How do you keep sweaters from pilling?
A reader wrote in with the following question, which I'd love your help with!
I was wondering if you have any tips for keeping sweaters from getting nubby or repairing them once they do. I bought a battery operated tool that is supposed to shave them, but I don't think it works all that well. Even when I buy supposedly high quality sweaters I still have this issue.
Thanks!
Meghann
I don't own tons of sweaters, so I'm not the best person in the world to answer this question.
My sweaters (and my girls' sweaters) are all the fine-gauge variety, and I wash them in cold and then line-dry them. That mostly seems to keep them pill-free for me, but Meghann shared with me that she's having pilling issues even though she's washing the sweaters on delicate and then air-drying them.
So.
What do you all do to keep your sweaters pill-free?
Is there a special washing/drying technique you use?
Do you have a way to remove pills once they're there?
Is there a particular fiber you look for when you shop for sweaters? (wool? cotton? Do you avoid acrylic?)
(On a related note, I bought a sweatshirt from Kohl's last year, and it started pilling before I even washed it! It's acrylic, and I've never had that problem with a cotton or fleece sweatshirt. So, that made me wonder about the type of yarn used to make sweaters, and whether that's a factor.)
Alrighty. The floor is yours, readers! Share all of your pilling-avoidance and pilling-removal tips in the comments.
I don't have a lot to share hear but yes - you should definitely avoid acrylic. It is the worst and does not hold up at all. I don't own a ton of sweaters either but I have some cashmere and wool ones and neither are pilling. In fact, I don't think I've had a sweater pill since I stopped buying acrylic years ago!
@Kristen, I totally agree with you!! Buying any clothing made of acrylic is a total waste. It’s cheap material.
Polyester is definitely pills. Even when it's in cotton blend, it pills, just not as fast.
I was going to say that most of my sweaters are a blend of cotton and polyester and I never have a problem! Maybe it's the percentages of each that make the difference.
Interesting. I avoid buying sweaters because of this. I will be happy to learn. I
I got a sweater this Christmas from my sister and its already looking bad.
I wear a house seeatshirt constantly in winter and after 8 years the one I have on now is still fine. So I'm looking at it now: 100% cotton.
Yes! Our 100% cotton sweatshirts are holding up just fine. But if I accidentally buy one with some kind of acylic in it, we always have problems with pilling.
I avoid acrylic, wash inside out (so any pilling is on the inside), air dry and most of the time the sweaters look fine. I have a horrible time keeping acrylic kid sweaters looking good (I don't buy them but they are occasionally given as gifts)and find that a razor works best to get the pills off.
What kind of washing machine do you have? I've noticed that the HE washers seem to cause more pilling than the old fashion agitators. I wonder if you hand wash them if it would help. I have a ton of sweaters, some more than 10 years old that are not pilled at all and I have an old agitator washer. I usually turn my sweaters inside out and put them in a zip up mesh bag for washing and then dry the flat on a sweater rack.
I only buy cotton ones, which aren't that easy to find, but I hate the way synthetic ones look after one wearing.
AVOID acrylic at all cost!!!!!!!!!! I only buy 100% cotton or wool/cashmere. I have several sweaters & the ones I get from Target usually are of good quality. If you want to spend more Lands End is a good choice.
I'm by no means a textile expert, but I do love sweaters. I've had the best luck with sweaters that are made of long-staple material. Long-staple cotton (sometimes labeled pima, like at Lands' End) and wool are available. They do tend to cost more but they pill way, way less.
I have several acrylic sweaters and have not had any issues with pilling! However, I did notice that since I stopped using traditional fabric softener and started using white vinegar/dryer balls, I get less pilling.
When some of my cheaper cotton sweaters start pilling, I just shave them with a razor.
True, synthetic fibers are bad, but so are many 100% wools! I have tons of sweaters since I'm in Maine. They are well worn so I know that cashmere will definitely pill over time. The Laundress sells a sweater comb but I've yet to master it and it takes a long time. Id love to get some usage tips or a recommendation for an electronic shaver.
I learned that even the "quality" material differs greatly even within the same manufacturer. I have an expensive 100% wool queen size blanket, and it piles :(. Anyway, here is my method for removal of the piling: pumice stone. Make sure its not the sea sponge "pumice" but a real lava rock. Secondly, you want one with large holes as they create the "bumpy" surface that catches the piles as you gently slide the rock over. Do not press or you will weaken the fabric, just glide with a light pressure. That queen size blanket takes a good hour to de-pile, a sweater would take 15 min or less.
Oooh! Ooh! Pick me! I know an awesome remedy for pills! Shave them off with a disposable razor! It worked wonderfully on an excessively pilled sweater I own
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/use-a-disposable-razor-to-clea-160381
I found it worked best when I laid the sweater over my lap or a couch, but I snagged it when it was laid on the table.
Oops! Looks like some others already mentioned this method!
Julia Marie: Your unbridled enthusiasm prompted me to try this on a newish hoodie that has never been washed but is pilling like crazy. It looks a whole lot better now, so thanks!
Yay! This trick rescued one of my most versatile sweaters, so I'm glad it worked for you, too!
Loose fibers and abrasion cause pilling. (I knit and I hate when a new garnet pills. It's so sad!). All fabrics pill, but ones with an open weave and shorter fibers pill more. Also, you will notice more pilling under the arms or on the sides where your arms rub against your body. sweaters will eventually stop pilling as the short fibers wear out. In the meantime, less agitation in the wash and a sweater defuzzer are the best options.
This. The factors for abrasion are:
- short fibers
- "furry" fibers
- loose weave
- abrasion and agitation
When you buy, buy long-stapled [1], smooth[2] fibers in a tight, even weave. When you wash, wash in delicate cycle or hand wash. When you rinse, squish and squeeze (even stand on) and DO NOT wring. I squish out as much as I can, then lay between two towels, then roll the towels, then stand on it. That gets out a lot of water. Then lay out flat to dry, ideally on an elevated mesh surface for maximum air flow.
[1] Staple is the technical term for the length and nature of a bit of fiber. Silk is the longest stapled fiber - it can be miles long. Dog hair is short-stapled. Sheep wool is generally long-stapled, cotton varies a lot.
[2] Fiber has different textures, which is defined by the nature of the hair's cuticle. A smooth, hard cuticle means smooth, slippery fibers. Silk has a smooth hard cuticle. So does Asian hair, which is why it's so straight. Animal wool has a rough, scaly fiber - look at it under a microscope to see what I mean - as does curly human hair. That is why wool felts and silk does not. The scales literally get caught on each other.
Ok, so, how do you know if you're buying long staple if you're buying cotton, since it varies?
Good question. Let me think... A combination of factors, plus experience and luck.
- Egyptian cotton, often the best available, is long-stapled.
- The way the fabric feels smooth to the touch. The way the fabric catches the light. In both these cases, look for something that is reminiscent of silk feel and shine.
- Sometimes you can rub the fabric against itself and literally see it roughen up. This is a bad sign.
- Sometmes the reputation of the company helps.
- Price can be an indicator, but not always.
I buy wool sweaters: not only because they pill less, but also because I'm a bit...stinky...and acrylics smell awful on me by the end of the day (even if I feel like I'm not sweating!) That's never a problem with wool (hooray - natural fabrics!) The challenge with wool is that it tends to cost more, therefore I purchase my wool sweaters second-hand. I also dry clean my wool sweaters, which is cost-prohibitive for some, but our dry cleaner is so cheap (I think it's $2 to dry clean a sweater) that I think it's worth it. Of course I think hand-washing would work just as well, but we are finally at a point in our lives where we can afford the small luxury of dry-cleaning our clothes. 🙂
This may seem kinda simplistic but I just don't wash my sweaters a lot. I usually wear a shirt underneath them anyway so they aren't next to my skin getting sweaty or anything. Washing clothes in general is kinda tough on them. If I drip something on a sweater it usually can be easily spot cleaned.
I don't have a solution for removing pills from sweaters, but here is how I keep them from pilling in the first place:
1. Wash inside out using LIQUID detergent rather than an abrasive powder detergent.
2. Lay flat to dry rather than hanging. If you have a heavier sweater, hanging it to dry can cause it stretch out in an unflattering way. I lay mine over a drying rack.
3. Avoid buying sweaters that are a blend of synthetic and natural fibers. I find that a 100% acrylic sweater NEVER pills, but a sweater with a blend of acrylic and a natural fiber is worse. The blends are the issue.
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's advice for removing pills!
I have found washing in cold helps and I adore my sweater defuzzer from Target. I think wool pills the worst. (100% wool) and dryer sheets are the devil for fleece pilling.
A co-worker and I were just talking about this at work, for she said her sweaters pill and mine didn't look pilled. It's because I wash my sweaters separately. I was told I'm wasting water by washing one at a time, but I don't like them pilling so it works for me. 🙂
This topic is great. I hate pilling!
Ditto on shaving with a razer.
I turn all of my good clothes wrong side out to wash, no matter the fabric; dh's business work pants/shirts, things for church, ect. I've noticed that the colors even seems to stay brighter & underarms come out cleaner.
I use a battery-powered sweater shaver that I bought from Brookstone years ago. Works well, but time consuming. I use it on one set of sheets that pills as well, and they are 100% cotton. What's up with that???? I'd be afraid to use a razor of any kind on a sweater for fear of slicing through a stitch.
I'm a knitter. Sweaters, even good quality, will pill from use/wear. To remove pills, I find the best method is to shave the sweater with a regular old safety razor, like your would shave your legs with. To wash delicate knits, like cashmere, the best method is to soak the sweater in cold water with a small drop of detergent or shampoo. Once it has soaked for an hour or more, gently agitate it with your hands. If there is a stain, scrub the spot with your fingers. Drain the water. Fill the sink to rinse, drain agin. Give the wet sweater a gentle squeeze. Then, spread it out on a clean, dry towel. Roll the towel up, with the sweater inside it. Fold the towel roll in half, and step on it a few times. Then remove the sweater and air dry it. Works for me!
In my experience HE washers cause more pilling. My boyfriend has one and I do not. I've since began to only use his after moving in and my sweaters seem to pill more. My friend also had this same experience. I think cheaper sweaters don't hold up as well either.
That's so interesting. You'd think a washer with an agitator would cause MORE pilling.
Pilling is a friction issue, either in the washer, or during wear. For me, even cashmere pills under my arms/at the bust. I remove the pills with a sweater trimmer before they get too noticeable.
I wear a lot of sweaters....My cashmere and nice wool ones will pill.. Acrylic is the pits. Honestly, I hand wash, drip dry I have used a razor before but i'm afraid I'll cut the fabric so I just use pull them off.
So many good comments. I really like Banana Republic sweaters. I cannot wear wool. Maybe if I could afford the really high end wool it wouldn't be itchy but I cannot. The BR sweaters I get are a combination of silk, cashmere and cotton. They are thin so it's not super warm but great for layering. They don't seem to pill. Dry cleaning is recommend it but I wash them in cold on gentle and air dry.
Sweater Stone!!!!
It's cheap, it lasts forever, and it WORKS. I've used this on all fabrics, and it works perfectly every time. I can't seem to manage to avoid pilling, but at the end of sweater season, I run this guy over any pilled spots, and they're good as new for next year.
http://www.amazon.com/Lint-Removing-Sweater-Stone-3-1/dp/B0018NKAPI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1455640452&sr=8-2&keywords=sweater+stone
Interesting. I'm reading reviews, and some people are complaining that it falls apart and leaves a big mess. Did you run into that?
I think I want to buy one to give it a try!
I've had no issues whatsoever with mine, and I've had it about five years.
I have some cotton-acrylic blend socks and sweaters, and they don't pill. The cotton seems to be the key for keeping that under control. I can't wear full acrylic: it's hot, it's itchy, and wind cuts right through it, but the cotton-acrylic blend is comfortable and warm and it doesn't need special treatment with washing and drying.
Like many others, I use a dull disposable razor to shave off pills on clothing. It takes a while but works great.
Wearing a purse contributes to pilling...
A belated thanks to everyone. I am going to try the sweater stone too.
Just an idea, but I wonder if Scotch Guard would help prevent pilling.
I'm surprised to hear that everyone says avoid acrylic, the only sweater I've owned (and I love sweaters) that never pilled is a 100% acrylic sweater from Old Navy. It was probably on sale and I've had it for well over 7 years. I wash it sparingly in cold water and only line dry, it has outlasted every other sweater I've had.
I use my dogs Furminator. You have to be somewhat gentle, but it removes the pills quickly and easily.
My children have had some unfortunate encounters with lice, so I have metal live combs. Those comb through pills well, also.
Hi i have sweater that is 50% wool and 50% polyamide. And there is no pilling after washing it. But if i wear for a few hours it is covered in pills. Any advise for how i can avoid it??
If it's acrylic there will most definitely be pilling. There are cute acrylic sweaters out there but stay clear of them. Before you buy a sweater check to see what fabrics or knits are used. I've had acrylic sweaters pill in my closet. I don't understand why some designers continue to use this product.
Peppermint Tea Tree sounds amazing for the cold winter months.