Lint on clothes after drying usually means the dryer can't trap or push lint out the way it should: the lint screen is full or torn, the vent is restricted, or lint-shedding fabrics are drying with fabrics that attract lint. Sometimes the lint actually comes from the washer, so check clothes before they go in the dryer.
Quick diagnosis
| Symptom | Likely cause | First thing to try |
|---|---|---|
| Lint everywhere, screen packed | Screen not cleaned between loads | Clean it before every load |
| Lint even with a clean screen | Torn mesh or gaps around the screen frame | Inspect the screen and replace it if damaged |
| Fuzz balls stuck to synthetics | Pilling from friction and high heat | Turn those clothes inside out and dry on lower heat |
| Clothes linty coming out of the washer | Tissue in a pocket or washer not rinsing well | Check pockets and clean the washer's filter if it has one |
| Lint mostly on dark clothes | Dark synthetics dried with towels | Sort loads by fabric type |
| Screen looks clean but water beads on it | Invisible film from dryer sheets | Wash the screen in warm, soapy water and let it dry |
A closer look
The lint screen and its housing
The screen catches most lint, but only if it's intact and seated. A small tear or a bent frame lets lint pass. Lint also builds up in the slot the screen slides into. Vacuum that slot with a crevice tool, and don't push lint deeper. Dryer sheets can leave a waxy film on the mesh that you can't see; if water poured on the screen pools instead of passing through, wash it.
Weak exhaust airflow
Fine lint that slips past the screen is supposed to leave with the exhaust. If the duct is partly blocked, slow air lets some of it settle back on the load. With the dryer running, you should feel a strong push of air at the outside cap.
The washer
A load can leave the washer already linty. Tissues and paper in pockets are the classic cause. An overloaded washer or one that isn't draining well can redeposit lint, and some washers have a lint or drain pump filter that needs cleaning.
The fabric mix
Towels, fleece, flannel and new cotton shed a lot of lint. Dark synthetics, corduroy and anything with static attract it. Drying them together guarantees lint on the darks.
Who runs into this most
Large households running back-to-back loads, homes with long vent runs, and anyone who dries towels and dark clothes in the same load.
Prevention checklist
- •Clean the lint screen every load
- •Wash the screen every couple of months if you use dryer sheets
- •Vacuum the screen slot regularly
- •Empty pockets before washing
- •Dry towels and lint-shedders separately
Time to call a pro
- •Lint keeps showing up with a new screen and clean vent
- •Lint is collecting inside the dryer cabinet or around the door
- •The door seal is torn or the screen housing is cracked
- •You smell scorching or the dryer feels unusually hot
Travis's rule of thumb: If the screen is clean and lint still shows up, follow the air. Lint goes where the airflow fails.
Lint inside the cabinet or a damaged screen housing is a job for our dryer repair page, or call (832) 552-1615. Roof-vented and dripping too? Read why water drips from a dryer vent.