Excessive lint/dust on clothes after washing

[Lily]

Hello everyone,
I'm a desperate woman suffering from excessive lint/dust with my laundry as the title suggest and here is the story in short hoping i'd get some help.

I've basically been doing laundry all my life. Since early teenage years, it was my responsibility so one could say i know how to do laundry. When my boyfriend and i moved in together, we had a complete empty flat "a brand new one, we were the first tenants". The first hing we've purchased were the essentials, fridge, an LG washing machine, and a bed. this is when the nightmare started, i would see (purplish color) lint on the corners of the floor. Initially i thought this was from the central Air condition and our apartment turned into a construction site. 3 months later the landlord finally agreed to move us to another apartment.

The problem stayed. Black clothes will come out of the washing machine with white lint on them, and white ones with the purplish lint on them. We changed our brand new bed thinking it was the reason since the body was made of velvet and got a wooden one. problem was still rocking on. Finally decided it could be the washing machine itself. Returned the LG and purchased a brand new Siemens washing machine... And yes, the problem stayed.. i thought okay, this could be from the water so i purchased a water filter for the washing machine which obviously led to no change. a year later when our contract was over i was happy we were moving to another apartment, one with balcony so i could line my clothes outside and things get better.

Another year later and i am still suffering from this problem, my clothes are looking very dull, very rough and extremely worn out. they're also stating to get a bit transparent too!  so the only thing i cant think of is that the machine is shredding the clothes. I've tried doing laundry on gentle cycle, or using 600-800 spin speed with the result being the same. I've tried all kinds of detergents, all kinds of softeners, vinegar and what not. Has anyone experienced this? or heard of someone who went through this? any kind of help is appreciated please

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Hello Lily. If changing the washing machine made no difference it is very reasonable to assume it has nothing to do with the washing machine. Lint normally comes off laundry, especially from towels and sheets. Is the colour of the lint the same as any of your towels or sheets? Lint should pump out with the water.

Trying to get to the bottom of a problem involves process of elimination. So the first things to discount are overloading, and/or a partially blocked pump filter. If the washing machine is overloaded then the lint that comes away during wash can get trapped in folds of the laundry and not get pumped away. If there is excessive lint in the washing machine I would expect the pump filter to be virtually blocked up by now. The first thing I would do is check the pump filter if it has one Washing Machine Pump Filter

Make sure you are not overloading the washing machine - Loading a washing machine

also check out the following articles in case there is any help there Whites coming out of washing machine grey, coloureds losing their colour | White streaks on laundry after washing

[Lily]

Hello Andy,

Thank you for your reply. My washing machine is a 9 kg one, and i never ever overload. Because of the excessive lint problem, i started sorting the clothes in a way that i am sure no one does. Here are an example of my laundry sorting.  

1- Black cotton tshirts, i put around 5-6 of them on the 30 minutes wash 

2- American eagle polo tshirts (separated colors in different loads) 

3- Boxers alone 

4- Socks alone 

and so on, you get how crazy it's been going. 

With regards to the lint color, it's purplish/grayish/blue, which is the color one would get if they mix most colours 
 

I did run several runs without any load, the pump filter is cleaned weekly and it's not blocked. many clothes are thinning out, for example, many of my husbands white tshirts are transparent now!  I even tried running loads on slower spin speed (600) but nothing.  Even gambled and went ahead to purchase a condensed dryer that was super expensive of which took the lint on the surface away but when you shake the garment, you still see dust like fluff flying away. Here are some pictures. I have tried uploading a video but apparently i couldn't

 

*Edit: Many said that we were just unlucky and gotten a manufacturing defect twice. Could this be the case? 

 

Edited February 4, 2019 by Lily
Update note

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

It's extremely unlikely that you could get 2 different washing machines with exactly the same very rare and unusual fault. I would not use the 30 minute wash. 30 minutes is nowhere near long enough to wash rinse and spin laundry properly. Are you using the correct amount of detergent? I would try making sure that you put laundry on the specific wash cycle that is advised on each items wash label. And use good quality detergent making sure that you use the exact amount that is recommended on the detergent packet. Bearing in mind what level of water hardness you have and the level of soiling. The detergent is important for cushioning the laundry during the wash with soap suds. If you are not using enough detergent maybe the laundry is being subjected to more rubbing action during the wash.

[Lily]

Hi Andy! I think it maybe the 30 minutes cycle then, however i only use it when it's a 2-3 item. Will let you know the outcome in couple of weeks

[George Sha]

Hi Lily!

You are almost describing my case. It started a year a go for us. Changed the washing machine with no success. Also tried everything one can imagine. Nothing helped.

I found you post and really hoping that you tell me if your problem was solved and what you did to solve it. 

We have a 10 months old baby and am worried about him with all the “dust” in the apartment.

Thanks in advance

George

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

If they are washer dryers you can get lint from the dryer parts on top of the outer drum especially if the dryer isn't used much.

[Emma Roberts]

Did you find out what’s causing it? I have the same problem 

[alexjnr87]

I have exactly the same problem now.. only the last few months.

When I shake my clothes, you can see lots af white stuff float in the air.. which can be seen more clearly if the sun is shining through the window in such a way. 

I've bought a new hoover, washing maching etc even bought an air purifier, 3 in fact, set up all over my house! Its driving me insane!! 

Ive just bought a hard water testing kit, see what that comes back and says as I read it may be due to hard water (whatever that is) 

Just clutching at straws now. 

I'm beginning to think every single piece of my clothes are effected and will never be able to get rid of it.

When I take my jumper off for example at my friends or whatever and see all the stuff swirling around in the air, it's so embarrassing  and looks like I'm so dirty when it's the complete opposite..  

 

Find I've been cleaning my house 2 times a day, its became an obsession as I've tried almost everything! 

Hopefully, if once my hard water tests come and it's the water at least I can deal with it. If it's not.. I'm back to square one, joining forms all over the place lol 

 

I'll update this in next couple of days and let who ever is reading know a possible solution to their problem. 

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Hi Alex. Is this a washer dryer? And if so how often do you use the dryer part?

[alexjnr87]

It's not a washer dryer, no. I had a beko (6kg) then got another one at 9kg. I did have a condenser dryer, but only for a few days as sent it back as I thought that was the problem... unfortunately,  it wasn't lol I'm in the stage now where I feel like, I need to reset and think back where this wasnt happening lol (if that makes sense) and go back to that 

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Ah, I was expecting it to be a washer dryer and you didn't use the dryer bit as I know that washer dryers can accumulate a lot of lint in the dryer parts above the drum. 

It's difficult to see where that dust can come from because as you know the washing machine is usually wet through inside. The offending articles could be coming down onto the laundry during the spin cycle, either that or somehow they are suspended in the water.

The first thing I would do is make sure you do regular maintenance washes and do a few right away if you don't already do them. Full details here Maintenance washes - get rid of smells and gunge

Another thing I would do is make sure that you don't wash only at very low temperatures, especially 30° as this can result in a big build up of horrible grease grime and limescale If washing at 30 degrees here are 5 things you need to know

Then there is overloading. Ensure that washing machine is not overloaded as this can cause dirt and debris to get trapped inside folds of laundry. By this I don't mean hardly put any in, is perfectly okay to "fill" drum, it's just that some people fit it a bit too much loading a washing machine

Finally I would make sure that I use really good quality washing machine detergent (not liquid detergent) and that you use the full amount of detergent as described on the packaging for the level of soiling and the hardness of your water. This is very important because if you do not use enough detergent then lots of the dirt from the laundry can stay on the laundry and not get rinsed away. 

Essentially I'm looking at this from the point of view of the laundry is not getting cleaned properly, so please read all of the articles carefully in order to eliminate every possibility including this one laundry not clean after washing

 

[Louise1305]

Hiya,

I’m wondering if anyone discovered a solution for this issue? I am currently having the same problem with my clothes. They are absolutely covered in lint, they emit so much lint all over my house I am forever dusting. My cloths that I wash in my machine can’t be used for cleaning because they just leave lint over every surface. I am at breaking point with it now.😩

[Emma Roberts]

I having the exactly same problem and I have tried everything! Please say that someone has a solution 

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Make sure you try all the suggestions in my last reply. 

[Emma Roberts]

I have tried everything literally, my clothes are like in the video posted early on, I even brought a new washing machine but still the same problem. Samsung won’t do anything. I put a new item of clothing on it’s own to wash and it comes out dusty! Surely that’s the washing machine. I’m so desperate, I have two young children and I’m worried about our health long term as well it’s embarrassing. 

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

2 minutes ago, Emma Roberts said:

I even brought a new washing machine but still the same problem

When you got the new washing machine did the problem still occur straight away or did it stop the problem for a short while but start again after a few weeks/months?

 

[Emma Roberts]

Just one day with my old washing, the clothes came out dusty and I don’t know what I’ve put in and the problem stayed and the first wash with my new one. I wash per labels, I clean the washing machine weekly, and the lint filter. Tried every possible liquid, powder, white vinegar, soda crystals. 

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

That’s surprising. If it still happened on the first wash with a new washing machine I can’t see how it could be the washing machine other than something related to how it is used or plumbed in. 

Were they the same brand or different brand?

 

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Also, how are they dried? 

[Emma Roberts]

Same brand. I use a tumble dryer but they still come out dusty at our local laundrette. It only removes the white lint on the black clothes.  

[Emma Roberts]

Do you think it’s hard water? Am I doing something wrong when washing? It’s like the dust is stuck to the clothes, the dust coming off the clothes is so much worse after a drum clean 

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

On 27/12/2021 at 20:00, Emma Roberts said:

Do you think it’s hard water? Am I doing something wrong when washing? It’s like the dust is stuck to the clothes, the dust coming off the clothes is so much worse after a drum clean 

It has to be something other than a fault on the washing machine Emma. If it’s the same in three different washing machines. This is covered in one of the links in my previous reply that I mentioned. You need to make sure you use the right amount of detergent (not liquid) for the hardness of your water. 
 

Most people think the amount specified is too much but it isn’t. If you don’t use enough then you get things re deposited on laundry. Also don’t use quick washes or low temperature washes unless the fabric demands it. 
 

If it doesn’t fix the problem you’ll at least have eliminated one of the possibilities. 

[Emma Roberts]

What’s the best powder detergent? Someone said to only use liquid. Do you only use detergent? I feel like it’s ruining my life 

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Liquid detergent is rubbish. It’s a pointless invention. It doesn’t contain bleaching agents so especially if you combine it with mostly low temperature washes it ruins washing machines by allowing a horrible build of of grease and gunge inside the washing machine. 
 

Again this is covered in the links in my last long reply that I mentioned so please read it all and all the articles linked in it. 
 

Heres another which is best type of washing machine detergent

My wife uses Surf powdered detergent which is good but any of the famous brands of proper powdered detergent should be good. Find out how hard your water is - or if you already know it’s hard just use the amount that the package advises to use. It’s usually a lot more than people use if they just use their judgment.