Let’s Talk Pilling

This sweater was dropped off this week for cleaning; so, let’s talk pilling. Pilling is one of those terms that may cause some of us to say, “Wh-wh-what? Huh?”. Pilling is that fuzzy, some times ball-like yuck that occurs on our clothes, bedding and other fabrics from everyday wear and usage. Knitted fabrics are one of the most likely materials to pill.

There are several options to remove pilling. Like fabric shavers, sweater combs and the DIY trick we have seen used most often… a safety razor. However, please use caution if you are jumping in to tackle your pilling problem. You don’t want to cause further damage to your fabric.

Leggings is one of the garments, that seems to pill easily. We recommend washing the garment first and allow it to dry. Then, lay your garment out on a flat surface holding the garment taut to prevent it from bunching. Then, using light strokes begin shaving the area where you are seeing pills. Don’t get in a hurry. Be patient to help ensure no injury to you or your garment.

It is sweater, scarf and coat season for many states, and at Collegiate Cleaners, our fabric shavers seem to get the most use in fall and winter. You want to be cautious when using a fabric shaver as well. It is important to keep your blade sharp and batteries fresh if your shaver is not electric. Keep in mind that some delicate fabrics can be caught within the moving parts of the blades resulting in fabric snags. It’s always wise to find an area on the fabric to use for testing if you are uncertain.