Why there are Pills ? Causes, Prevention and Effective Solutions

Introduction

Pilling is the nightmare of anyone who wants to keep their clothes impeccable! These unsightly small lints that form on the surface of sweaters, coats and other knitted or woolen items are not only unsightly but can also damage the fibers of the fabric.

Yet their appearance seems almost inevitable after a while. So, why do these pills occur and how to avoid them ? Let's discover the origins of this phenomenon together!

What are pills ?

Pilling refers to these small fluffs or clumps of fibers which form on the surface of certain clothes, particularly those made of wool, cashmere or cotton. They appear as tiny balls of hair that emerge from the fabric, giving it a worn, fuzzy appearance.

Pills are made up of fibers from the garment itself which become detached from the stitches and clump together into small balls due to repeated friction. They appear most often on sweaters, coats, scarves and other knitted accessories.

The main reasons for the appearance of pilling

Several factors can cause the appearance of this unsightly lint:

• friction: This is the primary cause of pilling. Rubbing the garment against the skin, other clothing, rough surfaces, bags will cause pilling.

• The poor quality of certain fabrics: Poor quality materials with short, brittle fibers tend to pill more easily.

• The mixture of fibers: Certain mixtures such as cotton/wool pill more due to the difficulty for the fibers to bond together.

• Poor maintenance: Washing too aggressively, drying too quickly, ironing at excessive temperature... All of this increases the risk of pilling.

The impact of pilling on the durability of clothing

The gradual appearance of pilling is not just an aesthetic problem. Ultimately, this can seriously affect the durability of the garment.

In fact, pilling weakens the knitting stitches. The holes then tend to enlarge, making the sweater or scarf more and more vulnerable. Pills also eventually tear off completely, leaving unsightly holes.

It is therefore essential to know how to prevent and treat this problem quickly at the first signs, in order to prolong the life of the clothing.

Pilling prevention

Prevention is better than cure! Here are some tips to prevent pilling:

General tips to prevent pilling

• Avoid excessive friction by wearing cotton underwear under the stitches.
• Wash clothes by hand or machine wash at low temperature.
• Choose a short program and a reduced spin speed.
• Dry flat to limit fraying.
• Iron if necessary at low temperature with a cloth.

Selection and choice of fabrics

• Choose high quality virgin wool, the fibers are more resistant.
• Avoid mixtures of fibers that are too different (cotton/wool for example).
• Check the fineness of the knitting, the tighter it is, the less it will pill.

Adapted clothing care to minimize pilling

• Carefully turn clothes inside out before washing.
• Use a special wool detergent to gently clean the fibers.
• Avoid using a washing ball which catches the fibers.
• Wash new and used clothes separately to reduce snagging.

Particularities of appearance of pilling by material

Not all textiles react the same way. Here are the main pilling characteristics depending on the material.

Pilling on cotton clothing

Cotton tends to fray quickly, causing small balls to appear on the surface of the fabric, particularly at seams and hems. Short cotton fibers break easily with friction.

Pilling on wool clothing

Wool is very susceptible to felting and pilling because of the scales that cover its fibers. Friction between the stitches causes the formation of small fluff.

Tips for Cashmere Clothing

Cashmere is extremely soft but also very fragile! This precious fabric tends to fray quickly. It is recommended to wash it by hand, iron it inside out and store it folded in a cover.

Particularities of appearance of pilling per piece

Certain parts are more exposed to pilling than others.

Pilling on sweaters

sweaters and other knitted clothing are very vulnerable, due to rubbing against the skin. The most affected areas are the sleeves, neckline, bottom and interior.

Pilling on coats

On coats, pilling often appears at the collar, armholes and bottom of the garment. The place where the coat rubs against clothes or purse.

Pilling on scarves and accessories

scarves, hats, gloves and other knitted accessories are also sensitive, especially in areas of friction such as the neck or wrists.

Techniques for removing pilling

Despite all your efforts, pills have appeared on your favorite clothes ? Here are some techniques to get rid of them:

Using the anti-pilling razor

This is the simplest and most effective method for removing pilling. Simply run the pilling razor blade gently over the fabric to cut stubborn fibers. Be careful not to damage the garment.

Adhesive tape as a quick solution

Wrap a piece of tape around your fingers, sticky side out. Then apply gently to the areas to be treated to remove pilling.

Specific combs for pilling

Anti-pilling combs have fine, sharp teeth that allow lint to be extracted from the fabric without damaging it. Gently pass the comb over the surface of the garment.

Anti-pilling natural stones

Gently rubbing the pilled area with a pumice stone will remove the fibers in a few minutes. Be careful, however, not to insist too much so as not to wear out the garment.

Special brushes for clothes

Clothing brushes, often made of metal, have drilling bristles to easily remove pills. Brush your clothes gently and regularly with to avoid damaging the fibers.

Anti-pilling sprays

Spray a special textile spray on the surface of the pilled areas and leave to act for a few minutes before brushing or razoring. These products nourish the fibers and help to tighten them.

Electric anti-pilling machines

There are small devices with rotating blades designed specifically to remove pills from clothing. Very effective, they nevertheless require a certain dexterity. You can find these anti-pilling devices at certain specialist retailers.

The lint roller

Gently pass a lint roller over the affected areas to remove fibers and small balls of hair in excess. A gentle method for renovating the wool or cashmere clothes in your wardrobe.

The adhesive brush

Adhesive rubber brushes are very effective in removing pilling from sweaters or coats. Their sticky surface captures loose fibers without damaging the fabric. It's one of the best weapons to overcome pilling!

Discover in this guide all the tips to get rid of pilling in the blink of an eye.

How to prevent clothing from pilling ?

Machine washing

A machine wash at low temperature with a suitable detergent can sometimes reduce pilling. However, this presents risk of holes if the meshes are already weakened.

Air drying

Letting your clothes air dry, flat, without hanging them on a washing line helps prevent the fibers from getting caught and fraying further. You can place them delicately on a pillowcase.

Steam ironing

Ironing your clothes with steam allows you to restore volume to the fibers and to fill small holes by slightly retangling the threads. However, be careful not to damage the stitches with the iron.

Conclusion

To summarize, there are various ways to combat the appearance of pilling:

• Choose quality materials and adapt maintenance
• Use specific accessories such as the razor, brushes or spray
• Follow simple daily actions to take care of fibers

More than the choice of clothing, it is above all the maintenance and daily habits that influence pilling. Wash and iron your items carefully, avoid excessive friction and your clothes will stay impeccable for a long time!

FAQ

Why is my sweater pilling ?

Several factors can cause the appearance of pilling on a sweater: poor quality of knitting, an unsuitable blend of fibers, too aggressive washing or even repeated rubbing against the skin on the sleeves and neckline.

How to avoid pilling ?

To avoid pilling, wash your clothes at low temperature, dry them flat, avoid the washing ball which catches the fibers, iron at low heat and wear cotton underwear under the stitches to limit the friction.

Is it normal for a pilled sweater ?

Yes, it is completely normal for a sweater to pill over time, especially if it is made of wool or cashmere. Repeated friction of the stitches against each other naturally leads to the formation of lint.

What material pills the most ?

Wool and its derivatives such as cashmere or merino are the materials most likely to pilling. Cotton can also fray quickly. On the other hand, synthetic fibers like polyester pill less.