Clothes tend to develop little balls of fuzz, especially soft and comfy fabrics. Have you ever been annoyed by this? You don’t want to throw away your favorite sweater, but you also don’t want to see those little fuzz balls every time you wear it.
Today, we’ll talk about how to remove pills from fabric. It’s actually not that hard to get rid of pilling. With the right methods, your clothes will look fresh and brand new again!
1. Use a Fabric Shaver – The Easiest and Most Effective Method
If you’re very particular about pilling, or if you have a lot of clothes with pilling, the easiest and quickest way is to use a fabric shaver. There are many tools on the market specifically for removing fabric pills, and they’re simple to use with great results.
- How to use it: Just gently run the fabric shaver over the surface of your clothes, and its blades will trim the pills off. Be careful not to apply too much pressure to avoid damaging the fabric.
- Best for: All types of fabric with pilling, especially sweaters, woolen garments, and cashmere items.
A fabric shaver is the most effortless and convenient option. But make sure to choose a high-quality one to avoid damaging your clothes.
2. Use a Razor for Easy Pill Removal
If you don’t have a fabric shaver, you can actually use a razor—something you probably already have at home! This method is simple and practical, especially for smaller areas with pilling.
- How to use it: Lay the fabric flat and gently run the razor over the fabric’s surface. Don’t press too hard to avoid cutting the fabric. It’s best to use a clean and sharp razor.
- Important tip: Make sure the razor blade is sharp; a dull razor won’t work well and may pull on the fibers, making the problem worse.
While this method sounds a bit “makeshift,” it works pretty well, especially for light pilling.
3. Use Tape to Stick Off the Pills
If you don’t want to use a razor, you can also try using tape. Tape doesn’t just stick things together—it can also help you remove pills from fabric.
- How to use it: Unroll a piece of tape, press the sticky side gently on the pills, and then pull it off. The pills will stick to the tape and come off the fabric.
- Best for: Small, scattered pills. This method is ideal when the fabric area is small, and the pills aren’t densely packed.
The advantage of tape is that it’s quick and convenient, and you can do it anytime. The only downside is that it might not be as effective for dense or heavy pilling.
4. Try a Fabric Comb or Pill Removal Brush
If you take good care of your clothes, there are fabric combs or pill removal brushes specifically designed to remove pills. These tools typically have fine bristles or plastic teeth that easily remove fabric pills.
- How to use it: Gently comb the fabric surface with the brush, following the direction of the fibers. Make sure to apply even pressure to avoid damaging the fabric.
- Best for: All types of fabrics, especially wool, cashmere, and other materials prone to pilling.
Pill removal brushes are more affordable than fabric shavers, and they’re great for long-term use. They make fabric care much easier.
5. Manually Remove Pills
If you don’t want to buy tools or only have a few pills to deal with, you can actually remove them manually. This method is ideal for people who care about the details of their clothes, although it requires a bit of patience, it’s very cost-effective.
- How to do it: Gently trim off the pills with your fingernails or a small pair of scissors. Be careful not to tug on or tear the fabric as you trim.
- Best for: Light pilling. This method isn’t suitable for large areas of pilling.
While this method requires patience, it’s perfect for carefully removing pills from small sections of the fabric.
6. Prevent Pilling While Washing
To prevent fabric from developing pills, you can start by taking care of your clothes during laundry.
- Separate your clothes: Wash clothes that tend to pill (like sweaters or wool garments) separately to avoid friction with other items.
- Wash with cold water: Hot water increases friction, making pills more likely. Washing with cold water reduces the stress on fabric fibers.
- Use a laundry bag: Putting your clothes in a laundry bag reduces friction in the washing machine, helping to prevent pilling.
- Gentle cycle: Use the machine’s gentle cycle to avoid intense spinning and agitation, which can cause pills.
These preventative steps can help reduce the occurrence of fabric pilling, keeping your clothes looking newer for longer.
Conclusion
Whether you use a fabric shaver, a razor, tape, or a pill removal brush, you can easily get rid of pilling. The key is to be gentle to avoid damaging the fabric. Add in some careful washing techniques, and your clothes will stay looking fresh and neat.
If you take good care of your clothes, pilling won’t be a huge problem. Every now and then, use these simple methods to keep your clothes in good shape.
I hope these tips help you!