Hello there!
I've noticed that the quality of stuff in stores has been getting worse and worse over the years. Finding clothes made from natural fabrics is becoming increasingly tough. And when we do find them, they tend to wear out faster and feel uncomfortable against our skin. But, we still need to wear something, right?
I never thought I'd consider buying a lint remover machine. If a piece of clothing is ruined, I'd just replace it. However, lately, some clothes have started to get lint-covered in just a couple of weeks. Plus, this year we've accumulated a lot of sweaters that I really wanted to clean of lint.
My sister has been recommending that I get one of these machines, but she emphasized that I should get a good one because she had a bad experience with a cheap one she bought for 500 rubles (it was useless) and then a decent one, supposedly Poco, which she's really happy with.
Lint RemoverPrice and where I bought it. We opted for the Xiaomi, and it was more convenient for us to order it through AliExpress, plus it was a bit cheaper. Prices on marketplaces fluctuate wildly, ranging from 800 rubles to 2,500 rubles. Our one cost us around 1,000 rubles.
PackagingPackaging. The lint remover arrived somewhat poorly packed. I mean, it was in a postal envelope, of course.
BoxThe box was a bit crumpled, made of soft cardboard. There's this sticker on the box with all the product info.
Product infoInside the box, there's a white pouch with the actual device. We opted for the basic package without the extra blades. First-time buyers might be skeptical, but I'm loving it so far!
BoxNo charger is included, just a short cable. I'm using my phone's charger, and it's working great. The device itself is pretty quick to charge, and the battery life is impressive.
The device is made of thick, glossy white plastic.
There's only one button on the back, which doubles as the power button. Below it, there's the brand logo.
Rear viewThe front has a small trash collector container.
Trash ContainerI was surprised by how easily the top circular part comes off, revealing the blades underneath. (Those black marks are just from the manufacturing process.)
CombsThe blades are also easy to clean, although I've found it's best not to take them out too often.
The container's capacity is perfect for cleaning one medium-sized item with standard combs. If you've got super sticky or large combs, or a huge amount of them, it's best to stop mid-cleaning and give the container a quick clean.
Initially, we just shook the trash out of the container into a bag, but that was a real pain because the comb detritus is so lightweight and tends to stick around.
Full ContainerNow I just have my vacuum nearby, and as soon as the container's full, I give it a quick clean.
And now, I'll show you what I've been up to for the past three days. Cleaning the comb container has become a strangely enjoyable experience – almost like a form of anti-stress therapy.
First thing I reached for was my kid's favorite hat.
The Among Us hat has been a favorite for months, and it's surprisingly durable, with a cotton lining inside. However, it's now covered in combs.
Kids' Beanie Before CleaningI was pretty impressed with how dirty it had gotten after just a few weeks of use.
Kids' Beanie After CleaningAfter a good cleaning, it looks like new again!
Kids' Beanie Before CleaningI was a bit skeptical about how well it would clean, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Kids' Beanie After CleaningIt's definitely worth the effort to keep it looking its best.
The next item on my list to clean was this adorable kids' sweater with a cute cat design. We couldn't wear it all winter because of its appearance - it looked terrible after less than a month.
Kids' Sweater with Cat Design Before CleaningHowever, the material is really nice - it's smooth, not itchy, and warm. We bought it in Austin, and it's made with 50% viscose.
The sleeves quickly accumulated huge black stains. And we weren't even wearing it for that long.
This adorable Austin the cat sweater before a washI was blown away by how much of a difference a good wash made.
The same Austin the cat sweater after a washThe only remaining flaw is a tiny hole in the top part of the sleeve - I tried to clean it with a trimmer beforehand, but I'll need to figure out a way to neatly sew it up.
The overall look of the sweater is also much neater now.
Austin the cat sweater after a washI could probably give it another go for an even smoother finish, but I might do that in a week or so.
I've recently bought another kids' sweater from the same store, and it hasn't had time to get all frayed.
The material is acrylic, and I bought it from the Reserve store.
Kids' Reserve acrylic sweater before a washSorry for the little stain on it - I started washing it and just couldn't wait.
Cable ends before cleaningI was a bit surprised to find that there were no ties, but there's some fraying on the threads.
Threads before cleaningAs you can see from the photos, I think the fraying is pretty noticeable. And after cleaning, the material feels smoother.
Cable ends after cleaningThe cable ties have removed all that excess fluffiness, and the item feels like new again. Although it's only been a month, I've been wearing it almost every day.
Threads after cleaningNext up, I tackled my Nazarkov furs beanie. I bought this on Ozon, and I really like the brand - their fabrics are super tactile, the construction is great, and the hats fit really well on my head. This beanie is no exception - it's made from thick knit, with a cotton lining inside. I've had it for a while now, and I haven't found any alternatives for the spring-autumn season yet.
Hat for Women Before CleaningI didn't say it's ruined, but the back has sagged a bit at the seam area. After using a cleaning device, it looked like new again.
Hat for Women After CleaningThis is another affordable polyester hat for men. It only got a few wrinkles and wasn't worn often, probably because the material's not pleasant. But it's machine washable, so cleaning is a must.
Hat for Men from Polyester Before CleaningIt's still a bit better, though.
Hat for Men from Polyester After CleaningNext up, I tackled one of my favorite sweaters. I bought it from LC Waikiki, it's made of polyester and was super affordable. But I've had it for a while now, mostly wear it at home. It still hasn't lost its softness and warmth. In the mornings, during winter, my hands naturally reach for it because it's so soft and cozy. Because of that, I wash it about once a week. Wrinkles did appear, though.
LC Waikiki Women's SweaterIt looks like this. I'd just started cleaning the top, so the fabric is smoother up there.
LC Waikiki Women's Sweater after cleaningI'd already run the vacuum cleaner over the right side, and it's looking smoother. One thing to note is that you'll need to empty the lint roller twice for a big sweater with sleeves.
And here's a before-and-after shot - one side I've just started cleaning, the other I've finished.
LC Waikiki Women's SweaterYou can see the difference, right? I've only been wearing it at home for the past few months.
I also tried cleaning the fleece fabric. The pilling isn't too noticeable because of the melange color, but it's worst on the sleeves and hem.
Even if you can't see the pilling, it's still noticeable when you touch it.
My favorite fleece jacket, which has had several replacements, but they're all still in the closet - this one's been worn non-stop and is looking pretty worn out.You can kind of see the difference in the photo. (I've finished cleaning the right side).
After a good cleaningI threw the kids' sweater from Pepco into the wash, and let me tell you, it needed it. The material's not super soft, and it's already showing some wear. We wore it a few mornings during the holidays, but I could see the pilling starting to form.
The sweater before it got a cleaningIt's especially noticeable on the sleeves and around the rubber cuffs. The overall look hasn't changed too much, but it's definitely looking a bit worse for wear after just a short time.
The sweater after a good cleaningBut check out the sleeves now - they're looking a lot cleaner.
Sleeve before and after cleaningThe fabric's also stopped pilling as much.
Before and after cleaningI've got to admit, cleaning tights is a bit of a pain. I've got a pair from Calzedonia that cost 1,700 rubles, and I usually don't splurge on such expensive items. But these ones have a gorgeous powder color and they're super soft. However, they've developed some terrible black runs. I'm guessing it's because of my boots.
The photos might look a bit alarming. But trust me, they're clean – they just look like that.
Calzedonia tights before cleaningAfter the treatment, they look a lot better. I think they still have some life left in them.
Calzedonia tights after cleaningI've also got another item from Pepki – a pair of kids' pants made from cotton knit. They're pretty nice, but they quickly developed runs. It's a clear example of poor quality. The fabric quickly lost its shape and always looks rumpled. I bought similar pants from Reserva, and even after six months, they look like new.
Kids' cotton knit pants before cleaningBut after two weeks, they looked like this.
The washing machine sorted out the problem with the runs.
I was blown away by the house pants - they're old, but super comfy and I've worn them nonstop. That Ivanovo knit is legendary.
Before the cleaning.They've definitely seen better days, especially at the bottom.
The knit before cleaning.And the results of the cleaning are pretty hard to miss.
House pants after cleaning.Of course, this is a household item, but I found it hard to resist the temptation to get it spotless.
The knit after cleaning.And here's a closer look at the fabric. It really makes the results stand out.
The knit before cleaning.Before and after, that's the story here.
After a good cleaningI've got a before-and-after shot here - the one on the left has been cleaned, while the one on the right still needs it.
Left - after cleaning, right - before cleaningMy eyes landed on these cozy tights, which are made of microfiber and aren't too pricey. I'm not sure where I got them from, but I decided to give them a good cleaning. And let me tell you, once you start, it's hard to stop - it's almost meditative.
Tights before cleaningBefore cleaning, they looked pretty rough. I had to wear them under my boots and long skirt just to hide them. But they were warm, and they saved me during the winter.
Tights from microfiber before cleaningOf course, after washing, I usually just run them through a spin cycle to get rid of any excess fluff. But this time, I used a lint roller to get rid of the dirt.
Tights from microfiber after cleaningI'm pretty sure this thing saved these tights. I think I can still get a few more wearings out of them this season.
Tights after cleaningI have to say, I stopped taking pictures around this point and just decided to focus on the cleaning itself. I was expecting the process to take longer, but this little machine does its job pretty quickly.
This thing is a total game-changer, especially when you consider how cheaply-made clothes are getting these days. I used to think that a cheap item would last me for one season, but now I'm finding that even the cheapest stuff falls apart after just a few months. And it's not like you can just say, 'I'll spend a bit more and get a better quality item.' So, in this day and age, I think this machine is a total lifesaver. I'd even consider giving it to my mom as a gift – it's not something everyone needs, but it's definitely useful for certain tasks. And let's be real, some items are just worth saving, especially if the problem is just with the elastic.
I'd definitely recommend buying this!