How To Remove Bobbles From Clothes

Take action – For a high-tech approach, try the Gleener Fuzz Remover, or the John Lewis Clothes Shaver, Otherwise, lay the affected garment out flat on a clean surface then use a razor with blades (the sort you shave your legs with works fine) to gently and carefully shave away the pills.

Use your free hand to keep the garment flat and, to ensure you don’t damage the structure of the fabric, apply the least pressure possible. We’ve found you get the best results using light, short strokes of the razor. You can use the sticky side of adhesive tape to collect the fluff you shave away or pop on a pair of washing up gloves and brush your hands over the surface of the garment.

Alternatively, use a very fine-toothed comb to brush away bobbles. Gently pull the comb towards you using short strokes with the teeth angled straight down so they don’t catch in the fabric. If the fabric contains synthetic fibres, which often have more stubbornly attached pills, you might need to go back over the same area a few times for the best result.

• We found that a comb used for treating headlice, such as the Elimination Headlice Comb, was the toughest on bobbles.
• For a handy emergency fix when you’re away from home, the scratchy part of a velcro fastening is also effective at getting rid of bobbles if there are only a few offenders.
• Again, lay the garment flat and use your thumb and forefinger to keep the surface of the garment taut.

Swipe the bobbles rather than using a brushing motion so the velcro doesn’t get tangled in the main fabric.

How do you get fabric bobbles out of clothes?

Download Article Get rid of pesky clothing pills for good Download Article Pills appear when fibers separate from the surface of your clothing, form into tiny ball shapes, and stick to the fabric instead of falling off. While pilling is an inevitable part of owning clothes, you don’t have to put up with it. We’ll walk you through a variety of different ways to get rid of these lint and fuzz balls on your clothes, including easy remedies using items you likely already have at home.

• Rub your clothing with something abrasive to remove pills, like sandpaper or a pumice stone.
• Alternatively, gently shave off the pilling with a disposable razor.
• Prevent pilling by washing your clothes on a gentle cycle and letting them air-dry.

1. 1 Remove pills with a disposable razor. Lay the garment on a flat surface, pulling the fabric near the affected area taut with one hand. Gently shave upward with the razor in small strokes—start with the lightest contact possible and increase as necessary.
   • Pulling the fabric taut prevents you from cutting through the garment.
   • Once you’ve accumulated a pile of fabric pills, use tape to remove them from the fabric. Wrap a large loop of packing tape around your closed fingers (sticky side out) to lift them up.
   • Always use a sharp, new razor, which will most effectively remove the pills. Avoid using shaving razors that have moisture strips or soap bars on either side, as this will likely cause more pilling when rubbed against the fabric.
2. 2 Rub over the fabric with sandpaper, Grab a leftover sheet of sandpaper lying around your home—any grit will do. Then, lightly and carefully guide the sandpaper over the pilled surface of the fabric. In no time at all, those pesky pills will be history!
   • You can also use a sandpaper sponge to accomplish the same thing.

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3. 3 Go over the fabric with a lint brush or lint roller, Work the lint brush over the surface of the fabric, removing the pills from the material as you go. A lint roller also works well for this—simply guide the roller over the surface to get rid of the pills.
4. 4 Trim away the pills with nail scissors, Lay the garment out on a flat surface, like an ironing board or your bed. Using a pair of nail scissors, pull the fabric so it’s taut and carefully trim away each pill without snipping the fabric in the process.
   • Make sure to hold the scissors close to the fabric. Work gently and slowly, so you don’t damage the material.
5. 5 Try a pumice stone, Set out your pilled garment and rub a clean pumice stone over the affected portions of the fabric. The rough material of the stone makes it easy to remove pilling and lint from your clothes.
   • A sweater stone (a stone designed specifically for removing sweater pills) can also work for this.
6. 6 Pick off pills with Velcro hair rollers, Lay out the garment on a flat surface, setting the roller flat on the pilled area. Gently roll it over the material to lift and remove the pills from the fabric. From there, remove any pills caught in the roller and continue to any other affected areas of fabric.
   • A strip of Velcro can also work well for removing pilling from fabric. Holding the Velcro hook-side down, carefully lift the fuzz balls up and off of your garment.
7. 7 Go over the fabric with a sweater comb, Set your garment out on a flat surface and hold the comb over the pilled section of the fabric. Using short and quick strokes, hold the fabric taut and guide the comb in a single direction to gently scrape the pills off.
   • A sweater comb is a small, fine-toothed comb made specifically for removing pilling. It’s different from a hair comb because the teeth are smaller and closer together.
8. 8 Clear away the pills with a fabric shaver, Set the garment out on a flat area and lightly guide the shaver over the fabric’s surface. Use light, gentle motions to get rid of the pilling without hurting the garment in the process.

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1. 1 Turn your garment inside out before sticking it in the washer. When you turn your garments inside out, there’s a better likelihood that pills will develop on the “wrong” side of your garments. The pills will still be there, but only you’ll know about them.
2. 2 Machine-wash your clothes gently or hand-wash them, Use a delicate cycle when washing in the washing machine. Delicate cycles are shorter and gentler, causing less abrasion in the garments.
   • It also helps to stick your garments in a wash net, especially if they’re on the delicate side (like a bra).
   • Make sure the washer isn’t overfilled when you go to start your load, as an overstuffed washing machine can contribute to pilling.
3. 3 Air-dry your clothes rather than tumble-drying them. Whenever possible, hang your garments up to dry rather than using the dryer—this causes less abrasion to the fabric and prevents pilling. If you do tumble-dry your clothes, always use a low heat cycle.
4. 4 Use liquid detergent instead of powder. Powder detergent rubs against the fabric as it dissolves, which makes it more likely to cause pilling during the washing cycle—because of this, liquid detergents are the most gentle solution for delicate fabrics. Use the recommended amount of detergent that’s listed on the package, following your washer’s guidelines to pour it into the machine.
   • Always use a gentle detergent for your wash cycles.
5. 5 Add fabric softener to your loads. Follow the instructions on the container and pour the recommended amount into your washer (or the built-in tray/drawer that’s meant for fabric softener). Fabric softener helps lubricate your garments and can prevent the abrasion that leads to pilling.
6. 6 Brush your clothes regularly with a lint roller. Take some time to consistently brush delicate sweaters with a lint roller or lint brush. Consistently using a lint roller will prevent pills from accumulating on the fabric.
   • Make a lint roller at home if you don’t have one on hand.
7. 7 Opt for garments made with natural materials, like linen or silk. As a general rule of thumb, synthetic materials pill more often than other materials—in other words, fabrics like polyester, nylon, acrylic, and spandex are more likely to develop pills than clothes made with natural fibers like hemp, cashmere, and silk.
   • The tighter the fabric weave, the less likely it is to pill. That’s why garments like jeans almost never pill, while a knitted clothing item often develops tons of pills.
8. 8 Stash your sweaters in the freezer. Believe it or not, people have found that storing their sweaters in the freezer rather than the closet helps keep their garments from shedding fibers and stops them from pilling. If you have enough room in your freezer, try sticking your sweaters in there and see if you notice a difference.

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Add New Question

• Question How can you prevent pilling? Rani Gorgis is a Laundry and Cleaning Specialist and the Owner of Park Blvd Laundry & Dry Cleaners in San Diego, California. With several years of experience in the laundry and cleaning industry, Rani specializes in dry cleaning, wash-n-fold, shirt laundry, and servicing smoke-damaged clothes. He holds a BS in Accounting and a CPA certification. Laundry & Cleaning Specialist Expert Answer Always wash your clothes on a gentle cycle with a gentle detergent. Then, always set the dryer to a low temperature and toss in a dryer sheet if you choose to tumble-dry your garments afterward. Make sure not to overload the washer or dryer, as this can contribute to pilling as well.
• Question How do I keep my hoodie from pilling? I bought a sweater shaver – runs on AC/DC – that has a container attached for the pills and lint that it removes. Now my older hoodies and sweaters look like new, and it cost less than $5.00.
• Question How do I remove pilling off my sofa? As long as the couch is fabric, try one of the methods below.

See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

Always tread lightly when manually removing pills from your garments—you don’t want to tear the fabric by mistake!

Advertisement Article Summary X To remove pilling from clothes made from tough materials like cotton, lay the fabric flat and pull it taut, then use a new disposable razor to shave upwards in short strokes. Once you have a stack of pillings, pick it up with the sticky side of a loop of tape.

• You can also try snipping pillings off with a pair of small nail scissors.
• For more sensitive fabrics like wool and cashmere, roll a Velcro hair roller over the area.
• To learn more about how to prevent pilling from even happening on your clothes, keep reading the article! Did this summary help you? Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,797,653 times.

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What is the best way to remove bobbles from jumpers?

How to Remove Bobbles from Clothes – Remove Piling From Clothes Getting bobbles on your favourite jumper or clothing item is frustrating, we know! Whether well-loved or relatively new, your clothing will bobble in areas where it rubs against itself – like the crook of the elbow, under the arms, or the chest. Gently pass the razor over your jumper, working downwards and following the contours of the fabric. Pick off the fuzz at the edges and hems with your hands. Be careful not to overdo it, or you could cut through the wool – and then bobbles on clothes will be the least of your worries! It can be trickier to remove bobbles from clothes if they’re made of more delicate fibres, such as lamb’s wool and cashmere. The Poll Which brand of dishwasher tablets do you usually purchase? 0 Votes Wondering how to get bobbles off jumpers that have delicate decorations on them? The razor and Velcro tricks might not work, but something sticky might. If the problem area is quite small – like under the arms, where the fibres rub together more – a bit of sticky tape is perfect for getting bobbles off clothes. Having covered some easy ways of getting bobbles off clothes, it’s time to think about prevention. If the question of how to get rid of bobbles on clothes comes up a lot in your household, here are a couple of good laundry habits you can get into:

Use a wash net for delicate items. They’re easy to find in your local supermarket or pound shop, and reducing the friction in your wash load can reduce the amount of time you spend thinking about how to remove bobbles from clothes. Use fabric conditioner like at the final stage of your wash. Fabric conditioning coats the fibres of your clothes to keep them soft and prevent bobbles. Air-dry your clothes rather than tumble-drying them. The best way to dry your jumpers is to lie them flat, or hang them on a clothes hanger and cross the arms over the shoulders. Again, tumble-drying clothes leads to friction, which leads to bobbles on clothes. Wash your bobble-prone items inside out. This won’t prevent bobbles on clothes entirely, but it will make sure they mostly happen on the inside of your clothes, so they won’t frustrate you quite so much.

Getting bobbles off clothes couldn’t be simpler, and bobbling is easy to prevent. If you’re interested in learning more about lint – what it is how and how to prevent it – then check out our article on, Originally published 19 July 2018 : How to Remove Bobbles from Clothes – Remove Piling From Clothes

What causes bobbling on fabric?

How to Remove Bobbles From Clothes Bobbles on clothes, also known as fabric pilling (or lint balls) can make our favourite pieces unsightly. But before you consign your bobbly top to the back of your wardrobe, take a look at our tips on how to remove bobbles from clothes. We’ll take you through the what, why and how for getting rid of pilling on clothes, including our very own clever clothes bobble remover, the Miracle Revival Serum for Colours. The reason you see pilling in these areas is because it’s caused by surface abrasion. Bobbles on a jumper are common because knitted fabrics tend to have loose fabrics, but you can also find pilling on your trousers, as sitting on furniture also rubs the surface of the fabric.

It’s the result of normal wear and tear breaking down the fibres and twisting them up. But why do my clothes bobble in the wash? Bobbles are like magnets for other loose threads, and washing can exacerbate the problem because garments rub together in the machine. This friction makes the fibres tangle further.

One of the best ways to remove pilling from cotton is with our Vanish Miracle Revival Serum for Colours, as the formula acts as a fabric bobble remover. It also restores colours and removes stains, reviving old favourites to help your clothes look better for longer.

1. Load your wash with up to 5-6 garments.
2. Add one full bottle of Vanish Miracle Serum.
3. Run a long eco-cycle (more than 2.5 hours), do not exceed 40°C.
4. Watch a miracle unfold!

It’s always preferable to prevent issues in the first place, so it’s worth learning how to stop clothes from pilling with these top tips:

• Choose clothing made from tightly woven, natural fabrics. Sturdy fabrics like linen, silk and denim don’t tend to pill as much as open knitted fabrics or synthetic fibres. Avoid natural/synthetic blends, like poly cotton.
• Use delicate cycles. Less agitation in the machine = less friction.
• Avoid tumble-drying. Air-drying doesn’t rub your clothes together.
• Turn clothes inside out. Do this when you wash them and when you put them away, so their outer surfaces have less contact with other fabrics.
• Fasten zips, hooks, etc. So they don’t catch and loosen fibres.

With these ideas on how to fix pilled clothing and how to prevent it you can enjoy smooth surfaces for longer.

• Please refer to the packaging for specific product usage and advice.
• KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN AND PETS. Store the product only in the original container and always fasten the lid.
• Do not expose product to direct sunlight.
• Vanish Miracle Revival Serum should only be used on 100% cotton fabrics, such as shirts, sweatshirts and jeans.
• Before use check for colour fastness by testing a hidden area of the fabric, rug or carpet.
• For best results it may be necessary to repeat parts of the process.

: How to Remove Bobbles From Clothes

What removes pilling from clothes?

How do you remove lint, pilling and fuzz from clothes manually? – You can remove pills, lint or fuzz from clothes by using a fabric comb or battery-operated pill/lint remover. Both of these methods help carefully cut or scrape away the fabric pills. This is also how to get fuzz and pills off sweaters which can show up on this loose fabric even after the most careful washing.

How do you get bobbles out of clothes without rollers?

Shaving off the bobbles – One of the easiest and cheapest ways to remove lots of bobbles, particularly from garments made of more sturdy materials, is with a razor. Simply run a disposable razor over the garment and then pick off the fuzz at the edge of the garment with your hands or cut them off with a pair of scissors. You will need some decent light and remember to be careful with the razor.

Can you fix Bobbly clothes?

Take action – For a high-tech approach, try the Gleener Fuzz Remover, or the John Lewis Clothes Shaver, Otherwise, lay the affected garment out flat on a clean surface then use a razor with blades (the sort you shave your legs with works fine) to gently and carefully shave away the pills.

Use your free hand to keep the garment flat and, to ensure you don’t damage the structure of the fabric, apply the least pressure possible. We’ve found you get the best results using light, short strokes of the razor. You can use the sticky side of adhesive tape to collect the fluff you shave away or pop on a pair of washing up gloves and brush your hands over the surface of the garment.

Alternatively, use a very fine-toothed comb to brush away bobbles. Gently pull the comb towards you using short strokes with the teeth angled straight down so they don’t catch in the fabric. If the fabric contains synthetic fibres, which often have more stubbornly attached pills, you might need to go back over the same area a few times for the best result.

1. We found that a comb used for treating headlice, such as the Elimination Headlice Comb, was the toughest on bobbles.
2. For a handy emergency fix when you’re away from home, the scratchy part of a velcro fastening is also effective at getting rid of bobbles if there are only a few offenders.
3. Again, lay the garment flat and use your thumb and forefinger to keep the surface of the garment taut.

Swipe the bobbles rather than using a brushing motion so the velcro doesn’t get tangled in the main fabric.

Why do my clothes get little balls?

What Is Pilling? – Pills appear on fabric when groups of short or broken fibers become tangled together in a tiny knot or ball, otherwise known as a pill. The pills form due to rubbing or abrasion during normal wear and use.

Does pilling mean bad quality?

Pilling is a natural process that will inevitably happen to even the most luxurious fabrics like cashmere wool and is not necessarily an indicator of poor quality, nor a reason to discard or return a garment.

Do clothes eventually stop pilling?

What Causes Fabric Pilling? – When fabric fibers become loose, they will move around when we sit or brush up against them. The friction from people rubbing up against the fabric causes loose fibers to twist together into small balls. Your laundry machine will also cause friction.

Why do my clothes pill so fast?

What Causes Pilling on Clothes? – Everyday wear, fabric rubbing against itself and agitation from washing and drying can all cause fabric pilling. You may find more pills in the underarms of shirts, the inseam of pants and the center of bed sheets since these spots see the most wear and tear.

Which fabric pills the most?

Causes – All fabrics pill to some extent, although fibers such as linen and silk pill less than most. The primary drivers of pilling are the physical characteristics of the textile (including both the initial fiber, and the way in which it is processed during manufacturing ), the personal habits of the textile’s wearer, and the environment in which the textile is used.

Fibers such as wool, cotton, polyester, nylon and acrylic have a tendency to pill the most, but wool pilling diminishes over time as non-tenacious wool fibers work themselves free of the fabric and break away, whereas pilling of synthetic textiles is a more serious problem, because the stronger fibers hold on to the pills preventing them from falling off.

In general, longer fibers pill less than short ones because there are fewer ends of fibers, and because it is harder for the longer fibers to work themselves out of the cloth. Fabrics with a large number of loose fibers have a higher tendency to pill.

Does fabric softener make clothes bobble?

Reduce bobbles and keep your clothes looking fresh for longer by following our tips – To keep your clothes looking fresh, it’s important to take care of them. You can do this by following a few simple steps:

Use a clothes shaver – A lot of bobbles happen when clothes are not removed from the machine cleanly or have been stored for too long. Using a clothes or lint remover will help remove any unwanted fuzz and keep your garments looking crisp.Wash at the right temperature – Most fabrics, like cotton and wool, are best washed at a low temperature (below 40°C). If you’re unsure if they should be washed on a short cycle or a normal cycle with other items, test out both methods to find out which one works better for your laundry situation! We recommend using cold water as well because heat can damage many materials like cotton that shrink in high-heat environments.Wash with fabric conditioner – It might seem counter-intuitive but adding extra oil onto the surface of your clothing actually helps prevent static cling! This is because these oils act as coatings for the fibers within each garment which reduces friction between individual fibers thus reducing static buildup over time.”

Can a washing machine cause pilling?

Laundry Techniques – Next, let’s cover some laundry day strategies you can use to prevent pilling when you’re washing your clothes. First, keep in mind that when you’re washing, any pills that are present on a garment can agitate other clothing fibers causing more loose ends and more pilling overall; it’s something of a “snowball effect.” With that in mind, here’s our list of washing advice.

First, for garments that you suspect are going to pill, consider using your washing machine’s gentle cycle. The lesser degree of agitation and shorter wash cycle should prevent more pills from forming. You could also consider using mesh garment bags for such garments when they’re in the washing machine, or hand washing, which is going to be even more gentle.

Use your washing machine’s gentle cycle for garments that are more likely to pill. Remember to turn your garments inside out before washing them, and also to fasten any zippers, buttons, or hooks as these hard and, sometimes, sharp surfaces can cause more abrasion and loose fibers.

Also, if your clothing is inside out when it’s being washed, any pilling that does form is going to be on the inside of the garment and, thus, won’t be seen when you’re wearing it. You can also consider sorting your clothes according to color and fabric type to prevent heavier fabrics from abrading or damaging lighter ones.

As an example of this phenomenon, you could avoid washing lint-producing fabrics like terry cloth with your other clothes. If there are broken fibers on something like polyester, the lint from the terry cloth is going to cling tightly to that polyester surface. Consider using mesh garment bags if you’ll be using your washing machine. Next, make sure that your washing machine isn’t overloaded. If your individual garments aren’t able to move easily inside the machine, they’re going to be rubbing up against each other causing more friction and more pilling.

Use a gentle liquid detergent, avoiding powder detergents as they cause more abrasion, and avoid any harsh chemicals or bleaches as they can break down fibers and cause more pilling. If you use soap flakes in your washing machine, these should also be soft enough not to cause any additional abrasion.

Some online sources will encourage you to use a detergent that contains the enzyme cellulase, While this enzyme will help to break down pills on some fabrics like cotton (which is why it’s used by the textile industry), it can also eat into other natural fibers like linen and silk, so we’d advise that you steer clear. Avoid using bleaches, as they can break down the fabric–even bleach alternative, which we do recommend in other scenarios! Returning to more helpful tips then, avoid the clothes dryer. You can dry your knitted garments on a flat surface and your woven garments on a clothesline, drying rack, or hangers,

What is the fastest way to remove pilling from clothes?

Fabric Shaver – A fabric shaver is perhaps the best option when it comes to removing pilling from almost any type of fabric. These wireless handheld tools, such as this simple Conair fabric shaver, a favorite in our researched buyer’s guide, are easy to use and collect fiber shavings in a lint catcher as you work. RElATED: 14 New Things You Can Do with an Old Sweater

Does fabric pilling go away?

What Causes Fabric Pilling? – When fabric fibers become loose, they will move around when we sit or brush up against them. The friction from people rubbing up against the fabric causes loose fibers to twist together into small balls. Your laundry machine will also cause friction.