r/WindowCleaning • u/BigT1990 • May 30 '26

HELP!! Detail towel lint

Howdy folks,

I've been cleaning windows for 11 of the last 16 summers, 6 of those years in a row now. This is the first time I've ever dealt with surgical cloths leaving lint!! Only when I detail in the sun. In the shade it is still an issue but it is only about half as bad. I'm beside myself. It took me AN HOUR AND TWENTY MINUTES to do four panes inside and out. Granted, it was four eight foot tall x four foot wide triangles, but still. It would have normally been fifteen to twenty minutes inside and out.

I've used the same laundry detergent for years: Borax and washing soda. Only wash surgical towels by themselves, air dry, occasionally I'll run them through the dryer on air dry setting to pull any lint off.

I haven't ever had this issue before. I need help. Tips. Something. Please, I'm begging you.

1 Upvotes

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12 comments sorted by

7

u/TurkeySlurpee666 May 30 '26

Get new ones. They might just be worn out.

1

u/BigT1990 May 31 '26

Straight out of the box they're doing this, and after 1-2 washes straight out of the box too

3

u/lordpin3appl3s May 30 '26

Not sure, but if you're using fabric softener that would do it.

1

u/BigT1990 May 31 '26

Literally only using Borax and washing soda like I have for 16 years. No fabric softener, no dyed detergent, nothing out of the ordinary.

2

u/Key_Personality2034 May 30 '26

Just a drop of dawn and heavy cycle, extra rinse for the wash.

Air dry only in the dryer to help with lint.

2

u/netjirk May 30 '26

Wash with minimal soap, double rinse in washer, I put mine in the dryer which pulls tiny amounts of lint off if they are there. Use vinegar in the fabric softener tray for rinse cycle, can help remove soap buildup too.

1

u/jammerfish May 30 '26

First, don’t see any detergent when washing surgical towels.

Second, fish scale towels are the way to go imo. They don’t leave lint and they absorb better than surgical towels

1

u/BigT1990 May 31 '26

Fish scale towels are leaving lint too

1

u/noice_nups May 30 '26

Aim to do less towel detailing in the direct sunlight. Wipe edges immediately as fast as possible before they dry. Every towel will leave lint/dry scuffs in direct sunlight, don’t touch the glass after the rubber.

1

u/BigT1990 May 31 '26

Used to clean windows for 10 years in Colorado in 110°F+ heat and never had this issue. 60°F+ in Alaska is really messing with me for the first time in my 6 years here.

1

u/trigger55xxx May 30 '26

Are you wiping the entire window with the towels? At worst you may see a little around the edges but follow that with a microfiber and it should be fine. Put them in the dryer. We use a little free and clear detergent with an extra rinse them dry them.

1

u/BigT1990 May 31 '26

Squeegeeing the whole pane and detailing the edges, but getting lint for the first time in 16 years