A navy jumper dusted in pale fluff can make a smart outfit look tired before you have left the house. The good news is that lint is easy to deal with, as long as you choose a method that suits the fabric. Get it wrong and you can snag fibres, thin out delicate knits or simply push the fluff around.
Lint is just loose fibres shed by clothes, towels and other textiles as they are worn, washed and dried. You will never remove every last fibre, and you do not need to. The aim is to lift visible fluff gently, stop it building up, and keep your tumble dryer working safely.
Check the fabric first
The right method depends on what the item is made from. A cotton T-shirt can take a firm lint roller; a fine merino or cashmere knit needs a lighter touch; velvet needs its own approach. If you are unsure, check the care label. Our fabric care symbols guide explains what each symbol means.
Lay the garment flat on a clean, dry surface before you start. This gives you control and stops the fabric stretching. With a favourite piece or something new, test your method on an inside seam first.
6 safe ways to remove lint from clothes
1. Lint roller
For light surface lint, a lint roller is the quickest fix. Roll in one direction with even, gentle pressure rather than scrubbing back and forth, and tear off a fresh sheet once the adhesive is full. A used sheet just moves fluff from one spot to another.
2. Rubber glove
No roller to hand? Put on a clean, dry rubber glove and sweep your palm across the fabric in one direction. The grip rolls loose fibres into small clumps you can pick away. It works well on coats, thick knitwear and sofas, but skip it on silk and very fine wool.
3. Clothes brush
A good clothes brush is worth having for wool coats, tailored jackets and trousers. Use short, light strokes in the direction of the fabric. Brushing against the grain roughens the surface and can make pilling more obvious.
4. Fabric shaver
When lint is tangled up with small bobbles, a fabric shaver gives the cleanest finish. It trims raised pills and fuzz from the surface without cutting into the fabric beneath. Hold the garment taut with one hand and glide the shaver lightly over it in slow passes, without pressing down. Empty the lint compartment as it fills.
The Fridja f40 Fabric Shaver is designed for exactly this: it gently lifts bobbles and surface fuzz from knitwear, coats and upholstery, so well-loved pieces look newer for longer. Avoid using any shaver over embroidery, sequins, lace, loose threads or areas that are already damaged. For a closer look at how they perform, see how well fabric shavers really work.
5. Low-tack tape (emergencies only)
Masking tape wrapped sticky side out around your fingers will do in a pinch. Use low-tack tape and lift it away gently. Strong parcel tape can pull fibres from soft or brushed fabrics.
6. Vacuum for soft furnishings
For sofas, chairs and headboards, use the upholstery attachment on low suction and work methodically across the surface. For pet hair and stubborn fluff, loosen it first with a rubber glove or upholstery brush, then vacuum up the clumps. On velvet, brush very lightly in the direction of the pile.
Methods to avoid
- Razor blades, scissors or knives. They catch loops, cut holes and leave patches far more noticeable than the lint.
- Damp hands or cloths. Moisture makes lint cling harder and can leave marks on some fabrics.
- Shaving upholstery you are unsure about. Sofa fabrics are often backed or treated. Unless the manufacturer says it is suitable, stick to a brush, roller or vacuum.
Clean your dryer lint filter every time
Lint on clothes is annoying. Lint building up in a tumble dryer is a safety risk. Clearing the filter after every load improves airflow, helps clothes dry faster and reduces the chance of overheating.
Let the dryer cool, remove the filter as the manual describes, and peel the lint away by hand. Only rinse the filter if your manual recommends it, and make sure it is completely dry before refitting. Use a vacuum nozzle around the filter housing, taking care not to push lint further in, and never poke inside with a screwdriver or anything metal.
Keep an eye on the vent and outside outlet too. If drying takes longer than usual, the machine feels unusually hot, smells musty or leaves lint around the door seal, stop using it until the airflow has been checked. Long or hidden ducting may need a professional clean.
How to stop lint before it starts
The easiest lint to remove is the lint that never lands on your clothes:
- Sort by fabric, not just colour. Towels, fleece, fluffy socks and new cotton shed the most. Keep them away from dark T-shirts, activewear and shirts.
- Turn clothes inside out. It reduces friction on the outer surface and protects colour and texture.
- Do not overload the drum. Tightly packed clothes rub together and shed more fibres.
- Go easy on the heat. High dryer temperatures are hard on fibres over time. Air-dry delicates and use a lower setting where you can.
- Empty pockets. One forgotten tissue can cover a whole load in fluff.
Lint or pilling? Know the difference
Lint sits loosely on top of the fabric and brushes away. Pilling is different: short, broken fibres twist together into small balls that stay attached, usually where there is regular friction, such as under the arms, along the sides of a jumper or where a bag strap rubs.
A fabric shaver is the best way to remove pills, while gentler washing and giving knits a rest between wears help slow them down. Pilling does not automatically mean a garment is poor quality; natural fibres pill too. Our guide on how to remove bobbles from knitwear covers this in more detail.
A few minutes of care makes clothes look noticeably sharper and helps them last. Make lint removal part of your routine rather than a last-minute rescue, and the pieces you wear most will keep looking their best. Browse our fabric shavers to find the right tool for your wardrobe.