When you notice a lot of lint accumulating in your laundry room, the first thing to do is to figure out why it’s happening.
Is the dryer venting properly? Do you have enough filters on your vents? Did something change with the type of detergent that you are using?
The answer may be as simple or complicated as one of those, or it could be something else entirely.
Once you have determined the cause, take steps to fix it by cleaning out any clogged dryer vents and installing more filters if necessary.
There are a couple of reasons why there may be lint in your laundry room, and the first step is to determine what type of lint it is.
For example, if you have wool clothing, the fibers will produce more lint than cotton. Knowing which fabric produces more lint will help narrow down some potential remedies for your situation.
Anyone who has been doing laundry for a while knows that there is always some lint leftover from the dryer.
But it takes a lot of time and effort to clean up all the lint you can find, especially if your laundry room is big.
We will discuss why there’s so much lint in your laundry room and how to get rid of it
Why Your Laundry Room Is Covered In Lint?
1. Clogged Dryer Vent
One reason there’s a lot of lint in your laundry room is that the dryer vent might be clogged. This can happen over time as particles from the dryer vent accumulate, and it could be because you do not have enough filters on your vents or if obstructions are blocking the airflow coming out of the vent.
Clogged dryer vents can cause the dryer to take twice as long to dry clothes, which means it’s using more energy and creating excess lint.
In this case, you will want to use a vent brush or other long-reach tool to clear away any debris and lint that might be blocking the vent so air can flow freely.
A clogged dryer vent is a condition that happens when you use materials other than clothes for drying.
For example, suppose you have a habit of throwing a wet towel into your washing machine instead of hanging them up to dry or placing them directly into your Dryer.
In that case, you will be very familiar with this issue.
2. More Lint in the Dryer
Another reason there is excessive lint in your laundry room is that your dryer might be producing too much of it.
Dryers with excessively high lint levels may need service to assess the problem and possible repairs.
For example, if you notice a burning smell while running your dryer, then this could mean that excess lint has built upon the heating coils, and they are overheating – or maybe even catching fire!
This can also cause a decrease in energy efficiency and an increase in utility bills.
If you have noticed some damage to your dryer, such as the door being hard to close properly or won’t stay closed at all, then this can be another warning sign for excess lint build-up.
Also, if you have a condenser dryer, then it is possible that the lint filter is blocked and does not allow air to flow freely through the system.
In this case, you’ll want to clean out the lint filter before using your dryer again.
3. Excessive Lint from Your Washer
Another reason why there’s too much fuzz in your laundry room might be related to one of your washing machine components being defective or obstructed by foreign objects such as jewelry.
The exterior drum seal can catch loose pieces of fabric and hair, which can cause a blockage near the center of the tub.
If your washer spins at high speed, it can cause excess lint to be released into the air.
This is called “whirlpooling,” and you might have noticed that fluffy, white areas appear on top of your washing machine after doing laundry.
Tightening the filter will stop this from happening as often and periodically checking to make sure no foreign objects such as hair ties or coins are stuck inside the drum seal or filter that could cause future problems.
Another reason could be that if you use too much fabric softener or dryer sheets, these chemically treated sheets and liquid fabric softeners leave behind a thin coating of film on everything they contact (clothes, washing machines).
Over time, this film builds up and causes a white lint residue to appear on your clothes.
If this is the case, then you’ll want not to use fabric softener when washing your clothes or you can run a load without any detergent for rinsing purposes only.
Also, make sure you place a small amount of liquid dishwashing soap in the wash cycle instead of fabric softener or dryer sheets next time around.
4. Dirty Dryer Vent Filter
Another reason there’s too much fuzz in your laundry room is that the filter on your dryer vent is dirty and needs to be cleaned out.
Many owners forget about their dryer vent filter, which probably explains why it has so much lint build-up.
Depending on the location of your dryer vent, you may want to clean out the filter every three months or so because dust and lint can quickly accumulate – especially if it’s near a window or door which is constantly being opened and closed allowing for more dirt to get in.
Just take a look at how dirty this one is! If you’re not sure where your dryer vent filter is, check your owner’s manual for help locating it.
If you have a long dryer vent, you’ll also want to make sure that the hose doesn’t kink anywhere along its length, which would block airflow and reduce energy efficiency.
You can purchase a flexible metal dryer vent kit or replace your existing one with a shorter, more manageable one.
If your filter is clean, but you still see lint on top of your washing machine or around the dryer itself, then it’s probably time to invest in a new dryer vent hose because it could be blocked with excess debris.
5. Excessive Lint behind Dryer
Another reason why there’s too much lint in your laundry room is that the dryer itself might be the cause of increased lint build-up.
This usually happens when longer clothing items are dried by hanging them over or besides the door opening, where extra lint gets inside the drum and stays there once clothes are removed from hangers.
You can easily remedy this problem by simply moving hangers closer to the drum center and moving the dryer away from the walls.
By doing so, you’ll avoid having garments touch the sides of the dryer or falling over the opening, which could cause more lint to get inside.
If your clothes still have a lot of lint once they’re removed from hangers, then it’s probably a good idea to clean out your dryer vent filter.
Another reason why excess fuzz build-up might be occurring is because instead of using dryer sheets or fabric softener, you use liquid dishwashing soap when washing your laundry – this leaves behind a residue that causes extra lint to appear on your clothes.
If this is the case, try switching back to fabric softener or dryer sheets instead to see if this solves your problem.
6. Wrong Detergent Type
Finally, another reason why you might have too much fuzz in your laundry room is that you’re using the wrong detergent type or concentration when washing clothes.
Nowadays, there are multiple detergents available such as powder and liquid, so it’s essential to make sure you select the right one for your specific machine/need.
If you live in a hard water area, you’ll want to use powdered detergents because they dissolve better than liquid types and prevent residue build-up on fibers, resulting in less lint and static cling.
However, if you live in an area with soft water, then powdered soap can leave behind a film on clothing fibers, leading to increased lint, so it’s best to select liquid detergents instead.
There are also concentrated types of powdered laundry soap that are dispensed into the machine without measuring – pour, close, and start.
The recommended amount is listed on the label, but you can always use more if your clothing looks dull or feels stiff after washing – this option leaves less residue behind, which means less fuzz in your dryer vent filter.
Finally, if you have a high efficiency washing machine, then using too much detergent or liquids will cause problems because they won’t dissolve properly, leaving behind residue inside the drum, which gets released during subsequent loads resulting in extra lint on clothing.
If you continue to see excessive lint, try using less detergent or switch to powdered formula.
How to Clean Lint Out Of a Washing Machine
1. Vacuum the Discharge Hose
After doing all of the above, you’ll probably have less lint in your filter, but enough will remain that it’s visible to the naked eye.
Fortunately, this extra fuzz can be easily removed by using a vacuum cleaner on your dryer vent hose – disconnect it from the machine and attach the hose attachment to the extension pipe or crevice tool so you can reach inside.
You might have to remove screws first, which are often located near the hose opening on top of your washing machine.
2. Vacuum Lint From Inside Your Dryer
The next step is to get rid of lint trapped inside your dryer drum itself.
To do this, start by pulling out as much lint from your filter as possible with a vacuum hose, then disconnect the dryer hose and attach its end to a vacuum cleaner hose instead.
Next, carefully insert the nozzle of your vacuum into the drum opening and direct it upwards towards the top front edge where lint is likely to build up more because this is where fresh air enters during each cycle.
Keep in mind that you don’t want any part of the nozzle to touch clothing or other objects inside your dryer – if it does get stuck inside, detach the nozzle from the extension pipe before removing it.
How Do I Stop My Dryer Lint From Going Everywhere?
1. Get a Wet-Dry Vac
If you’re finding that your dryer lint filter is still filled to the brim even after following all of these steps, then it might be time to invest in a wet-dry vac.
These appliances are specifically designed to suck up water and other liquids and large pieces of debris – they can also be used to remove fuzz from clothing, furniture, carpet, car interiors, and more.
2. Hire a Handyman for Laundry Room Maintenance
Find yourself on the unfortunate end of dealing with every kind imaginable of lint or fuzz-covered objects.
Hiring someone might make more sense than purchasing additional appliances because the job requires expertise (and probably protective gear) which can be hard to find.
3. Connect Your Dryer to a Vent Hood
If you’ve done everything in your power but lint still manages to escape during each cycle, then it might be time to buy a vent hood for your laundry room.
These appliances are designed specifically to reduce the risk of fires and other health hazards related to dryer lint by venting fumes outside instead of inside – they’re also easy to install because all you have to do is connect them directly into the back of your appliance.
4. Check Your Dryer’s Vent System
If you’re sure that your vent system is clean and free of kinks, but lint still manages to get stuck up there, then take a look at the connection between your appliance and wall.
If it’s loose or not securely attached, then you might need to re-tighten it or even replace the hose if wear and tear has damaged its inner lining (which commonly occurs over time).
How Do I Get Rid Of Fuzz On Clothes?
1. Use Less Detergent
If you’re still seeing some fuzz, then you might want to look into switching to a powdered formula that doesn’t contain any chemicals that can leave residue after they’re dissolved by water.
In addition, make sure not to overload your machine with clothes because this increases the risk of lint building up in its interior over time.
2. Clean Dryer Lint Filter
Even though you’ll likely continue using fabric softener if you have one, it’s recommended to clean your dryer lint filter before running another load to be safe.
3. Use Fabric Softener Sheets
If you want to target fuzz, then the best solution is usually to use sticky fabric softener sheets (or even regular paper/cardboard), which can pick up excess fibers at a time, especially if combined with a vacuum cleaner.
Place them inside your dryer and run it on high heat with no clothes for ten minutes or until they become fully saturated – this should also help remove any lingering odors from previous loads.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it – reasons why your laundry room is filling up with lint. Suppose you’ve tried using less detergent and still don’t see any improvements.
In that case, it’s probably time to check your dryer vent because the excess fuzz can block airflow resulting in reduced efficiency, which means higher utility bills.
So, while your washer and dryer are both working hard to provide you with clean clothes, a lot is going on behind the scenes that you probably don’t think about.
Using the guidelines above will help you troubleshoot various problems that can occur regarding excessive lint build-up.
In addition, it’s important always to check your dryer vent filter and hose regularly since they play a significant role in preventing big problems such as an increased risk of fire and decreased energy efficiency.
Is there so much lint in your laundry room? Taking these steps will help towards proper home maintenance which is always beneficial.