Margie asked: How do I remove lint from new towels? When I buy new towels, they have a lot of lint. I wash the towels before I use them, but there is still a lot of lint. What do I do?.
New, fluffy towels are wonderfully inviting, until you use one and end up covered in colored fuzz. The soft fibers of new towels act like a magnet to collect lint, dust and other small particles. They hold them tight. The key to removing this excess lint is to loosen it and break the static bond with the towel so that it can be removed. Though it will certainly go away over time, here are a few steps that can speed up the process.
You Will Need:
- Dryer sheets
- Dryer
- Washing machine
- Drying rack
Steps to Remove the Lint:
There are two schools of thought when it comes to tackling the lint. The first is to use dryer sheets to break the static bond that holds the lint in place. However, some people feel that the use of dryer sheets impacts the absorbency level of the towel.
- If you use dryer sheets, place the dry towels into the dryer with a couple of dryer sheets.
- Run through a short 30 minute cycle.
- The dryer will shake loose much of the lint and the dryer sheets will help it to release from the surface of the towel.
- If you are opposed to using dryer sheets in your towels, simply washing and drying them will remove the lint as well. However, it may take a few more cycles.
- Wash the towels as normal.
- Rather than drying in the dryer, hang the towels to dry (outside is best).
- The wind from the breeze will help to shake loose additional lint. Beating them may help as well.
- Regardless of the method you choose, be prepared to repeat it several times before the lint reaches a normal level.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Did you know that excess lint is a sign of a high quality towel? The Egyptian cotton towels require up to 10 washings and dryings before they reach a “normal” lint level.
- New towels are coated with a special chemical that can keep them from being absorbent. To remove this coating faster, add some white vinegar to the wash cycle.
- If nothing else is working, try using a pilling brush or upholstery brush on the towel.
- Adding a cup of salt to the washing water will help set the color so the towels won’t fade as quickly.
I have found that you have to wash each towel individually, with baking soda and white vinegar in the wash; no washing powder and no softener. I used a short wash. When the was has finished, hang them on the line. Once they are dried, put them in the tumble on the air fluff cycle for 20 minutes. This is the only way that I have found that has worked. The new towels I have just bought look fantastic, feel fantastic and do not leave lint/fluff everywhere. They are 100% cotton towels.
How much baking soda and vinegar?
Thank you.
How much baking soda and vinegar?
How much baking soda and vinegar?
Nancy,
The recommended amounts for laundry usually are 1/2 cup baking soda for a top-load machine or 1/4 cup for a front-load machine (along with regular detergent) in the main cycle and 1/2 cup white vinegar in the rinse cycle of a regular-large size wash. Good luck!
Source: Arm & Hammer – How to Get Laundry Extra Clean and Fresh With Baking Soda
Source: HowStuffWorks – Uses for Baking Soda: Clothing Care
Source: HowStuffWorks – Uses for Vinegar: Doing Laundry
Did you find out how much white vinegar and baking soda?
Thank you for the advice! As an apartment dweller who pays roughly $3/load to wash, I was less than happy, but appreciative nonetheless!
Good advice, but I am reluctant to use my BLACK Egyptian cotton towels. After many washes, my bathroom gets a continual layer of black lint over the white vanity and tiled floor. I bought the color because I thought it would be better than white towels, especially in winter with males in the house. Drying other towels in the dryer has resulted in the wide bands at each end of the towels to shrink. Would washing the towels in a fabric softener help? Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
Very useful information!