Apparatus for cleaning surface lint and debris from a plurality of traveling textile warp yarns includes a slotted reed mounted on a vacuum housing with each reed slot opening into the housing interior. A blower is disposed within the housing to apply suction to the yarns traveling through the reed slots and a filter is interposed between the reed and the blower to separate lint and debris removed from the yarn. A cover is movable into and out of covering relation to the reed to constrain ambient air to be drawn into the housing from the opposite sides of the reed generally in alignment with the direction of yarn travel to prevent the suction force from imposing additional tension on the yarns and to minimize entrance of air borne ambient lint into the vacuum housing.