you will get lint with cotton thread. its just the way that the cotton fibers are twisted into the thread. You can try a thread that has a longer fiber or polyester. I believe they market Egyptian cotton as longer fibers, but you will still get lint. Just the nature of the beast. I fight that battle even more on my long arm! Try using a machine that the speed gets so much faster than a DSM! I just clean it out and take it as a sign that I need a short break. Ha! My paint brush is my friend...oh and pipe cleaners. I love those too...