How to remove pills from a sweater
Remove pills from a sweater by laying it flat on a firm surface, holding the fabric taut, and gliding a fabric shaver, sweater comb or pumice-style sweater stone lightly over the pilled areas in one direction. Work in small sections and do not press hard. To slow new pilling, wash inside out on gentle, and dry flat.
Why it matters: A few minutes makes a tired sweater look new again.
Steps
- Lay the sweater flat on a table or ironing board.
- Hold a section taut with one hand.
- Glide a fabric shaver, sweater comb or sweater stone lightly over the pills in one direction.
- Work section by section, emptying the shaver often.
- Check for thin spots and stop if the fabric starts to thin.
- Wash sweaters inside out on a gentle cycle or by hand, and dry flat.
Common mistakes
- Pressing hard and cutting a hole.
- Using a razor on fine knits.
- Machine drying sweaters, which speeds pilling.
Teach this to someone
A one page sheet for showing a friend, a teenager or a parent: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.
Teach: How to remove pills from a sweater
What to say
Remove pills from a sweater by laying it flat on a firm surface, holding the fabric taut, and gliding a fabric shaver, sweater comb or pumice-style sweater stone lightly over the pilled areas in one direction. Work in small sections and do not press hard. To slow new pilling, wash inside out on gentle, and dry flat.
What to show
- Lay the sweater flat on a table or ironing board.
- Hold a section taut with one hand.
- Glide a fabric shaver, sweater comb or sweater stone lightly over the pills in one direction.
- Work section by section, emptying the shaver often.
- Check for thin spots and stop if the fabric starts to thin.
- Wash sweaters inside out on a gentle cycle or by hand, and dry flat.
Check question
What surface should the sweater be on?
Answer: Flat and firm. A flat, taut surface keeps the tool from catching.
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Sources
This skill is general practice and draws on no single published source.
Written in our own words from the sources above. It is general information, not advice for your situation; where a professional, your doctor or your lease says something different, follow them.
Last reviewed . First published .