Effective tips & tricks to remove and prevent pilling
An unpleasant sight on your clothes: Lint and small fiber pills, also known as pilling, can detract from the appearance of your textiles, especially on garments made from delicate materials such as wool. Knitted sweaters, which we love so much, quickly lose their charm when pilling makes them look worn.
But don’t worry, we have put together some tips and tricks for you to remove and prevent pilling. Proper care and gentle treatment of your woolen clothing is crucial and contributes significantly to prolonging its life. In our guide article you will now find the best methods to protect your clothes from pilling in the future.
Focus on pilling: what it is and how it occurs
The term pilling describes the occurrence of fibers that detach from a fabric and form small knots and fluff on its surface. These small, annoying fiber nodules, also known as “pills”, are primarily caused by mechanical friction, which causes the fiber ends to become matted during wear. However, pilling is not uncommon in the washing machine either, as the fibers also come into contact with each other due to friction and thus form small pills.
Pilling occurs primarily in areas that are exposed to intense friction, such as the shoulder area if you frequently carry a shoulder bag. This is due to the use of staple yarns. In contrast to synthetic fibers, staple yarns have a limited length, which means that they cannot be twisted as tightly and easily come loose from the structure. This creates small fiber balls that accumulate on the surface of the textile. Wool materials tend to become matted quickly due to this property.
Pilling predisposition: Which materials are affected – from wool to polyester?
Not all materials are equally predisposed to nodule formation. Natural fibers such as wool and cotton tend to form lint due to their fiber structure. The short fibers in wool and the loose structure in cotton can fray more easily and lead to unwanted fiber nodules. Synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon are generally less prone to pilling, as their longer fibers and denser structure reduce the formation of lint.
However, it is important to note that pilling can occur with any material. Linting does not necessarily have to be due to poor quality. In the case of wool, for example, which is more susceptible to pilling due to its high fineness and relatively short fiber length, this is compensated for by many advantageous properties. It is particularly popular in baby and toddler clothing, as the high fineness of the fibers makes the material comfortable to wear without scratching.
Pure new wool is known for its natural temperature-regulating properties, which help to ensure that babies and toddlers are neither too warm nor too cold. This is because the fiber has good insulating properties, which means that it warms in winter and can have a cooling effect in summer. Despite these advantages, the high-quality natural material is susceptible to linting due to its short fiber length, but its quality remains very high.
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Nodule removal made easy: advice for optimal care
To ensure that your wool or cotton clothing, knitted garments etc. always remain in immaculate condition, follow the recommendations below to remove pills and avoid care errors.
Recommended measures:
- For effective lint removal, we recommend an electric lint shaver with integrated guard plate for safe clearance.
- Use a lint comb to gently remove tangled fibers from natural materials.
- Use lint rollers or special lint brushes to gently remove loose fibers and nodules.
- The “Sweater Stone” is well suited for brushing over pilling areas and rubbing off fibers.
Not recommended:
- Avoid plucking nodules with your fingers to prevent further fiber tears and new nodules.
- Household scissors are unsuitable as they are often too blunt and imprecise for removing pilling.
- Disposable razors as an alternative to lint razors can cause holes in the fabric as they often do not have a protective plate and use sharp blades.
What is the most effective way to avoid pilling? An overview:
Avoid friction: Reduce the friction of the textile by ensuring, for example, that the wool or cotton garment in question does not come into constant contact with rough surfaces. Do not wear it over bags or rucksacks that have rough surfaces.
Lint roller against pilling: Use a lint roller immediately after purchase and regularly to gently remove loose fibers and pills from the fabric.
Regular brushing with a lint brush: Brush the fabric regularly to remove protruding fibers. Be careful not to damage the intact yarn.
Wash clothes inside out: By washing clothes inside out, you can reduce the friction between garments and thus reduce the risk of pilling.
Use wash bags: Use special wash bags for delicate items of clothing. These protect the clothing from rubbing against other textiles during the washing process.
Gentle cycle and low temperatures: Wash delicate clothing on a gentle cycle and at low temperatures. This can help to protect the fibers and reduce the risk of pilling.
Air drying: Avoid using the dryer, as this can lead to additional friction and wear. Let the clothes air dry instead.
Use textile protectors: Some textile protectors on the market can help to strengthen the fibers and reduce pilling. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Avoid fabric softener: Avoid using fabric softener as it can soften the fibers, which in turn could increase the likelihood of pilling.
Pay attention to the care instructions for the fabric: to prevent pilling, it is important to follow the instructions on the manufacturer’s care label exactly. Gentle hand washing is necessary for certain textiles.
Place the garment in the freezer: cold can prevent pilling in woolen clothing. Place the garment in a plastic bag and leave it in the freezer for two days. After defrosting, wash the garment according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Freezing and subsequent washing tightens the fibers, making them less susceptible to pilling.
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Is the occurrence of pilling a legitimate reason for a complaint?
The presence of lint and small pills on garments is generally more of an aesthetic problem and is not necessarily a clear sign of inferior material quality. Accordingly, pilling is not considered a reason for complaint and therefore excludes the right to return or exchange.
It is important to emphasize that pilling is considered a natural process caused by friction during wearing and washing and does not necessarily indicate quality defects. Therefore, the aesthetic appearance of pilling is considered normal wear and tear, which is not accepted as a reason for complaint unless there are exceptional circumstances, taking into account the manufacturer’s or seller’s individual return policy.
Text: Elke Grössler, cocoo-me® online editorial team
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