Im having the same problem as Crystal. I believe it might be due to my water softener. I can only see the fibers coming off my clothes when next to sunlight. Please help.

Could it be a huge outbreak of dust mites people are mistaking for lint? That would account for the "blowing off effect" when swarms of mites fly away to escape bright sunlight. Really weird how many started noticing this recently. They say you can feel them crawling on you when the room is dark like when you are in bed. Could turn out exterminators are needed instead of air filters and new washers.

@klem1 Dust mites do not fly or jump. You also need a microscope to see dust mites so I am pretty sure what people are seeing are not dust mites.

Are you using a dryer with a screen? Our washing machine cleans but doesn't remove lint but the dryer does a good job of that, we just have to clean the screen after every load.

Using a brand new washer, brand new dryer with screen, and using a dryer sheet. I might have to turn off my soft water for a month and see if that helps.

Sounds like all the bases are covered to eliminate dust and lint. If it isn't dust mites ,obviously some other prolific cootie has invaded these homes.

I thought i was the one who posted this, so similar! Ive been having dust on all 3 floors of my home for the past four years now, and no one can figure it out. Its an earth contact home, and the furnace is in the closet in the bathroom/laundry room. Also it smells like laundry when you smell it. It covers everything in my home every single day and im losing my mind! it does it even when i dont do laundry for a week or if we arent home for a few days. nonstop. We’ve had the ducts cleaned, bought brand new washer and dryer, ran new dryer vent work 3 times(its also very short to outside) we have put filters over all the vents, have no carpet in the house have had pressure tests. I would give just about anything for an answer. It wasnt happening the first year we lived here. Seemed to start when we bought a used dryer to replace the one we had.

"it does it even when i dont do laundry for a week or if we arent home for a few days. nonstop."

Naturally, if you don't take cooties on vacation with you they are still hard at work back home.

If any of you dust bunnies live in N Central Texas I'd like to talk to you about a guaranteed diagnosis or no pay proposition. Each of you have throwed over $1k at it so another $1k to know what's causing it is a bargain.

Crystal Marie, go and buy some new clothes, any clothes. clothes most like the ones you think have too much lint would be ideal. And shake them in a sunbeam in your home. Eveeything new we buy does the same thing. unless you have some rugs or carpet or perhaps blamkets or bedding in your house that are shedding like crazy, then there is nothing out of the ordinary going on. Unfortunately clothes do this. It drives me crazy too, and i became obseesed with blaming our washer and dryer, but theres no way around clothes having it. doing the twst with new clothes, underwewr underwear, socks, whatever, will prove this. Especially cotton, it sheds a lot. And sadly cheap non cotton clothes dont shed as much but they shed micro plastics

UPDATE

Duct cleaning service came today and spent half the day cleaning all the ducts. They had an air compressor with tentacle like things attached to get in groves and help break up any dust in the crevices , while a big vacuum suctioned from an area that wasn’t taped off. They got maybe a small vacum cannister full of dust/lent out and their filters were pretty dusty. They didnt think it was bad at all compared to other houses.

Im not going to do another deep clean, of walls, curtains, shelves and then wait to see if there is a change. Ive only been using fabric sofner in towles and bedding loads. I use vinegar most of time. That hasn’t changed the lent problem.

I will keep you posted after a few weeks of letting dust settle.

Jen, I doubt it was due to stuff just laying there in cracks and crevices. As much laundry as you do it shouldn't take long.

In terms of clothes shedding? Everything sheds, skin flakes, dandruff, hair. To say you will never have dust it's impossible --- you open the door of the house to more dust... dirt, pollen, yard waste etc.

If you're sitting at a good angle in the sunlight you'll see it for yourself. This is why your HVAC system has a filter on it. They knew you had a dusty house before you even opened the door.

HVAC companies use it as a reason to sell you a new system. The new system will be replaced one day too. Maybe for the same reason.

I'm still under the impression that in Jen's situation that how her dryer lint exits the house, it is caught in the air and then somehow, someway it is getting back in the house after it has gone "Jason Bourne".

If the dryer vent was lowered to a few feet off the ground, I think that would dramatically lower the chances of it being reintroduced back into the house. The other would be to look for things that are putting the house under a negative pressure. (your house is litterally sucking air from the outside the dustier that air is or heavy populated with lint from your own dryer... there you go.)

The OP's dryer exhaust exits the home in the middle of a brick wall with no windows or doors in proximity to the exhaust. While it's possible for lint exiting the exhaust to be reintroduced into the home via the continuous soffit vent, the OP noted that there's no evidence of lint in the attic.

The only benefit derived from relocating the exhaust would be improved maintenance access to the exhaust damper/flapper. The cost to do so would be the cost to relocate the exhaust plus the additional operating and maintenance cost associated with a longer exhaust duct. A better damper could be installed which is more accessible without the need to relocate the exhaust or extend the length of the exhaust duct.

Builder likely caused it, I wouldn't expect the builder to come to any real solution to fix it. You'd get less smoke off the cooktop range than listen to a builder.

The fix, whatever it is --- there will still be some dust. The cure will only minimize it.

"If the dryer vent was lowered to a few feet off the ground, I think that would dramatically lower the chances of it being reintroduced back into the house." Why? If there isn't a sound rationale for the proposed relocation, it's just a misguided experiment on someone else's dime. Please share the physics with us, Ray.

Cooties could care less where the dryer vent exits. I read about a device that can be installed inside air duct using ultraviolent light to purify air so I'll bet one of those would blow cooties away same as sunlight does.

Cooties could care less where the dryer vent exits.

True. But we're not talking about cooties. We're talking about dust that smells like dryer lint coming from the dryer in Jen Lambo's dusty driven case file.

So if the dust "fabric smelling" isn't coming from the laundry area itself (there hasn't been any evidence to suspect a dryer malfunction in Jen's case)

The dust is magically shedding from the clothes pulled out of the dryer OR it's being reintroduced into the home because once outside it becomes air borne. If the vent was lower to the ground it would reduce the odds it becomes air borne?

The other dust cases mentioned in this thread are more complicated because if you're in an apt building there's more than just you who lives there.

We've already suggested going to a laundromat for time to see if that changes anything. But so far that is too inconvenient from what I can see from the limited view of a forum board.

If the concern is back drafting of the clothes dryer exhaust duct, (and I believe that's a legitimate concern) the straightforward solution to that is to install a back draft damper. They are readily available, cost less than $20 and the result can be evaluated faster than you can relocate the dryer exhaust duct.

Ray,

With the exception of heat pump dryers, clothes dryers are not sealed appliances. Electric clothes dryers utilize indoor air for drying clothes. Gas dryers utilize indoor air both for drying and for combustion air. Outdoor air can flow back into the home via the exhaust duct. And along that path, there's plenty of lint and dust which it can pick up. Plus, the dryer is depressurizing the home when it operates so it promotes infiltration--just via a different route.

Cooties,code book and engineering theories aside field experience taught me a few things of which two come to mind here. When investigating odors I found different occupants more often than not said it reminded them of different things that would be hard to mistake (burnt rubber,natural gas and electrical short odor accounting for the majority). If I had a dollar for every time I recieved an emergency call to investigate strong odor of natural gas in all electric buildings I'd have enough to take all my friends out for an evening of entertainment and fine dinning. Second is that seriousness,magnitude,extent,frequency,degree and other measures are quite different for various individuals. If you've never known someone fanatical about cleanliness you've missed a real treat. If you moved 3 different families into each home being discussed, I fully expect they would not notice an unreasonable amount of dust or notice one or more issues non of others did or if all were asked to be alert for an odor they would report various odors that bear no resemblance.

The problem of dryer exhausts back drafting is well known. That's why there are a variety of dampers designed specifically for dryer applications. While it may not be contributing much to the OP's dust and lint problem, the modest $20 +/- cost of a damper can eliminate any contribution and save the OP on heating and cooling cost.

With regard to the transportation of any lint that might re-enter the home via the dryer exhaust, it won't necessarily settle close to where it enters. Where it settles is a function of the air distribution system in the home, how frequently it operates, whether it is balanced, appliances that can cause back drafting (e.g., range vent hoods, and bath vent fans,) and the size of lint/dust particles.

E.T.A. It appears that Ray's comment was deleted. It's not clear whether he or houzz.com decided it added no value.

There is an interesting comment in the thread link below on paint about dust by Lori A. Sawaya on about 2/22/2021. Cheap paint degrades rapidly and can make your house dusty.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6078609/my-contractor-switched-my-paint-from-regal-to-superhide-and-ultra-spec

I am still lost on what has been going on in my home. its not just me being a neat freak etc its an actual problem with a thin layer of dryer sheet smelling dust covering everything in my home daily. i am starting to get very worried about the fact i have 5 kids who are breathing this in every day and myself and husband. i am really starting to think this will be the cause of my early death someday. We've had a few local HVAC companies come to take a look but they didn’t seem to care or believe me whatsoever. Is there someone else I could try to call? Air quality specialist? please help me, someone, anyone. my husband is a very smart and capable man, and even he is stumped. he is also probably very sick of hearing me talk and complain about this 24/7 and cant do anything to fix it. So, not only is it going to lead to the early death of an entire family, it’s probably also going to lead to a divorce. :-/

Did you at least try the 20.00 possible solution that someone else suggested? You’re only out 20 bucks to see if it helps.

Hello HU-####### I would be delighted to help you resolve this problem if you will

(A) Delete your question from this year old thread of bickering and start a new thread.

(B) Have your husband come here to explain the problem as he sees it and ask questions in his own words. No disrespect to you but middleman interpretations are nothing short of gravel in the gears for technical discussions.

(C) Either change your user name or give a nickname in body of post to make it easy to know who is being spoken about or to. Having to remember a string of random numbers to address you with is awkward to say the least.

BTW,I've been happily married (to the same woman) 58 years so I might have tips on fence mending after we clear the air,pun intended.

Anyone solve this

For me, I suspect newly blown cellulose insulation in the attic. I’m working on figuring out best way to close all the holes from can lights, ceiling fans, vents, etc.

Does it smell like fabric softener? I thought mine might have been cellulose as well but it smells like softner which makes no sense...

Mine does not smell like that but I use unscented products. It is a sort of gray blue color. There is a smell in my house that I can’t explain, although I’m pretty good at that usually. It’s a sort of stale smell. I aired out the house yesterday really well and it was gone, but then closing back up it returns.

I have the same problem and i believe it is because our vent is right beside the ac unit so you might want to see if that is your problem

I dryed a marron sweat shirt to see what happens and no dout thats what i got off my cieling fan blades!!

Use of a smoke pencil near the dryer when your HVAC system is operating and the dryer is not should prove helpful.

anyone solve this? i have the same gray/blue lint that others are describing and it is driving me insane. i'm at the point where i am going to friends houses who i know don't clean and checking all their surfaces for dust, laundry placement, and their ducting. it's not even next day the lint shows up, its barely an hour later.

it is caused by clothes dryer internal leaks allowing dust to very small fibers to escape the drum. primarily the seals between the drum and bulkhead and/or the front bearing felt seal (near the door). Either replace both seals or buy a new dryer. went through great agony to discover this by trying everything mentioned (and more) than in this thread.

How would you test for dryer internal leaks as stated above?

Bad dryer seals can indeed cause lint to leave the dryer as noted above. However, at least one poster complained of dust/lint after installing a new washer and dryer so the dryer seals may not be the root cause of your problem. One way to determine if the dryer is throwing lint into the space is to dry a load of fluffy white towels, bedding, and any fabrics that glow under UV light. Do it at night, turn off the lights and use a UV flashlight (you can purchase one on Amazon for around $20) to look for lint. Exercise caution if there is disco music playing nearby.

Dryer airflow when the machine is operating, with very few exceptions, is pulled through the heating source (electric element or gas burner), through the drum and filter, and blown out the exhaust. The part of that path before the blower is negative air pressure inside the machine, which includes the drum. The path of it after the blower is positive air pressure, which includes the internal ducting that routes airflow from the blower out the back of the machine. Outdoor air can blow into the exhaust when the machine is not operating if the flapper on the hood isn't functioning well.

@dadoes YOU are correct about your description of the dryer "negative pressure"... I failed to mention that the primary failed felt-seal was on the blower/fan box motor shaft. This allowed the positive pressure of the centrifugal fan to push the finest dust into the dryer cabinet which migrated into the room - then on to the rest of the house. I have replaced dozens of "felt-belt-roller" kits, but never thought to check the blower shaft until I eliminated all options. I microscope 30X examined the fine lint that was on every surface of the house AND compared to lint in the blower box adjacent to the seal (see photo) and 100% solved. The blower shaft seals typically fail on very old dryers/high-use hours. FOR THOSE OF YOU SUFFERING THE ENDLESS DUST PROBLEM: make certain it is not your dryer. I am an engineer-educated guy and this "effing" failed blower shaft seal cost my hundreds of hours of dusting and stupid money for parts on a 35 y old dryer. If it is older than 10 years, throw it out and buy a new GE for $490. Save the dust agony :-)

Hi,

I am having same issue. Lint all over the house. Its lint form cloths for sure. House is 10 yrs old and washer and dryers are 3 yrs old. Duct was cleaned and still way too much lint on clothes. Dryer does collect the lint on the filter which is full every time.

After drying I take any shirt or pant and go outside and shake it off and I see so much dust like lint particles fly off each cloths. So when they are being folded inside, all that handling of cloths leaves so much dust like lint flying around the house.

So the lint is getting around the house beacuse of the dried clothes still have the lint particles.

please check if that happens to you also and post it back.

Best way to check is under the sunlight.

Thanks

Yes raja same thing happenhappening to me

If it is older than 10 years, throw it out and buy a new GE for $490. Save the dust agony :-)

Be careful buying anything with a major name brand like GE, Maytag etc. These are all licensing plays now. These companies sell the rights to manufacturers to build whatever and stick a name you recognize on the product.

Not saying they can't be good, but these models can change quicker than the wind. Anything new is going to be good for awhile, until the dust is generated in immense proportions.

While the dryer is often times the big culprit, because it's a dust generating machine... there can be outdoor situations causing these issues to homes with a negative air pressure. Every crack in that house can draw in outside air. If that air is dusty, every time the wind blows.

The drying different colors in the dryer is a good test to see if the color of the dust changes, anything to give you clues. Those clues should lead you somewhere.

So if the dryer situation checks ok at your house, you'll have to dig deeper.

The dryer may be the appliance where lint is most evident, but much of the lint that appears there was generated in the washing machine. If you want to reduce lint at the source, you'll need to exercise care when laundering clothes. Here's a good list of tips:

https://producthelp.whirlpool.com/Laundry/Washers/Product_Info/Washer_Tips_and_Tricks/Preventing_Excessive_Lint_on_a_Washer_Load

If my dryer was clogged would it cause all the lint to left on the clothes and embedded into them soon as I go to take them out of dryer u can see all the lint on them blowing off of them and with any movement it looks like a dust

If your dryer was clogged it not only causes excess dust, it doesn't dry clothes withing normal time. Same as doing income taxes and styling hair ,it's time to hire pros if you don't know how to test then remedy broken appliances.

Crystal Marie,

I think most people believe you but just posting a picture isn't likely to get you anywhere we all know what dust / dirt / lint? what ever it is looks like.

You've got to look for the source. OR Hire someone that will do it for you. (those are your options, just arguing in a forum board with no action on your own is going to be fruitless endeavor.)

Find clues: look at the structure? If you live in a single family home? Yes because then it's probably related to something you are doing or a defect in the home (negative pressure) dryer vent problem or a combination thereof.

If you are living in a muti unit housing structure it could be due to some defect in the structure and what you are doing or the multitude of people that live around you. (negative pressure in your unit could be sucking in what your neighbors are doing.)

It could be due to cotton wood trees or other dust / dirt related things in the outdoor air.

If you can't be bothered to look at your dryer. Stop doing laundry at your house / apt. or where ever you live > Do your laundry at a laundromat for several weeks to a month.

If the dust decreases use that as a clue to dig deeper. Will the dust stop completely? not necessarily. It should decrease in volume if the dryer and or washer has something to do with it.

There is dust in all air, dust is brought into your home everytime you open the door / the windows etc. This fact is going to rub you the wrong way probably.

Your HVAC filter is another place that can breed problems (and or be the cause of them like putting your home under negative pressure -- it sucks litterally so anything with in it's grasp is drawn into the structure. ) If there is dust outside due to running the dryer... that dust from the dryer could then be sucked right back into the structure.

Another reason to stop doing laundry at your home for a few weeks to a month. Only you can do it or not.

Noone has mentioned dirty minds , could that cause problems? BTW Ray,I noticed your name on a short list of contractors for approved energy efficient equipment installation in Texas. Sure be good if they got underway now before Summer rush hits. Someone in Katy has a 2 mil lottery jackpot waiting to be claimed, better check your numbers!

BTW Ray,I noticed your name on a short list of contractors for approved energy efficient equipment installation in Texas.

Good Morning Klem,

Probably something I put myself on over 10 years ago when I used to chase new equipment purchases. I don't chase these kinds of things any more. If they come fine, if not fine too.

There's another reason this year: last year for R410a Puron Equipment. There will be some that may think that choosing R410a Equipment (obsolete the moment you buy it) isn't a good idea. But with what is coming to replace it? There doesn't seem any let up in price increases and in 12 years from 2024 it all begins again. LOL. They thought about this really hard. Who is they? Let's just say you voted for it. ha, ha.

After Decemer 31, 2024* it's all over. You better be using someone you trust. What they are planning could be detrimental to your health, as well as mine if you entangle me in it (for a fee of course).

*Disclaimer: Over if someone sues the government and wins, even then it will likely only get delayed.

Freon Wars 2024 Update is in production right now. subscribe to my Youtube Channel here so you don't miss it.

When was the last time Federal Government had a good idea Ray? If you say when they told Texas how to use barbed wire I might just fall on my sword.

I posted the picture to show what 2was coming off the clothes folding them I folded them there so I could take a picture of what's falling off of them and this happens with every item that goes

Then it's a clothes problem, washer / dryer problem and possibly a detergent problem.

Again you could take your clothes to a laundromat, change laundry detergents for a few weeks to a month. Then make assessments from there, note the changes if any.

If after all those tests and it still happens, maybe it's your clothes or the type of fabric made to make them?