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10 must-know tips to remove wool pilling

You’re in love with your new wool sweater and want to wear it all the time. But after just a few wears, those pesky little pills and fuzz start appearing. Here’s an explanation of how pilling occurs - and more importantly - how to get rid of it!

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Tips to remove wool pilling: how to get rid of pills and fuzz?

Tips to remove wool pilling: how to reduce pilling on clothes?

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Tips to remove wool pilling: how to remove pilling from your clothing?

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Tips to remove wool pilling: how to get rid of pills and fuzz?

Tips to remove wool pilling: how to reduce pilling on clothes?

Tips to remove wool pilling: how to remove pilling from your clothing?

Let’s clear up a common misconception: pilling - those tiny balls of fiber that form on your wool garments - has nothing to do with the price or quality of the item. It’s simply an unavoidable characteristic of many types of wool, which tend to be more prone to this issue. Even the most luxurious wool sweaters can pill because each wear and wash creates friction, which causes these little pills to form.

Every fabric has its pros and cons. In general: the fuzzier or hairier the fabric, the shorter the fibers, and the higher the chance of pilling. Chunky, loosely knit garments are more prone to pilling than tightly knit, heavier knits. As fans of chunky knits, we understand you can’t resist these cozy pieces. With the following tips, you can reduce and even prevent pilling - and effectively remove any fuzz or pills that do appear.

Pilling on your wool sweater or a few lint balls on your favorite clothing can diminish the beauty of even the most stunning wool garment. Ideally, you'd want a permanent solution to tackle those annoying pills on your new clothes, but unfortunately, we don’t have one - friction during wear is simply unavoidable.

That said, we do have some tips worth remembering to help you care for your clothes in the best way possible, so lint becomes a thing of the past and you can enjoy pill-free clothing. Because let's face it: when a garment starts to pill, it often gets left unused in the closet - and we’re here to help prevent that!

1. Allow wool garments to rest for 24 hours between wears. Fibers that stretch or become slightly damaged during wear need time to naturally "recover," ensuring the garment looks and fits perfectly for your next outing.

2. Always follow the care instructions on the label. The care label is there for a reason. Use the appropriate washing program specifically designed for wool items.

3. Always use a laundry bag to prevent friction during washing. Wash pill-prone garments inside out in a laundry bag to minimize friction and wear during the cycle.

Additionally, use a special detergent designed for wool and other delicate fabrics during washing. These detergents are specifically formulated to keep the fibers in perfect condition.

4. Absolutely avoid drying wool items in the dryer. The best practice is to lay wool items flat to dry, ideally on a towel, to maintain their shape and quality.

5. Use a handheld steamer to extend the time between washes. Steaming is a 'safe' and effective way to refresh your garments without washing and can easily be done at home with our selection of (handheld) steamers. Don’t have a steamer? Letting your wool item air out during a shower or simply outside in fresh air can be just as effective.

6. Store your wool garments folded in the closet, ensuring they have enough space.

2. Always follow the care instructions on the label. The care label is there for a reason. Use the appropriate washing program specifically designed for wool items.

3. Always use a laundry bag to prevent friction during washing. Wash pill-prone garments inside out in a laundry bag to minimize friction and wear during the cycle.

Additionally, use a special detergent designed for wool and other delicate fabrics during washing. These detergents are specifically formulated to keep the fibers in perfect condition.

4. Absolutely avoid drying wool items in the dryer. The best practice is to lay wool items flat to dry, ideally on a towel, to maintain their shape and quality.

6. Store your wool garments folded in the closet, ensuring they have enough space.

Have you followed the steps above but are still dealing with pesky pilling? Frustrating, we know! Luckily, we have the following tips to remove lint and tackle pilling on your clothing once and for all.

7. Never pull at the pilling balls. This will only cause further unnecessary damage to the fabric.

8. Avoid using a disposable razor to shave off pills. Do not use a dull razor or any other blade. Doing so significantly increases the risk of damaging the garment, which would be a real shame.

9. Use a sweater comb, pumice stone, or clothing brush to maintain yarns in optimal condition while also removing pilling. Ensure the wool item is laid flat on a smooth surface, gently stretch the garment, and work carefully to remove the lint and pills as often as needed.

No sweater comb or clothing brush on hand? Try a classic rubber cleaning glove. Put the glove on, lay the wool item flat on a smooth surface, and rub the glove over the pilling and lint to effectively remove them.

10. Always use a professional wool razor. Explore our selection of wool razors below to discover the best way to eliminate tiny pills and loose fibers time and time again. We offer fabric shavers and lint removers from brands like STEAMERY and Repeat - durable, stylish devices designed to remove lint effortlessly, even on delicate fabrics.

Check out our collection of fabric shavers below and ensure your favorite garment looks fresh, well-maintained, and as good as new.

7. Never pull at the pilling balls. This will only cause further unnecessary damage to the fabric.

8. Avoid using a disposable razor to shave off pills. Do not use a dull razor or any other blade. Doing so significantly increases the risk of damaging the garment, which would be a real shame.

Check out our collection of fabric shavers below and ensure your favorite garment looks fresh, well-maintained, and as good as new.