Solving Apparel Pilling Problems
It happens to all of us. We wear a new shirt and it looks nice for a little while (hopefully for more than a day). But after a few wears or washings, little “fuzz balls” or “pills” appear on the shirt – especially in areas where the fabric has rubbed against itself or another item (such as a purse, backpack, or seat belt).
Similar to lint, fabric pills are “bunches or balls of tangled fibers which are held to the surface of a fabric by one or more fibers,” according to standards organization ASTM International. But unlike lint, which can be quickly removed with a sticky lint roller, fabric pills just want to hang onto clothes for dear life. Fabric pills seem to multiply, and they attract loose threads or other lint in the wash.
Throughout use, most fabrics will experience some pilling; however, certain kinds of fabrics are more likely to pill than others. Knitted fabrics (such as those used for a T-shirt or sweatpants) tend to pill more than woven fabrics (such as those used for a button-down shirt or pair of jeans). This is because of the various methods used to create a fabric from yarns. Also, when yarns of different fibers are knitted or woven to create a blended fabric (example: a cotton/polyester blend), there is a greater chance for pilling because the fibers from the weaker of any two different types of yarns may break off and create pills.
Regardless of fiber type, a higher quality yarn can be created when it is tightly spun from longer fibers. Higher quality yarns will usually make a higher quality fabric that can have reduced pilling. In general, there will be less pilling on a fabric made from one kind of fiber (example: 100 percent cotton); especially when longer lengths of that fiber have been tightly spun into yarns that are then carefully knitted or woven together, resulting in a higher quality material. This holds true for clothing as well as sheets and towels. But to keep our budgets in check, it’s not always feasible to purchase clothing and textiles made with higher quality yarns. That’s okay! Luckily, there are some ways to minimize pilling.
- Be mindful of your activities while wearing clothing prone to pilling; for example: if you are wearing a new sweater and you would like to maintain its appearance, avoid carrying your bag over your should or on your back – the friction between your bag and sweater may cause unnecessary pilling.
- If possible, do not wash your pilling-prone items after every wear; air it out instead.
- To launder, wash items on a delicate cycle to prevent excessive agitation, do not overload your washer, and wash clothes inside out.
- It has been suggested that laundry detergents containing the “cellulase” enzyme may help breakdown cotton pills and remove them.
- Adding fabric softener to the wash can help “reduce friction” between fibers and smooth yarns.
- Remove pills on dry fabric with a special fabric comb or a small, battery-operated lint shaver or fabric “defuzzer”; some fabric shavers come with a wall plug or USB connector for recharging.
- It may take up to 10 passes over an area with a fabric shaver to see significant results.
- While using a fabric shaver, keep the fabric taught and be careful!
Expert Tip: In general, battery-operated (electric) fabric shavers have better consumer reviews than manual fabric combs. Expect to pay between $15 and $25 for a decent fabric shaver. Look for one that has variable speeds and an adjustable shave head or guard to accommodate different types of fabric. Test on an inconspicuous area first.
References:
https://compass.astm.org/EDIT/html_annot.cgi?D4970
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-prevent-clothes-from-pilling-2146667
Source: Jeanne Badgett, Senior Extension Associate for Clothing, Textiles, and Household Equipment
Social Media Post: Frustrated by fabric fuzz? Here are some helpful tips to minimize pesky pilling and help maintain the “new” appearance of your clothing.