LG Washer Leaving Lint on Clothes — 5 Causes & How to Fix It

You pull a load of darks out of your LG washer and they look like they've been rolling around with a lint roller in reverse. Your black jeans are covered in white fuzz, and you're rewashing the same load for the third time this week. If your LG top-load washer (models like WT-H750, WTG8520, or WT901CF) is suddenly leaving lint all over your clothes, you're dealing with one of five specific issues — and most of them take under 20 minutes to fix.

Quick Symptom Check

• White fuzz on dark clothing after wash cycle completes
• Tissue-like residue stuck to multiple garments in the same load
• Lint buildup visible inside the drum or around the agitator
• Fabric particles floating in rinse water
• Worse with certain fabrics — towels or fleece leaving debris on everything else

Cause #1: Clogged or Missing Lint Filter (70% of Cases)

Here's what most people don't realize: LG top-load washers have a lint filter that needs regular cleaning, but it's not where you'd expect. The ADQ72912303 lint filter sits in the water circulation system, and when it clogs with fabric fibers, lint has nowhere to go except back onto your clothes.

How to diagnose: Pull out the lint filter (usually located near the top of the agitator or in the wash tub depending on your model). If it's packed with gray sludge, covered in fabric fibers, or — this happens more than you'd think — completely missing because someone threw it out during a previous cleaning, you've found your problem.

The fix:

1. Locate the lint filter housing (check your model's manual, but on WT-H series it's typically under a small cap near the agitator)
2. Remove the filter and rinse it under hot water
3. Use an old toothbrush to scrub away compacted lint
4. If it's damaged, cracked, or you can't find it, replace it with ADQ72912303 (replaces ADQ72912302 and NEA61973201)
5. Reinstall and run an empty hot water cycle

Prevention: Clean this filter every month if you wash heavily-linted items like bath mats or fleece blankets weekly.

Cause #2: Overloading the Machine

Probability: 60%

When you pack your LG washer drum to the brim, clothes can't move freely during the wash cycle. This creates two problems: first, the mechanical action that's supposed to flush lint away doesn't work. Second, items rub against each other more aggressively, creating more lint in the first place.

The reality check: Your washer drum should be no more than 3/4 full when loaded loosely. If you're pressing down to fit "just one more towel," you're overloading.

Test this: Run a half-size load of the same items that came out linty. If they come out clean, overloading is your culprit.

Cause #3: Wrong Wash Cycle Selection

Probability: 40%

Using the delicate or hand-wash cycle for regular loads reduces water agitation and rinse effectiveness. Lint that would normally wash away during a normal cycle just redistributes itself across your clothing instead.

Quick fix: Use the Normal or Heavy Duty cycle for towels, jeans, and other lint-producing fabrics. Save Delicate for actual delicates. The higher agitation and extra rinse on Normal cycles exist specifically to handle lint removal.

Cause #4: Insufficient Rinse Cycles

Probability: 35%

If you're dealing with hard water or using too much detergent, a single rinse cycle won't cut it. Soap residue traps lint against fabric fibers, and it all stays put even after spinning.

Try this: Run your normal load, but select the "Extra Rinse" option. On models like the WSLP1500HWW and WSLS1500HWW, this is a dedicated button. If the lint problem disappears with the extra rinse, you need to either reduce detergent (use half of what you're currently using) or add that extra rinse permanently to your routine.

Cause #5: Washing Lint-Producing Items with Everything Else

Probability: 50%

New towels, chenille bedspreads, fleece jackets, and anything with a fuzzy texture are lint factories. When you wash them with regular clothes, you're essentially coating everything in fabric particles.

The solution:

• Wash new towels separately for the first 3-4 washes
• Keep lint-producing fabrics (towels, bathmats, fleece) separate from lint-attracting ones (corduroy, velvet, synthetics)
• Wash microfiber cloths by themselves — they attract lint like magnets

When to Call a Pro

If you've cleaned the filter, adjusted your loads, and tried different cycles but you're still seeing lint, check for these red flags:

• Visible damage to the wash tub interior or agitator fins
• Water not draining completely between cycles (suggests pump or drain hose issues that can cause lint recirculation)
• Unusual noises during the wash cycle that started around the same time as the lint problem

These symptoms suggest mechanical problems beyond the lint filter — potentially with the water pump, drain system, or tub seal. At that point, you're looking at $150-$300 in professional repairs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I clean my LG washer lint filter?

Clean the ADQ72912303 lint filter every 4-6 weeks under normal use. If you wash pet bedding, bath towels daily, or work clothes with heavy fabric wear, bump that up to every 2 weeks. You'll know it's time when you notice any lint on clothes or the filter looks visibly clogged.

Can I run my LG washer without the lint filter installed?

Technically yes, but don't. Without the filter, lint circulates freely and deposits on everything. You'll also risk fabric fibers clogging the drain pump over time, which is a $100+ repair. If your filter is damaged, replace it immediately rather than running loads without it.

Why does my washer leave lint only on certain colors?

Dark fabrics show white/light-colored lint more obviously, so it's not that your black clothes are getting more lint — you're just seeing it more clearly. The actual amount of lint is usually the same across all colors in the load. This is why the filter and proper wash cycles matter for every load, not just your darks.