What the pilling grade from 1 to 5 means
Short answer: Pilling is small balls of fibre, and the grade is given after a test. Five means no visible pills, one means heavy pilling, and most basic fabrics land between three and four. Here is the scale and what it means day to day.
The scale runs the right way
The higher the number, the better. The scale is often turned around when people talk about it, so remember that five is the best and one the worst. It sounds simple, but a three is easily read as low when it is really middling. Numbers without a scale rarely help, so check which way it runs.
How the grade is given
The fabric is run in a machine that rubs it against itself for a set number of turns. The sample is then compared with pictures of the five steps, and the grade that looks most alike is chosen. The test is built to be repeatable, so results can be compared between fabrics. See our bamboo polos for men.
What the grade says and does not say
Grade five does not mean the fabric never pills. It means it did not pill in the tested amount of wear. In daily life the wear can be harder or different from the machine, so the grade is a guide and not a guarantee of how the garment looks after many washes.
What is good enough
For underwear and T-shirts, at least three to four is typically expected. For bedding and heavy fabrics, more is often required, because they are rubbed and washed more. The requirement depends on the use. See also bamboo split sheets and bamboo underwear for men, where wear and washing play different roles.
Why soft fabrics pill most
Soft fabrics have loose fibres that are pulled out of the surface more easily when rubbed. When the fibres gather into small balls, they are called pills. Softness and pilling therefore often go together, and it is a trade off between a soft feel and a very smooth surface that does not pill.
Where it appears on a garment
Pills appear where the fabric rubs against itself or something else, for example under the arms, on the inner thighs and at the sides, where you move a lot. Bedding may pill where you lie most. It is not a sign of poor clothing but a natural result of friction over many hours.
Where to find the grade
The grade is rarely on the product page. It is in the factory test report and is meant for those who order and assess the fabric. As a customer you can use the material description and care guide as a guide instead. That gives a feel for how the garment behaves once you have used it for a while.
How to limit pilling
Wash the garment inside out at a low temperature on a gentle programme, and do not wash it with anything rough such as jeans or items with hook and loop fasteners. Skip the tumble dryer if you can, because it adds friction. The less friction, the fewer pills, and the longer the surface stays smooth.
How to remove pills
If you get pills, you can remove them gently with a fabric shaver or small scissors. Do not pull at them, because you may pull more fibres out of the fabric. Remove them when the garment is dry, and work lightly and calmly. Pills often show most at the start and then ease off.
Frequently asked questions
Does grade five mean the fabric never pills
No. It means it did not pill in the tested amount of wear. In daily life the wear can differ, so the grade is a guide, not a guarantee.
Can I find the grade as a customer
Rarely. It is in the factory test report, not on the product page. Use the care guide and material description as a guide when you judge the garment.
Why do soft fabrics pill most
Because loose fibres are pulled out of the surface more easily. When they gather into small balls they are called pills, and they show most where the fabric is rubbed.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
