When you find a shirt or pair of pants that you really like, it can be tempting to wear—and wash—them frequently. But after a few laundry cycles, you may start to notice some small, stubborn balls of lint stuck to certain areas—or to the garment as a whole—that aren’t easily removed with a lint brush or roller. This is called “pilling,” and it’s frustrating, but preventable. Here’s how to stop it from happening to your clothes.
What causes pilling on clothes?
“Pills” are small, firm balls of lint or fuzz that form on clothing the more it’s worn and washed. They can make items of clothing that are otherwise in great shape look old and less polished.
Pilling happens when individual fibers on the surface of fabric break as the result of regular wear and tear—most commonly the underarms of shirts and the inseam of pants—or extra friction caused by wearing a backpack or purse, for example. These broken fibers get tangled, forming little knots or clumps of lint. When you wash your clothes, these lint balls tend to attract loose micro-threads, which accelerates the pilling.
But unlike loose lint that you can remove easily with a lint brush or roller, getting rid of pills takes more effort—hence why it’s better to prevent them in the first place.
Some fabrics are more prone to pilling than others
When it comes to pilling, not all fabrics are created equal. Clothing made out of shorter fibers are more prone to breakage, and, in turn, pilling.
Fabrics more prone to pilling include:
- Loose-knit items
- Cotton
- Wool
- Fleece
- Polyester
- Nylon
- Microfiber
- Acrylic
- Spandex
- Viscose rayon
- Natural & synthetic, or 100% synthetic fabric blends
- Other synthetics
Fabrics less likely to pill include:
- Tightly knit fabrics
- Linen
- Silk
- Denim
- Rayon
- Higher quality cotton (with longer fibers)
How to prevent pilling on clothes
Thanks to normal wear and tear, it’s not always possible to avoid pilling completely, but there are ways to slow down the process and minimize damage to your clothing, keeping them looking newer longer. Here are a few examples:
Remove lint before washing
Prior to popping your clothing in the washing machine, take a minute to remove any loose lint using a lint brush or roller. If you don’t have one handy, a piece of tape with the sticky side out will also get the job done. In a pinch, thoroughly shake the item out to dislodge anything clinging to the fabric.
Zip and button up
Zip up any zipper, button any buttons, and fasten any other types of fasteners on your clothing before washing to prevent them from snagging other items.
Turn clothing inside out
Once you’ve fastened everything and removed any loose lint, turn the item inside out before washing it. Any clothing that you wash together in the same load of laundry will inevitably rub up against other garments, and this way it won’t speed up pilling on the visible side of the items.
Sort your laundry
You may already sort your laundry by color, but in order to prevent pilling, you may also want to sort it by fabric type. The idea is to reduce abrasion by washing heavier fabrics separately from lighter fabrics.
Use the gentle cycle
Less agitation in the washer means less friction, and less pilling.
Wash your clothing in cold water
Hot water can make clothing more susceptible to pilling by wearing out the fibers faster, which may then lead to them becoming tangled and forming pills.
Use an enzyme detergent
One of the easiest ways not only to prevent pilling but also reduce existing pilling is to use laundry detergent that contains the plant-based enzyme cellulase, which can help loosen and remove those pesky balls of lint. When shopping for detergent, look for “cellulase enzyme” on the ingredients list—it’s usually near the bottom. Some examples of detergents that contain cellulase include Cheer Free Liquid Detergent, Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent Packs, Free & Clear, and Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent with Touch of Downy.
Air dry your clothing
When clothing is tumble-dried, it rubs up against other items—and itself—which can contribute to pilling. Air drying isn’t always an option, but if there are garments that you actively want to protect, consider skipping the dryer.
