Buzz
When you come across a shirt or pair of pants that fit perfectly, it’s tempting to wear and wash them often. However, after several cycles in the laundry, you may notice tiny, stubborn lint balls gathering in certain spots—or even across the entire garment—that are hard to remove with just a lint roller or brush. This phenomenon is called "pilling," and while it’s annoying, it can be avoided. Here’s how to keep your clothes pill-free.
What leads to pilling on your clothing?
Pills are small, dense clusters of lint or fuzz that appear on clothing the more they are worn and washed. While they might seem harmless, they can make your otherwise well-maintained garments look worn out and less refined.
Pilling occurs when individual fibers on the fabric surface break due to regular wear and tear—usually in areas like the underarms of shirts and the inseams of pants—or due to added friction, such as from carrying a backpack or purse. These broken fibers get tangled together, forming little balls or clumps of lint. When you wash your clothes, these lint balls attract loose micro-threads, which makes the pilling worse.
Unlike loose lint, which can be easily removed with a lint brush or roller, pills require more effort to remove. That’s why it’s better to take steps to prevent them from forming in the first place.
Certain fabrics are more likely to pill than others
Not all fabrics react the same way when it comes to pilling. Clothes made from shorter fibers are more likely to break, leading to pilling.
Fabrics that are more susceptible to pilling include:
Loose-knit fabrics
Cotton
Wool
Fleece
Polyester
Nylon
Microfiber
Acrylic
Spandex
Viscose rayon
Natural & synthetic, or entirely synthetic fabric blends
Other synthetic materials
Fabrics that are less prone to pilling include:
Tightly woven fabrics
Linen
Silk
Denim
Rayon
High-quality cotton (with longer fibers)
How to stop pilling from ruining your clothes
While it’s nearly impossible to completely eliminate pilling due to regular wear, there are steps you can take to slow it down and reduce the damage, helping your clothes stay looking fresh for longer. Here are a few tips:
Remove lint before washing your clothes
Before tossing your clothes into the washing machine, take a moment to remove any loose lint using a lint brush or roller. If you don’t have one, a piece of tape with the sticky side out can work just as effectively. If you’re in a rush, shake the garment well to get rid of any lint stuck to the fabric.
Zip up and button your clothes
Be sure to zip any zippers, button up all buttons, and fasten other closures on your clothing before washing. This helps to prevent them from snagging or damaging other items in the wash.
Turn your clothes inside out
After fastening everything and removing any loose lint, turn the garment inside out before washing. Since clothes in the same load of laundry will rub against each other, turning them inside out helps prevent the visible side from pilling more quickly.
Separate your laundry by type
While you likely already sort your laundry by color, it’s also a good idea to sort by fabric type to help reduce pilling. The goal is to minimize abrasion by washing heavier fabrics separately from lighter ones.
Choose the gentle cycle
Using a gentler wash cycle results in less agitation, which means less friction and, therefore, less pilling.
Wash your clothes in cold water
Hot water can cause fibers to break down more quickly, making them more prone to pilling by tangling and forming pills.
Opt for an enzyme-based detergent
One of the easiest ways to both prevent and reduce pilling is to use a laundry detergent containing the plant-based enzyme cellulase, which helps to break down and remove those annoying lint balls. When choosing a detergent, check the ingredients list for "cellulase enzyme"—it’s typically listed near the bottom. Some examples of detergents that include cellulase are Cheer Free Liquid Detergent, Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent Packs, Free & Clear, and Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent with Touch of Downy.
Air dry your garments
When clothes are tumble-dried, they rub against other items and themselves, which can cause pilling. While air drying isn’t always feasible, if you have garments you want to preserve, consider skipping the dryer altogether.
