Pilling on clothes: How to prevent and treat it?
· STEAMRS Fashion Care
What is pilling?
Those little bits of fluff or bobbles on your sweater that seem to appear out of nowhere and just keep multiplying are called pills. It’s very annoying when this happens to your favorite sweater. Could you have prevented it? In this blog, you’ll learn how pilling happens, how to prevent it, and how to get rid of it quickly and effectively.
How does clothing pill?
Pilling is caused by friction: the fibers in the fabric tangle together on the surface, forming small fabric balls. When you wear clothes, bobbles are more likely to form in areas such as under the arms, on the chest, or around the sleeves. Washing can also cause fluff to form, as clothes tumble in the washing machine and repeatedly rub against other garments.
Which fabrics pill the fastest?
Wool, acrylic, polyester, and viscose are materials that often develop pilling. The first pills usually appear around the armpits and elbows. Do you often carry a shoulder bag over your wool coat? You may notice pills where the bag rubs against your hip or leg.
If my clothes pill, does that mean they’re poor quality?
No. Both high-quality and lower-quality clothes can pill. Pilling is not an indicator of quality.
The price you pay for textiles can sometimes, but not always, indicate the quality of the fibers. Longer threads and fibers pill less than shorter ones. During manufacturing, long fibers can become damaged or break. These are then mixed with short fibers and used to make cheaper fabrics. Unbroken long fibers increase the value of the clothing and therefore its price.
Both fabrics made from natural fibers and those made from synthetic fibers can pill. The length of the fibers in the material is the key factor, rather than the type or origin of the material.
What can you do to prevent pilling?
Clothes that pill can look untidy and unkempt, which is a real shame and easily avoidable. Here are a few simple tips to prevent pilling on wool garments:
Before wearing a new wool sweater, put it in the freezer for a little while. Leave it there for a few hours or overnight, wrapped in a plastic bag.
- Wash wool clothes in a laundry bag
- Use liquid wool detergent.
- Wash your clothes inside out
- Choose a short wash cycle.
- Close zippers and buckles on your clothes before washing them.
- Let the garment air-dry. It’s best not to put the washed item in the dryer.
- Fold your clothes neatly instead of hanging them up.
- Follow the washing and drying instructions on the care label.
If you wash the garment by hand, don’t rub the soapy water into the fabric. Instead, squeeze it through the fabric. This helps prevent the garment from pilling or, worse, stretching.
How can you remove pills from fabric?
The easiest way to remove pills is with a fabric shaver. These run on batteries or come with a charging cable, and work on all materials. A corded shaver is the most powerful option, and you won’t have to worry about replacing batteries.
A fabric shaver is an electric shaver specially designed for clothes. It’s also called a lint remover, depiller, or fabric shaver. A fabric shaver has larger holes in its ‘gliding surface’ that draw in pills, which are then safely removed from the fabric by a blade. It works just like a hair clipper used to shave body hair. You can easily and safely remove any hairs (or, in this case, pills) that stick out.
Don’t feel like buying a fabric shaver? A razor can also do a pretty good job. Since a new razor is extremely sharp, we recommend using an older one. Lay the garment on a smooth surface to avoid shaving off too much in one spot. Be extra careful, though. A fabric shaver is specifically designed to safely shave fabrics, while a razor isn’t really intended for this, so take extra care with the fabric. Carefully draw the razor over the fabric in small strokes. Shave gently over a section of fabric stretched smooth, and avoid moving the razor over folds. If you don’t stretch the fabric smooth, you risk shaving off part of your garment instead of just the pills.
You can also use scissors to cut or trim pills. Be careful not to cut holes in your clothes. Use sharp scissors to snip off each pill individually. This can be time-consuming, but when done properly, it’s the least damaging method for the surrounding fabric. The size of the scissors doesn’t matter much, as long as they’re sharp. Larger scissors let you trim bigger areas at once, but increase the risk of cutting the garment. Smaller scissors, such as nail scissors, are easier to handle and let you work more precisely.
A less well-known but very effective solution is a pumice stone. Rub the garment with a pumice stone, then go over it with a lint roller to easily remove the pills. Give it a try!
With these tips, your favorite clothes will stay free of pills, fluff, and bobbles, so you’ll always look your best. Check out our other blogs about caring for your clothes and help your garments last longer. Don't just wear, but care for your clothes!
