If you have lint on your dress, it could ruin an otherwise very elegant look - especially if the dress is dark in color. Read on to learn how to get rid of this annoying and unsightly problem with a few simple methods, so that your appearance is always as perfect as you would like.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Abrasive and Adhesive Techniques
Step 1. Purchase a lint roller
You can find it in any supermarket between the shelves of laundry products, but also in fabric stores or in those that sell animals. Remove the protective film that wraps the tube and slide it over the dress. Make an up and down motion. As you scrub the fabric, you will find that the roller becomes less and less sticky. When this happens, peel off the first layer of adhesive film to use the new one underneath. Continue like this until you have removed all the fluff from the dress.
- When you have finished all the adhesive films on the roll, you can simply buy a replacement roll or buy a new roll directly.
- There are also reusable lint rollers. They are constructed of a sticky gel-like material that lifts lint. When the gel gets dirty, just wash it with soap and water and wait for it to dry.
Step 2. Build one yourself
You need a roll of wide duct tape and a rolling pin. Unroll some masking tape and place it on one end of the rolling pin. Make sure the sticky side of the tape is facing you and the smooth side facing the rolling pin. Wrap the ribbon very carefully around the instrument, forming a spiral, just like candy sticks, and check that each coil overlaps the previous one slightly. When you reach the other end of the rolling pin you can cut the scotch tape. The duct tape should stick on its own, but if it doesn't, you can pin it to the rolling pin with another small piece of scotch tape.
To use this homemade tool, just roll it over the dress. Grab it by the handles and slide it over the fabric until you have wiped off all the lint
Step 3. Wrap some very large packing tape around your hand
Cut a segment of it; it must be twice as long as your palm is wide. Open your hand with your fingers joined together and wrap it with tape, taking care to leave the sticky side out. Finally overlap the ends to secure the tape. Lightly pat the garment with your fingers. When the tape loses its adhesive power, rotate it around your hand until the soiled area is on the back of your fingers. Continue blotting the fabric with the cleaned area of duct tape.
Step 4. Use a strip of scotch tape
Get some wide duct tape and cut a strip a few inches long. Lay the sticky side down on the lint-covered fabric. Make sure the tape follows the direction of the fabric texture (usually from top to bottom). Rub the surface of the tape to smooth it completely and then tear it off.
The greater the width of the tape, the more surface you will be able to treat. Get one that's about 5cm wide
Step 5. Consider purchasing an electric lint remover, or shaver
This is a battery powered device that you can slide over fabrics to remove lint. Turn on the lint remover, place its head on the dress and pass it over the entire surface to be treated. When you're done, open the lint compartment and throw its contents in the trash.
Step 6. Rub the pumice stone on sweatshirts and fleece clothing
With this method you can also remove the balls that form on the wool. Remember to always follow the direction of the weave of the fabric and not the perpendicular one. Also try not to be too aggressive and don't insist on the same area for too long. The pumice stone peels off the top layer of the fabric, if you rub the same area too long, it will form a hole.
- Do not try this method on wool and cotton, even on delicate or shiny fabrics, such as silk and satin.
- Most of the fluff will be dragged to the bottom of the dress. At this point you can use duct tape or the lint roller to get rid of it completely.
- Lay the dress on the surface of a table or tablecloth to make it easier to clean up any fluff residue.
Step 7. Try using Velcro to get rid of the lint
Buy a roll of this material and cut a piece of it as long as your palm is wide. Take the rough side, the one with the hooks, and set the soft side aside. Rub the velcro on the dress in a top-down motion. The fluff will accumulate at the bottom of the dress, where you can peel it off with the roller or duct tape.
Step 8. Use a clean razor blade to "shave" the fiber balls
This method is very effective especially for removing the lint that is stuck deep between the fibers. Take the blade and rest it on the top end of the dress. Gently drag it down a few inches. You can now lift it up and shake it to remove any lint that has accumulated. Continue to drag the blade across the fabric, stopping occasionally to clean it.
If you don't have an electric lint remover, a cheap alternative is a single-blade razor. Place it on the fabric maintaining a certain inclination, in order to eliminate the fluff from the surface; be careful not to cut and ruin the dress
Step 9. Use a damp abrasive sponge
Wet it with water and then squeeze it to remove excess moisture, then rub the abrasive part of the sponge on the fabric. Always move from top to bottom, working one section at a time.
Method 2 of 3: Alternative Techniques
Step 1. Use a clothes brush to remove the lint
This tool looks like a regular hairbrush, but instead of bristles it has a soft swab. The surface of this pad has a texture similar to that of the soft part of the velcro. Just scrub the dress with this brush moving from top to bottom. If any residue remains on the bottom of the garment, you can remove it with a lint roller or a piece of scotch tape.
Step 2. Remove lint with a sheet of dryer fabric softener
This is able to eliminate static electricity that attracts lint to the fabric.
Step 3. Remove lint and animal hair with a rubber glove
Wear a rubber glove; the one for washing dishes is fine. Rub the entire dress in the direction of the hem. The animal hair and fluff will remain attached to the glove. As you proceed with this operation, the lint accumulates in one place; you can peel them off with glove or adhesive tape and roller.
Step 4. Try an old nylon knee-high or pantyhose
Put your hand in the sock, as if it were a glove. Make sure your toes reach the gusset on the toe of the knee-high. Rub your hand lightly on the dress and the lint will adhere to the knee-high or pantyhose.
Step 5. Wash the garment one more time, but without detergent
If you notice that the dress is full of fluff after washing in the washing machine, immediately put it back in the appliance and start a new cycle. For this second wash do not use any soap. Finally take it out of the washing machine and shake it to get rid of any residue. Put it in the dryer normally.
Method 3 of 3: Prevent Fluff from Sticking to Clothes
Step 1. Recognize lint-shedding items of clothing and wash them separately
Some fabrics such as chenille, towel terry and flannel are more likely than others to shed lint during washing. Once you have recognized the "culprit" of your problem, wash it yourself on the next wash. This way you don't want your other clothes to be stuffed with lint.
Step 2. Learn which clothes attract lint and wash them yourself
Other fabrics, such as velvet and corduroy, attract lint more than others. It pays to wash them alone or at least without the clothes that tend to shed lint.
If you can't do separate laundry, then turn the lint-attracting clothes inside out before putting them in the washing machine
Step 3. Add 60ml of white vinegar to the wash
This product removes lint from clothes and prevents them from sticking excessively.
The vinegar also deodorizes the laundry
Step 4. Check that your clothes pockets are empty before loading the washing machine
Some items, such as paper tissues, are destroyed in the washing machine and dryer, making the lint problem worse. Always check that the pockets are empty, with no pieces of fabric, paper or handkerchiefs.
Step 5. Try to remove lint before washing
If an item of clothing is covered with a lot of lint, try cleaning it with a sticky roller before putting it in the washing machine. If you don't, the lint will stick to the rest of the laundry.
Step 6. Clean the inside of the washing machine after washing clothes that tend to shed
When washing a fabric that you know is problematic, remember to always clean the drum at the end of the cycle using a clean cloth. If you don't do this, any fluff residue could stick to the clothes from the next wash.
Step 7. Shake your clothes after washing them before putting them in the dryer
Take each dress and shake it vigorously before putting it in the dryer, this will get rid of any residue that may be left on the fabric.
Step 8. Remember to put some fabric softener sheets in the dryer
For a small load, half a sheet is sufficient, but if the appliance is full, use a whole one. The dryer produces static electricity, which is what causes lint to adhere to fabrics.
Step 9. Clean the lint filter after each drying cycle
When you open the dryer, you should see a tray mounted inside the door or inside the drum itself. If your model foresees it, pull out the tray and shake it over the garbage can to remove the lint from the filter. If the tray is not removable, remove the lint with your fingers, otherwise it will transfer to the next load.
Step 10. Air dry the clothes
Dryers collect a lot of lint and, if not cleaned regularly, transfer the lint to clothing that will be placed later. Drying in the open air reduces this phenomenon. The wind also helps to detach any residue. You can hang your laundry on a line or on a drying rack.
Sunlight and fresh air kill any bacteria that cause bad odors, leaving your clothes fresh and fragrant
Warnings
- When you decide to use abrasive tools such as a pumice stone, a razor blade or a sponge, you should always test a hidden area of the fabric first. If you find that the tool is ruining the garment, then you need to switch to a more gentle method, such as duct tape.
- If you've tried all the methods recommended in this tutorial, but there are still some lint on your clothes, then take them to a dry cleaner for a professional treatment.
