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Aphrodite asked: How can I remove paper from clothes? I washed my jeans and my shirts and there was probably a piece of paper somewhere. I washed them twice, but the paper wasn’t removed. It’s everywhere! Please help.
We’ve all done it. You open the washing machine to switch the laundry and see little white bits of wet paper covering your clothing. Sometimes this paper can easily be removed and caught in the lint trap while drying. Other times it sticks like glue. If the latter is the case for you, here’s what you can do.
You Will Need:
- Plenty of patience!
- Stiff brush
- Lint brush
- Lint roller
- Wide tape
Steps to Remove the Bits of Paper:
- Begin by removing each piece of wet laundry and shake it out really good. Try to dislodge as much of the paper as possible.
- For stubborn areas, use a brush to loosen the stuck papers.
- Shake again and place into the dryer.
- Dry as normal.
- Some of the paper will be removed in the dryer.
- For the remaining papers, first try brushing it loose with a soft brush.
- To remove the last bits, wrap a wide piece of tape around your hand so the sticky side is facing out.
- Press the tape on the bits of paper and remove. The paper should stick to the tape. If the paper is not too strongly adhered, a lint roller can be used in place of the tape.
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Additional Tips and Ideas
- Make it a habit to always check the pockets of all clothing items prior to washing to avoid this happening in the future.
- For less severe cases, simply rewashing and drying the laundry will remove the bits of paper.
- For quicker removal on wet clothes, the shower can work well. Use the force of hot water to blast the paper off of the clothing.
- One site user wrote in to recommend putting a small load of clothes with paper lint on them back into the washer, starting the wash cycle and letting it run for a few minutes, then stopping the washer while the water is full and removing the clothes. Wring out the clothes as you remove them, then put them in a bucket or in the sink. After the clothes are removed, turn the washer back on to drain out the water. Once the water is removed, wipe out any remaining paper bits in the washer, then start over to clean the clothes again. The theory is that soaking the clothes helps the paper to become suspended in the water, and therefore is easier to remove. If you have a front load washer, you can try using this idea while washing the clothes by hand in a bucket. You can also do this in the bathtub, but be sure to hold a strained over the drain to prevent any paper from being washed down the drain.
I’m always leaving a tissue in a pocket, and I find that a lot of paper comes out in the dryer. I’d try that first before going nutso with steps 1-3. Then, work on the stubborn bits if you need to.
Thanks a lot… it really worked! Now I don’t have to throw out my jeans… 🙂
I had a awful mess on some clothes that had a Kleenex go through wash. I just put them through a long wash and rinse again, and the paper disintegrated…yahoo!
No need to rewash the clothes or put them through the dryer; just use a squeegee
over the garment. This also works to remove pet hair from sofa or rug.
What about clearing the paper remnents from the washer?
A book got mixed up with sheets and disintegrated in the washer–I’m afraid it’s been sucked into the inner workings of the washer and will gum up the works–I live in a rental and want to protect my landlord’s property.
Cinnia,
The most important place to look for the paper is in the washing machine filter, if your machine has one. If you’re not sure if your machine has one, search online for your make and model to find the user manual. Other than that, the paper should have been washed away and is hopefully long gone to your city’s water treatment facility. If you want to be sure there isn’t any stuck in the machine drainage hose or other areas, unfortunately the only way to tell is to take apart the washing machine, which may do more harm than good if you don’t know what you’re doing so it would be best to ask your landlord first to see if that’s something they would want you to do. Good luck!
What about on a cardigan? It can’t go through the dryer.
Try using just a lint roller. Check the cardigan tag and the settings on your dryer; even if you don’t normally dry the sweater, you may be able to toss it in the dryer without heat for a couple minutes.
I washed a load of colored knit and half a roll of toilet paper was in it. Help, I have washed twice and dried once.