How to Remove Pilling from Clothes Without Damaging the Fabric

Pilling is one of those garment problems that looks more alarming than it is. A sweater covered in small fuzz balls is annoying, but it's fixable — and the fabric underneath is usually perfectly intact. The goal is to remove the pills without removing the fibre they came from.

We see garments in various stages of pilling at our Maple Ridge facility, and the recovery process is straightforward when you have the right tool and use it correctly.

What Pilling Actually Is

Pills are small knots of fibre that form when loose or short fibre ends work their way to the surface of a fabric and tangle together under friction. The friction can come from wear — a backpack strap rubbing against a shoulder, seat belts against jacket fronts — or from washing and tumble drying, which is hard on loosely structured knits.

Fabrics most prone to pilling include wool and cashmere knits, fleece, sherpa, and blended fabrics where the fibre composition includes short synthetic or natural fibres that can escape the weave structure. Tightly woven fabrics made from long-staple fibres pill less.

The pills don't represent structural damage to the garment. They're surface-level, and removing them restores the garment's appearance without removing useful fabric.

The Right Tool Matters More Than Technique

Depilling combs and pumice combs are the best general-purpose option. They have a fine-toothed surface that grabs pills without easily catching on the intact fabric underneath. They're cheap, durable, and easy to control.

Electric sweater shavers remove pills quickly and are effective on larger surface areas, but they require care on fine fabrics. The spinning blade that removes pills can also damage a thin knit if held in one place or pressed too firmly.

Disposable razors work in an emergency but are the highest-risk option. The blade edge that shaves pills can also nick the fabric, catch on knit loops, and create holes. If you're using a razor, use an extremely light touch and move slowly.

Lint rollers don't remove pills but are useful for collecting the fuzz after you've depilled an area. Use one as a finishing step.

Technique: Slow and Light

Lay the garment flat on a smooth surface and smooth it with your hands. Work in short strokes that follow the direction of the knit — against the grain increases the risk of snagging. Use enough pressure to catch the pills but not enough to feel the resistance of the intact fabric.

The most common mistake is pressing too hard or rushing. More pressure doesn't remove pills faster; it removes fabric along with the pills, which progressively thins the garment. Work methodically, check your progress, and stop each area once it looks even.

Fabric-Specific Notes

Wool and cashmere sweaters are the most common use case. Both respond well to a depilling comb with light, grain-direction strokes. Cashmere is particularly soft and can thin quickly if over-worked — err on the side of fewer passes.

Fleece and sherpa tend to pill heavily around cuffs, underarms, and anywhere that rubs. A depilling comb can break up the clumps and restore the original texture. These fabrics shed more readily than knits, so keep strokes short.

Delicate or thin fabrics should be tested on a hidden area first with whatever tool you're using. If in doubt, take the garment to a professional.

The Laundry Brothers offers wash & fold and dry cleaning pickup across Greater Vancouver, seven days a week. See service areas →