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How to De-pill a Sweater

CLOTHING CARE TIPS

Winter is sweater weather, and there’s no better feeling than getting cozy in your favorite comfy sweater while you’re watching a movie, reading a book, or wrapping presents on a cold night. You probably can’t wait to break out your favorite festive sweater – the one that feels comfortable but also looks amazing on you – for your holiday celebrations. 

It’s disappointing when you take your sweater out of the closet or dresser drawer and find that it’s covered over with little fabric pills. What can you do when your favorite sweater is covered in pills? Take a look at the solution.

How to De-Pill Your Sweater

De-pilling is possible, but it takes time. If you try to rush it, you’re liable to end up damaging your sweater. So be patient and take your time. You can start by spreading your sweater out on a clean flat surface.

There are gadgets you can buy that are designed for de-pilling. You can find them online or in the laundry section in most department stores. If you don’t have one, though, you can use a razor blade, a small pair of scissors, a fine-tooth comb, a pumice stone, or a fruit zester to remove the pills. 

Whichever tool you choose, be sure to wield it gently so that you don’t cut or damage the fabric of the sweater. Work your way from the top down, slowly removing pills and turning and straightening the garment when necessary. This method will also work to remove pills on blankets or shawls. 

How to Prevent Future Pilling

Of course, it’s better if your sweaters don’t pill up in the first place. Pilling is not necessarily inevitable; if you take care of your garment, you can prevent pilling in the future. 

Before you wash a sweater made from a fabric that’s likely to pill, turn it inside out. Most sweaters should be hand washed or washed on a gentle cycle. 

Choose a detergent for your sweater that doesn’t contain any dyes and that rinses clean. This will help protect the fabric. Once the sweater comes out of the wash, lay it on a clean, flat surface and let it air dry. The heat from your home dryer may be too harsh for the sweater material. 

Prevent Stretching Too

While you’re at it, it’s worth making sure that your sweater doesn’t stretch out. A sweater that keeps its shape will be less likely to rub on other fabrics and therefore less likely to pill.

After washing, put the wet sweater on a clean, dry towel. Roll the sweater up in the towel from the edge, the way that you’d roll a sushi roll. This will help gently squeeze out excess water. Then unroll the sweater, remove the wet towel, and place the sweater on a new, dry towel. Make sure that you arrange the sweater into its original shape before leaving it to dry.