Lint from sweatpants in the rest of the wash

Short answer: Lint from sweatpants comes from loose fibres in the soft fabric that come away and settle on other clothes in the machine. Wash sweatpants on their own or with similar items, turn them inside out, and shake them out before drying.

Why sweatpants shed lint

Sweatpants are often knitted with a soft, lightly brushed inside, where short fibres lie loose on the surface. When the garment rubs in the machine, some of them come away and gather as lint. It is completely normal, especially in the first washes, and it does not mean the garment is poorly made.

Sort by fabric type

The most important rule is to wash loose, linting clothes with others that do the same. Dark sweatpants do not belong with black clothes, where the lint shows, nor with smooth fabrics, where it clings. So sort by fabric type and not only by colour, and you get a cleaner result.

Turn the garment inside out

When you turn sweatpants inside out, it is the soft inside that rubs against the drum, and the outside is spared the friction. The lint is caught more easily in the filter and the drum instead of settling on other items. Close all cords and pockets so nothing hangs out and pulls at the fabric during the wash.

Do not overfill the drum

If the machine is packed, the lint cannot be rinsed away properly and gets pressed into the laundry. Leave room for the water to move freely between the pieces. A gentle program and an extra rinse can help if you often get lint, and that also protects the shape of the clothes.

Remove lint from affected clothes

If other clothes have already become linty, you can take the lint off with a lint roller or a soft brush. Shake the garment out well first, then remove the rest by hand. Do not wash again before the lint is gone, because the heat in the tumble dryer can bake it into the fibres.

Clean the machine and the filter

The lint filter and the rubber seal of the machine collect part of what falls off. Empty the filter regularly and wipe the seal so nothing builds up for the next wash. Run an empty hot wash now and then if the manufacturer recommends it, especially after washing bamboo sweatpants for men.

Drying and finishing

Dry sweatpants on low heat or lying flat, and shake them out before they go in the wardrobe. That way they lose some of the loose fibres before you put them on. The same goes for thicker tops such as a bamboo hoodie for men, which also has a soft inside and can shed lint in the same way.

Think about the socks

Many forget that small items such as socks pick up lint quickly, because they are smooth and dense. Wash them in a laundry bag or with other smooth clothes. You can see a selection among bamboo socks, which should not go in the same wash as linting sweatpants.

Frequently asked questions

Is lint a sign of poor quality?

Not necessarily. Soft, brushed fabric sheds loose fibres, especially the first times you wash it. The lint is normal and usually lessens the more often the garment has been washed.

Should sweatpants be washed on their own?

It is a good idea, especially for the first washes. If you wash them with other things, choose similar soft fabrics that shed lint themselves, and avoid black and smooth clothes.

How do I get lint off clothes afterwards?

Use a lint roller or a soft brush when the clothes are dry. Shake them out well first, and do not wash again until the lint has been removed.

See our range of bamboo sweatpants.