Lint cleaners at cotton gins improve the grade and market value of cotton, but excessive cleaning can reduce bale values and some quality factors. A 4-year study was re-evaluated to update lint cleaner recommendations for spindle-harvested cotton because of producer and ginner concerns about the new USDA cotton classing system. The new system applies premium and discount schedules for color grade, leaf content, staple length, micronaire, fiber strength, and extraneous matter level. The effects of none, one, two, and three stages of saw-cylinder lint cleaning on market value were determined; smooth- and hairy-leaf variety cottons were used. The study indicated that cottons should not be cleaned above the Strict Low Middling White color and leaf (41/4) grade levels. Cleaning above this level generally reduced the market value. One or two stages of lint cleaning produced the highest monetary returns in most cases. However, depending on the initial trash level, there were a few cases where maximum returns were obtained with no lint cleaning or three stages of lint cleaning.