Little Pills on Sweaters and Other Fabrics

Updated on November 04, 2010
N.D. asks from Los Angeles, CA
17 answers

does anyone have a secret for removing those little annoying balls that you get on sweaters and other fabrics when you wash them with things you shouldn't like towels? It seems so tedious to remove them one by one!

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E.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

Head to Target and get a small hand-held sweater shaver. They are small and run on a couple double AA batteries. Try looking in their laundry section (by the irons, etc.).

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L.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

I bought a little hand held machine that takes them off. Don't know what it's called but they should have it at Bed Bath and Beyond or maybe the craft shops that sell fabric.

Good luck

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W.E.

answers from Sacramento on

i have a little hand held battery operated shaver for fabric. i use it to de-pill my sweaters, shirts, etc. it looks like a little electric shaver for skin. i 've had it forever and dont remember where i got it, but a fabric store might be able to tell you where to get one. i probably bought it at kmart or target or mervyns. i can press down on the fabric and dont have to worry about it cutting it. the blades are covered - (like the electric face shaver)

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D.G.

answers from Syracuse on

ladys razor works well,also a shaver is sold for such things---get the larger one---has to be emptied alot if it is small...

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K.M.

answers from Redding on

A hand-held razor. Press lightly; if you press too hard you'll cut the threads :)

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L.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Sweater shavers work! They require a couple of batteries and look like a small electric shaver. Lots of places have them, like Target.....

W.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi N.,

I just hold the fabric taut and use a regular old leg razor .. just like shaving you legs :)

Good luck!

L.B.

answers from New York on

Eddy Bauer sells a special de-pilling stone for $10.00. I saw it in their catalog, but have not tried it. I am thinking about getting one the next time I place an order.

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G.Y.

answers from San Diego on

Yes there is a little machine you can buy. CVS sells them in there as seen on TV section. Hope it works for you.

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

I've had success with a hand held razor, too. I've also discovered that washing these clothes separately in cold water on delicate helps. I get frustrated with the pills that pop up while I'm wearing the clothes. My fleece robes are the worst. And now a really nice wool sweater which I dry clean.

I only wash towels with towels. I've found that towels cause pills on lots of different fabrics, even sheets.

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A.M.

answers from Las Vegas on

You can gently shave them off with a razor.

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S.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

I've used the stone mentioned in a previous post. They used to sell them at Nordstrom eons ago. It works well, but it smells really funky. I'd go with the electric sweater shaver or lady's disposable razor.

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S.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

They actually make something called a sweater shaver, it gets rid of them quite easily.

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M.F.

answers from Minneapolis on

Don't wash towels with anything else, well jeans are ok to wash them with.
Don't use your dryer for your favorite sweaters or tee-shirts, lay them flat to dry. The dryer is very hard on our clothes. In the Spring - Fall, I hang my clothes outside too, not sweaters though..dry flat.
Like many others have said, with the existing pills, use a fabric shaver for de-pilling them.

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C.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

I am sure someone has already posted this, but if not, there is a sweater shaver that will removed those little balls for you. It's easy to use, and cuts down a lot of work. Most major stores such as Target or Walmart will carry them.

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A.B.

answers from Atlanta on

Shaver for the pills, but from now on wash your sweaters inside out in a garment bag and lay them flat to air dry. Wash sweaters in cold on a delicate cycle and never mix towels with anything else...

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