash.
Frequently asked questions
Does fabric softener remove lint
No, it only coats the surface of the fibres and makes them smoother. Sorting the laundry and a clean lint filter do far more to keep lint away.
Why does black clothing get the most lint
Lint is usually light in colour, so the contrast against dark fabric makes it clearly visible. The amount is actually the same on light fabric, just harder to see.
Can lint be washed off again
Partly. A separate rewash without terry cloth or wool items removes a good amount of lint, though the most effective solution remains sorting the load from the start.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
