What is Dryer Lint Made Of?

Lint is a normal part of the drying cycle.

Anyone who dries their clothes in a dryer is familiar with lint. It's a nuisance that you cannot avoid. Clothes produce lint, so you really can't do anything about it.

Identification

Dryer lint consists of fibers from clothes, towels and anything you put into the dryer. As your clothes tumble in the dryer, loose fibers break free and are trapped in the lint filter. When all the loose fibers stick together on the filter, you get a filter full of dryer lint.

Warning

A dirty lint filter is a fire hazard because the lint can possibly catch fire. Always clean the filter before and after you dry a load of clothes. Lint also accumulates in the interior of the dryer, so you should periodically have a service person clean that area as well.

Considerations

Reduce dryer lint by removing your clothes from the dryer before they are completely dry. More lint is produced the longer your clothes tumble. Remove the load while it is slightly damp, and place the items outside or indoors to air dry.

References

• 3DHAM.com: Dryer Lint
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission; Overheated Clothes Dryers Can Cause Fires; June 2003