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How to Stop Towels From Shedding Lint: The Pre-Wash Trick

New towels shed loose fibers that end up on you and your other laundry. A pre-wash, a clean dryer trap and a lint catcher stop it.

By Jamilur Rahman Updated November 5, 2026 · 6 min read

Time
2 wash cycles
Cost
Under $20
Difficulty
Easy
A dark gray bath towel on a bathroom counter covered in light-colored lint and small fuzz
In this guide
  1. Quick answer
  2. Free vs. permanent fix
  3. What you'll need
  4. Why it happens
  5. Try this first (free)
  6. When free fixes aren't enough
  7. Buy the fix
  8. How to stop lint from new towels: a 3-wash plan
  9. How to stop towels from shedding after washing: the dryer end
  10. What to skip
  11. FAQ
  12. Related problems

Quick answer

How to stop towels from shedding lint: wash new towels on their own, with a half cup of white vinegar and no softener, then shake them out and empty the dryer lint trap before every load. A washing machine lint catcher on the drain hose also grabs loose fibers that the rinse flushes out. Most towels settle down after a few washes.

Free fix vs. permanent fix

Free fix · 2 wash cycles

Pre-wash alone and shake them out

  • Wash towels alone, with no clothes
  • First wash: 1/2 cup white vinegar, no detergent
  • Second wash: 1/2 cup baking soda, no detergent
  • Shake each towel and empty the dryer trap between loads

How long it lasts: Fixes most new towels within 2 to 3 washes. Old, worn towels may keep shedding.

Most readers choose Permanent fix
Washing machine lint catcher (mesh filter) (illustration)
Illustration

A washing machine lint catcher

Loose fibers that wash out of towels end up in the drain or floating in the wash water. A mesh catcher on the drain hose traps them. It does not stop the towels shedding, so do the pre-wash too.

What to get: Washing machine lint catcher (mesh filter)

How long it lasts: Years. It sits on the drain hose and catches loose fibers on every load.

Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What you'll need

  • White vinegar

    For the first pre-wash

    You have it

  • Baking soda

    For the second pre-wash

    You have it

  • Dryer lint trap

    Empty it before every load of towels

    You have it
  • Our pick
    Washing machine lint catcher (illustration)
    Illustration

    Washing machine lint catcher

    A mesh trap that clips onto the drain hose

    Check price

Why it happens

1

Loose fibers from manufacturing

New towels are cut and sewn from long loops. Short fibers and cut ends are loose when they leave the factory, and they shed in the first washes.

2

Short-fiber cotton

Short fibers work loose more easily than long ones, so some cheaper towels keep shedding longer.

3

Rubbing and overloading

A packed drum rubs towels hard against each other, and the water cannot carry loose fibers away.

4

A full dryer trap

Lint that does not leave the drum sticks to the towels as they dry.

5

Worn-out towels

Old, thin towels shed as the cotton breaks down.

Try this first (free)

Do these in order, starting with the simplest.

  1. 1. Wash towels on their own

    Keep towels away from clothes, especially dark items that show every fiber. Fibers released in the wash land on other fabrics.

  2. 2. Pre-wash new towels with vinegar

    Tool used: White vinegar

    Run a first wash with 1/2 cup white vinegar in the drum, no detergent, on the warmest cycle the label allows.

  3. 3. Follow with a baking soda wash

    Tool used: Baking soda

    Run a second wash with 1/2 cup baking soda and no detergent. Then wash normally with half the usual detergent. Keep vinegar and baking soda in separate washes so they do not cancel each other out.

  4. 4. Add a lint catcher to the drain hose

    Tool used: Washing machine lint catcher

    Fit a mesh lint catcher on the drain hose and secure it so it cannot slip off. Empty it after each load.

    Washing machine lint catcher (illustration)
    Illustration

    Tool for this step

    Washing machine lint catcher · A mesh trap that clips onto the drain hose

    Check price on Amazon

  5. 5. Shake and clean the dryer trap

    Tool used: Dryer lint trap

    Shake each towel over a bin or outdoors before drying. Empty the lint trap before each load so fibers have somewhere to go.

  6. 6. Dry on medium and do not overdry

    High heat and long cycles fray fibers. Take towels out as soon as they are dry.

When free fixes aren't enough

If towels still shed after four or five washes, they may simply be short-fiber or worn out, and nothing will fully stop that. If your washer has no lint filter and lint ends up clogging the drain or sink, a lint catcher is worth adding. If your real complaint is lint on your other clothes, see the related page on lint sticking to clothes.

Buy the fix

Still stuck after the free fixes? These are the products we would look at.

Best pick
Washing machine lint catcher (mesh filter) (illustration)
Illustration

Washing machine lint catcher (mesh filter)

Fixes: loose fibers going down the drain or floating in the wash water

Look for: Fine mesh that traps lint but lets water through; A snug band or clip that holds it on the hose; Reusable and easy to empty and rinse.

Who it's for
Households that often wash new towels, fleece or blankets, or whose washer drains into a laundry tub.
Honest downside
Your drain hose is fixed inside a wall standpipe with no room to fit it, or your washer already has a lint filter you can empty.
Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We don't show prices because they change, so use the button to see today's price.

How we picked: How we picked: this page is based on towel and laundry care guides, washer and dryer manuals, and what owners report about shedding towels and drain-hose lint catchers. We do not test products by hand.

How to stop lint from new towels: a 3-wash plan

  1. Wash 1: warm cycle, 1/2 cup white vinegar, no detergent.
  2. Wash 2: warm cycle, 1/2 cup baking soda, no detergent.
  3. Wash 3: normal cycle with half the usual detergent, then shake out and dry on medium.

Wash them alone each time and empty the lint trap before every dry.

How to stop towels from shedding after washing: the dryer end

Much of what you see on dry towels is lint that settled in the dryer. To stop lint on towels, shake each one, empty the trap before the load, and do not dry towels with dark clothes. Stop the cycle as soon as they are dry. If your dryer vent is weak, lint lingers in the drum, so check it too.

What to skip

Fabric softener and extra detergent

Softener and extra detergent do not stop shedding. Softener coats the loops and cuts absorbency, and extra detergent leaves residue. Skip both for towels.

Frequently asked questions

How to stop towels from shedding with vinegar?
Add 1/2 cup white vinegar to a first wash with no detergent. It helps loosen fibers and strip finishing agents from new towels. Never mix vinegar with bleach.
How to stop towels from shedding with baking soda?
Use 1/2 cup baking soda in the drum for a second wash with no detergent. It softens the water and helps lift loose fibers. Keep it in a separate wash from the vinegar, because the two cancel each other out.
Towel keeps shedding lint after many washes. How to fix linty towels?
Shedding should drop after a few washes. If it does not, check for overloading, too much detergent and a full dryer trap. To fix towels that shed, wash them alone and shake them out before drying. If the towel is thin and worn, it is simply wearing out and needs replacing.
Why do my towels leave lint on me (and fuzz on my skin)?
Loose fibers on the surface rub off onto damp skin. New towels do it most, and a full dryer trap or a hot, long cycle makes it worse. Pre-wash the towels and shake them out before drying.
How long do new towels shed?
Owners commonly report that shedding settles after a few washes. Thick, cheap cotton towels can take longer, but it should not go on forever.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure

Washing machine lint catcher (mesh filter) (illustration)
Illustration

Our pick: Washing machine lint catcher (mesh filter)

Check price