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The seed cotton cleaning effectiveness of a cylinder-type cleaner was evaluated based on varying grid bar configuration, cylinder speed, and cylinder configuration. The experiment was conducted in two parts cylinders equipped with (Part 1) and without (Part 2) propulsion paddles. Each part composed of eight combinations of grid bar shapes and cylinder speeds. Pre-cleaned and non pre-cleaned seed cotton was used to simulate the first and second stages of cleaning. The study also included an evaluation of the first three and second three grid sections of the cleaner by capturing the wastes from each separately. In Part 1, the treatment with 9.5-mm flat square grid bars and cylinder speed of 980 rpm outperformed the conventionally operated cylinder cleaner (9.5-mm dia. grid bars with 480 rpm cylinder speed) in all aspects of the analysis, considering both cleaning efficiency and fiber wastage. Overall, the 9.5-mm flat square bar/980 rpm treatment a cleaning efficiency of 28% and wasted virtually no fiber, while the conventional configuration had a 24% cleaning efficiency and experienced 0.08 kg/bale fiber loss. In Part 2, essentially no differences occurred between the 9.5-mm flat square bar/980 rpm treatment and the conventional configuration in all analyses, each with an overall cleaning efficiency of 26% and nearly no loss of fiber. All other treatments either had reduced efficiencies or significantly higher fiber loss. Results indicate that cylinders equipped with paddles may offer potential for optimizing seed cotton cleaning performance when used with certain grid bar configurations, though further research is needed.