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excess lint from washer

16 years ago

I have a new Whirlpool washer, top load. The dark clothes, especially fleece and knit are covered with fine lint. I have to de-lint them with a brush. I am not washing any differently than I have for 35 years. Since there is no separate lint filter, where does the lint go? Does this mean I HAVE to use the dryer to remove any lint from my clothing?

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Comments (6)

kenmorewasher
16 years ago
Your washer has a self cleaning lint filter.
kenmorewasher
16 years ago
1/2 cup of borax in the wash
1 cup of white vinegar in the rinse
Dryer Max Dryer Balls
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Thanks for your answers. 5 loads of old towels later, I think most of the red lint is gone. I was so scared that the washer would die from my stupid mistake--it is new and hardly paid for yet! But it seems just fine. steve, I did try to open the little trap at the washer base. As is typical, the instructions aren't good at all. I got the little door open, but then didn't know whether you just pull the little hose off the door contraption, or ? I didn't want to pull too hard for fear something else was holding it on. Have you done this to check the trap? Does the little black hose just pull straight out? I take it if you get it off, you need a little bowl under it to collect water.
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I am so glad I found this post. Some of these comments are from those who have not experienced this, so they don't understand it. It has nothing to do with vinegar, the kind of soap, the temperature of the water, or even the brand of washer. It is the impeller as opposed to the older agitator washing machines. I am all for energy efficiency, but I now have to use the dryer to get the lint off, so there's no efficiency. I also have to buy tons of sticky lint rollers, which don't work all that well on this type of fine lint streaks on dark clothes. There's no efficiency to throwing this junk in the landfill either. I inherited what seems like a fairly new LG washer and dryer when I bought this condo last year and I will replace the washer because life is too short. I don't care if my two machines don't match. I just hope agitators are still on the market.
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dadoes
16 years ago
You don't say which Whirlpool model you have. All are touted as having some sort of self-cleaning filter, but none of them work as well as the brush/tray/pan/cartridge recirculating lint filters of yore. I think with so many synthetic fabrics in use nowadays and dryers being ubiquitous, consumers and manufacturers don't see so much a need for really effective lint filtering in the washers.

Don't bother with the balls.
second45
Original Author
16 years ago
I will give the treatment a try. Is this an occasional fix, or constantly?
If manufacturers are building washers with the idea that a dryer will/must be used, I think it should be advertised as such. I don't use a dryer much, so I may be having a problem most people wouldn't have.
User
16 years ago
The problem is not the machine, it how you are sorting what goes into the machine. Fleece should be washed inside out with other fleece garments that has the same or similar fiber construction, and the Delicate cycle should be used to preserve the texture with the use of fabric softener to help restore the nap. Machine dry low.

I have a fleece sweater that is about 7 years old and it still look great as if I just brought it yesterday and my partner has the same sweater and it been dogged since he used the normal (Heavy duty) cycle without sorting and fabric softener, matted and old looking.....
second45
Original Author
16 years ago
To cleanteamofny, I would totally agree with you, if I had changed how I am washing now, vs the last 35 years. Same sorting, same temperature, same washer cycles. This is what confounds me. However, I will certainly try what you have suggested. My fleeces range from 1-12 years old.

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