Clothes come out covered in lint after drying

Symptoms

• Visible lint stuck to dark or synthetic clothing
• More lint than usual on the lint filter itself
• Lint filter looks torn or has holes
• Problem worse with towels or fleece in the load

Likely causes

• CommonTorn or damaged lint filter screenA hole in the mesh lets lint pass through and redeposit onto clothes instead of collecting.
• CommonOverfull lint trap not cleaned before the loadA saturated filter has nowhere for new lint to go, so it settles back onto clothes.
• CommonMixing heavy lint producers with lint-attracting fabricsTowels, fleece, and chenille shed lint that clings to corduroy, fleece, or dark synthetic items.
• PossibleStatic cling pulling loose lint onto fabricDry air and synthetic fabrics increase static, which attracts stray lint.
• PossibleNew clothing shedding excess lint or fibersNew towels or fleece items shed heavily for the first several washes.

What to do

1. Clean the lint filter thoroughly before every load, not just occasionally.
2. Hold the lint filter up to a light to check for tears or thin spots that let lint through.
3. Replace the lint filter if it's torn or visibly damaged.
4. Sort loads to keep heavy lint producers like towels separate from dark or lint-attracting clothing.
5. Turn dark or delicate items inside out before drying to reduce visible lint pickup.
6. Add a dryer sheet or wool dryer balls to reduce static cling.
7. Wash new towels or fleece items several times before combining them with other laundry to reduce initial shedding.

Tools and parts

When to call a pro

This is typically a load-sorting and maintenance issue that doesn't require professional service.

Safety