Tissue + full load of laundry = fail

[yvi]

I think the subject line adequately describes what I have done at least 5 times in the last few weeks.

Another load of laundry with small white fluff all over it. Any tips on how to get rid of the stuff?

Comments

[jumpuphigh]

I usually just toss it in the dryer and the lint filter seems to grab most of it.

[yvi]

No dryer :/

[jumpuphigh]

:( In that case, I'd probably let everything dry, brush it off as best I can and then rewash.

[rydra_wong]

Use the "roll of sticky tape" trick as if you were trying to remove cat hair?

[yvi]

Also no cat, so could you explain that trick to me? :)

[uninvitedcat]

Get some sticky tape arranged so it's in a ring, but with the sticky side outwards. (I usually wrap it around my fingers) Then go over each item with the sticky, using it to pick up the bits of lint/fluff. You'll probably need to use several bits of tape to get the entire load cleaned.

I also left a tissue in a trouser pocket a few weeks ago. The entire load was really covered in bits! I let it dry, and then tried the sticky tape trick, but got bored as I was having to do insides and outsides and fronts and backs of shirts.

In the end, I just shoved the whole lot through the wash again, after I'd removed the biggest bits of lint. It seemed to work OK, but I shudder to think of what it's done to my washing machine innards!

[rydra_wong]

Basically:

Get some sticky tape/sellotape/masking tape/whatever.

Put your fingers together and make a loop of the tape round them with the sticky side on the outside.

Then pat your hand all over the garment, and the tape will pick up the fluff/cat hair/whatever.

When the tape loses its stick, replace it with fresh tape and keep patting.

[schnurble]

We use Scotch Fusselroller. It has sticky tape, and when it's used you can just remove one layer and then have a fresh next sticky layer. Works really well (better than the ones that you clean with water IMHO) and the stickyness is just right (not too strong, not too weak, and clothes friendly glue :o)

The most effect, however, has making it a fix part of your washing routine to check pockets for stuff before putting the laundry in the washing machine ;o)

[yvi]

The most effect, however, has making it a fix part of your washing routine to check pockets for stuff before putting the laundry in the washing machine ;o)

Heh, yeah. But I think you might imagine why I was kind of tired and absent-minded when coming home and washing the holiday-laundry yesterday evening. So frustrated when I saw the mess I had made :/

[schnurble]

*hugs*
It's amazing that you did the laundry at all right after your return. When we come home from travels, we usually only manage to unpack, washing won't start before the next weekend...

[yvi]

We basically cleaned the flat right before leaving, came back Monday and threw everything on the floor. But I can't relax very well when stuff is lying around, so I tidied and did the laundry right after coming back from the funeral, so I could relax for a few hours. While the boy cooked me dinner :)

And the laundry *was* pretty much the unpacking. Other than a few books everything we had with us needed to be thrown into the washing machine.

[ladysunflow]

That trick with sticky tape is pretty good, but if the tape's glue is too strong, it can damage the more delicate clothes.

I've had that unfortunate tissue+laudry accident happen to me more than once (argh), so I have one of those reusable slightly-sticky lint rollers, of the kind where you just clean the roller with water, and it works best when slightly moist.

But I realised I can get at least some of the lint/tissue off if I wet my hand, swipe it once or twice energetically over the garment, wash the lint off hand, repeat (ad infinitum). After you do that, set the washer for rinse+spin only and run the clothes a few times through that cycle.

[kathmandu]

If you have a lintbrush, you could try that.

[redsnake05]

A friend of mine swears by rewashing things with an old, dark coloured towel. I haven't tried it, but I am accustomed to wearing clothes that have that dandruff glow to them.