"Linting" and "Pilling" and Why They Happen to Clothes Lint is small fibers of certain fabric that have broken off during wear or laundering. Some lint will always be created by the washing process. However, the majority of lint that is produced during washing is trapped by lint filters on the washer and flushed down the drain during the spin portion of the cycle. The amount of lint produced is dependent on the type of material. However, no fabric produces enough lint to cause problems in septic tank systems or other on-site water disposal systems. Pilling is a characteristic of manufactured fibers such as polyester, acrylic, and nylon. Abrasion from normal wear causes the fibers to unravel and the loose ends ball up on the fabric surface. The looser the fibers are spun, the more likely the fabric will pill. Linting Lint is easily brushed off fabrics unlike residue or pilling. Excessive lint is usually due to reasons other than the washer design or a mechanical malfunction. However, low water pressure or improper draining can increase lint. Check the following: Water Pressure As the washer is filling observe the water pressure when hot and cold are selected. If one seems to have less pressure, check the fill hoses for kinks and the screens in the hoses for sediment build up. Draining Check the pump-out on your washer: After the washer has filled to the maximum water level, manually advance the dial to the final "spin." Start timing at the beginning of the spin, wait 90 seconds and then open the lid to see if all the water is drained out. If there is water remaining in the tub, there may be a drain restriction (kink in the drain hose, improper washer installation, etc.) which may need to be checked by an authorized service technician. In a front load washer, check for a pinched or kinked drain hose. To Remove Lint Relaunder the garments using proper laundry procedures. Dryer dry if possible. If the lint is not entirely removed, use a lint brush to remove the remaining lint. Mistaken For Lint Residue - Residue is a white substance left on the clothes at the end of the wash cycle. It is not easily brushed off and over time clothing colors may become dull. Residue has many causes: using granular detergents in cold water, overloading, misuse of fabric softener and not adjusting detergent amount to fit water hardness. Detergent amount is decreased in soft water. (See "Laundry - Residue" for further information.) Pilling Pilling is commonly found on socks, sweaters, slacks, shirt collars and cuffs, around pockets or on any area subjected to abrasion. Since manufactured fibers are very strong, the pills do not break off completely and can be difficult to remove. In addition, lint can become enmeshed in the balls of fiber which makes the pilling appear more obvious. Natural fibers like cotton, linen, or wool may pill but the balls of fiber are usually removed during laundering. The lint that results is usually rinsed away at the end of the wash cycle. However, some of the lint from these natural fibers can be picked up by items that attract lint if they are washed or dried in the same load.