Many of us are used to using lint rollers, small rollers with adhesive tape that can remove hair, dandruff, nap and a variety of other things from clothing. Eventually, the lint roller either needs a new roll of adhesive or must be replaced, which some find inconvenient. For this reason, the clothes brush, generally a more durable brush that picks up lint, nap and small hairs on fabric is preferred. Prior to the advent of the lint roller, the clothes brush was the main choice for keeping garments looking nicely groomed in between washings.
You can find some wonderful antique clothes brush types, some dating back to the 18th century. These can make for great collectibles, but may not prove to be very useful. Further, an antique brush is likely to be quite expensive, and you may want to use one only for display.
The simplest clothes brush will merely feature a long handle, and varied brush shapes. Some people prefer a rounded brush, and others like a brush that is more rectangular in shape. To remove lint or “furries” from clothing, you simply vigorously brush the offending clothing. It’s often preferable to have someone else do this for you while you are wearing the garment.
Another type of clothes brush that has become quite popular features the bristled brush on one side and then is backed by a tiny brush on the other side, called a lint brush. The little teeth or bristles of the lint brush are great for picking up dandruff, and tiny pieces of lint or nap that the brush side misses. This two in one combination is thought to work better, since you are treating the clothes with several different bristle types. Normally you use the bristle side first, then flip the clothes brush over and use the lint side next to remove small unnecessaries from a garment.
Many people are quite satisfied with the results of a good clothes brushing, but you still might want to keep a good adhesive roller on hand in case Fluffy the cat decides to use your sports coat as a place to nap, or you need to brush a very delicate item of clothing. Since you brush down with the clothes brush, lint can accumulate at the bottom of a garment. An adhesive roller can take care off any stubborn lint that can’t be brushed off. It’s also important to regularly clean your brush, as it tends to be less effective when it’s full of lint.
