Why some fabrics pill more than others

Short answer: Pilling happens when short fibres work their way out of the fabric and roll up. It occurs most in places with rubbing, such as under the arms and at a bag strap.

Short fibres

The shorter the fibres, the more easily they work their way out. Yarn spun from long fibres pills less.

Rubbing is the cause

Pilling appears where the fabric rubs against something: a bag strap, the back of a chair, or other clothes in the machine.

Sweat pills the most

Sweat pieces and soft surfaces have the most loose fibre and therefore pill the most at the start. See sweat clothing.

Turn clothes inside out

If clothes are washed inside out, the outside rubs less. That is the cheapest advice that works.

Keep hook-and-loop tape away

Zips and hook-and-loop tape in the same load tear at the fabric. Close zips or wash separately.

Remove pilling

A fabric shaver cuts the pills off without damaging the fabric. It usually stops after the first few months.

See also

More on the subject in pilling on clothes.

Where it happens first

Pilling appears first under the arms, on the sides and where a bag strap rests. See bamboo t-shirt for women.

Frequently asked questions

Is pilling a sign of poor quality?

Not necessarily. It is about fibre length and about how much the fabric rubs.

Can pilling be removed?

Yes. A fabric shaver cuts it off without damaging the fabric.

When do clothes pill most?

In the first few months, while the loose fibres work their way out.