One of the most common issues people encounter when it comes to clothing is pilling: the small balls of clothing fiber that appear on the surface of your clothing.
No one wants to wear clothes that are pilled, because it makes them look old and ragged. Below we’ll give you our favorite tips for eliminating pilling using your local Laundromat.
Why Clothing Pills
Pilling is especially common with wool fabrics, but it also frequently occurs with man-made fabrics like polyester. Pilling is often part of a natural process that occurs when the fibers of your clothing age, but that doesn’t mean you need to throw out your favorite shirt or sweater.
Many people’s first impulse when they notice pilling is to pull out a razor or duct tape to remove the fiber balls. Before you do so, you should try a gentler method. Both razors and duct tape can damage delicate fabrics, so unless you’ve tried other methods without success, you should avoid both of these tactics.
Preventing Pilling
The best way to get rid of pilling is to prevent it in the first place. A great way to do this is by using your local Laundromat. The washers and dryers at the Laundromat are commercial grade and are actually less likely to damage your clothes than home machines with harsh cycles. Since Laundromat machines have more settings, you’ll also be able to choose a gentler setting that won’t damage and pill your clothes.
To do so, before you put your clothes in the washer or dryer, turn them inside out. This will prevent the exterior of your clothing from being eroded by the action of the machines. You should also always use the gentle cycle when washing and drying, since it is not as harsh on your clothes and will also get them clean in far less time, which reduces pill-causing friction.
When you want to avoid pilling, using the right detergent is also important. Liquid detergent is the best choice as it tends to be gentler than powder detergent. In addition, make sure to remove clothing that you know pills easily from the dryer as soon as it is dry rather than leaving it in for an unnecessary amount of time and subjecting it to excessive dryer action. By taking small steps like this, you’ll reduce pilling and keep your clothes looking incredible for longer.
Treating Pilling
Once you have pilling, there are limited ways to get rid of it. You can try using a razor blade or very sticky, wide tape like duct tape, both of which are inexpensive. But since these methods can cause damage and be time-consuming, a gentler and faster strategy is better. Buy a fabric comb or electronic device designed to remove quickly. Both of these methods will remove pilling gently and easily without damaging your clothing. Plus they’ll save you time!
We hope these tips have helped you come up with new solutions for avoiding and treating pilling.