Keep lint away from your clothes
The wool or knit sweater you love is ruined with clothes bobbling after just a few uses! Learn how to prevent the appearance of these unwanted pilling cotton sheets and how to eliminate them.
by Margarida Gamboa
How to prevent the appearance of lint?
. The first point starts with the purchase. When you buy new clothes you should look at the label of the composition. The greater the amount of natural fibers, the more care you have to take. If natural fibers, such as wool or cashmere, are warmer and more comfortable, they are also the ones that will require more care as they easily get pilling fibers. You can choose clothes with a small percentage of viscose or polyamide. This way they will last a little longer without flaw, without losing too much softness.. Try it out before you buy. Some knitted sweaters prick or itch. So it is important that you experiment to see if you feel good.
. Always wash with cold water. Ideally wash these clothes by hand, rinsing with cold water. If this is not possible, also wash with cold water in the washing machine, without centrifugation.
. Machine wash very carefully. Do not mix with other fabrics, as lint arise from friction between fabrics. And don't overfill the machine for the same reason. Always wash your clothes inside out and you can add ¼ cup of white vinegar to the wash, as the vinegar helps prevent it from sticking easily.
. Store in the wardrobe. The most sensitive items should be stored in the wardrobe, hanging from a hanger, turned inside out. Do not fold and store in drawers.
How to eliminate lint?
. Use the razor blade. It is one of the easiest and simplest tricks to apply. Use a razor blade to cut lint. But be careful! It's easy to put a little more pressure on and have a hole in your clothes.. The traditional duct tape. A classic when trying to get rid of pilling. Wrap the tape in your hand, with the adhesive part out, and go pasting and peeling off the clothes in order to grab the bubbles (this is also a great technique for removing hair or fabric threads from the clothes). Today there are also rolls with glue, a faster way to use this same technique.
. A new use for the dish sponge. We talk about the dish sponge which is yellow on one side and green on the other. Use the green part of the sponge dry, the roughest.
. Scissors for specific cases. When there are cases of very large lint, you can even start here and use scissors to cut the largest ones. Another tool that also applies to large lint is the fine comb (and very useful, for example, when traveling).
. The nail file and the pumice stone are also allies. The nail file is great for smaller pilling (and also easy to apply when traveling as the nail file travels normally in the case). Be careful with the force you apply, so as not to damage the clothing. Pumice stone also has a similar use.
. Use the velcro strap. An option for more delicate items. Apply the strip and remove it quickly to remove as many pilling.
. The electric pusher is the “must have” to have at home. Very easy to buy in supermarkets or appliance stores, it is a small and inexpensive device that makes the process of removing lint easier and faster.
