How to Remove Lint and Cotton from Clothes

Use a clothes roller. You can find a duster at your supermarket’s homewares section or fabric and pet stores. Peel off cover and roll on fabric. Use up-and-down presses when rolling. As you continue to roll, you will find that the roller gradually becomes less sticky. Then you just peel off the dusty paper and reveal the new sticky paper underneath. Continue rolling and peeling off the adhesive paper until all lint is removed.

• When you run out of sticky paper rolls, you can buy a new roll to replace the dust roller or buy a new duster.
• You can also buy a reusable duster. This duster uses a sticky gel material to pick up lint. When the duster is dirty, simply wash it with soap and water, then let it dry.

Make your own duster at home. You will need a wide roll of packing tape and a rolling pin. Peel off the top of the tape and place it on one end of the rolling pin. Remember to place the sticky side on top, the smooth side in contact with the rolling pin. Carefully wrap the tape around the rolling pin in a twist, like a candy cane, making sure the edges overlap. Cut the tape once it reaches the other end of the rolling pin. The tape will usually stick to the rolling pin. If it doesn’t stick, you can use a small piece of tape to secure it to the rolling pin.

• When using, you just need to put the roller on the fabric, hold the two handles and roll with an up and down motion until the lint is clean.

Wrap tape around your hand. Cut a wide piece of tape about more than twice the width of your hand. Close your fingers. Place the adhesive side up and wrap the tape around your hand so that the edges of the tape overlap. Use your fingers to gently pat the fabric to be treated. When the tape is gone, simply turn the dirty side up. Continue patting the fabric with the new piece of tape.

Use a strip of tape. Find a wide roll of tape and cut a strip about an inch long. Place the adhesive side of the tape on the surface of the fabric to be cleaned. Be sure to place the tape in the direction of the fabric. Use your fingers to smooth the tape down, then pull it out.

• The wider the tape, the more area it can cover. Try to find the tape about 5cm wide.

Consider using a lint scraper. This is a battery-powered device used to treat lint on clothes. Turn on the machine and gently glide over the fabric. When you’re done, open the lint drawer in the machine and throw the scraped lint in the trash.

Scrub the sweater with a pumice stone. This can also remove ruffled wool. Remember to rub in the direction of the fabric, not in the opposite direction. Also, don’t scrub too hard or rub the same spot several times. The pumice will grind away the top layer of the fabric. Rubbing the same spot over and over can puncture the fabric.

• Avoid using pumice on cotton or woolen fabrics. You also should not apply this method to delicate or shiny fabrics such as silk or satin.
• Most of the lint will stick to the fabric. You can use duct tape or a duster to pull out clumps of lint.
• You should do it on a table top or tablecloth; This will make cleaning up the lint much easier.

Use Velcro tape to remove lint. Buy some adhesive tape and cut a strip about the width of your hand. Use the rough side with spikes, leaving the soft ruffled side. Rub the adhesive tape down the fabric. If lint is concentrated deep in the fabric, use tape or a duster to pick it up.

Use a clean razor to scrape off the fur on the fabric. This is especially effective for lint trapped deep in the fabric. Place the razor on top and slowly pull it down a bit. Lift out the razor and knock the lint off. Continue pulling the razor across the fabric, pausing occasionally to knock the lint off. ^[1]

• If you don’t have a machine razor there is a less expensive option than using a single blade razor. Tilt the razor to skim the fabric to remove lint, but be careful not to cut the fabric and damage the garment.

Use a damp sponge or scouring pad to remove lint. Dip a sponge or scouring pad in water and wring it out. Gently rub the sanding side onto the fabric. Use up and down movements and do only small parts at a time. ^[2]