How to Remove Pilling from Sweaters (and Stop It Coming Back)

November 13, 2026|Shubhi Tiwari

Quick answer: To remove pilling from a sweater, lay it flat and gently shave the bobbles off with a fabric shaver, a sweater comb, or a new disposable razor held at a low angle. Work in small sections and never press hard. To stop pills coming back, wash sweaters inside out in cold water on a gentle or wool cycle, use a mild liquid detergent, wash them less often and dry them flat.

Pilling is those small, fuzzy balls that appear on sweaters, shawls, thermals and even bedsheets after a few wears. It makes a good sweater look old long before it actually is. The good news is that pilling is almost always on the surface, so it can be removed safely at home, and a few changes to how you wash and wear woollens can slow it down a lot.

What causes pilling?

Pills form when short or loose fibres on the surface of a fabric rub against each other or against something else, tangle together and form little balls that stay attached to the cloth. Pilling happens most:

Where there is the most rubbing: under the arms, on the sides, on the cuffs and where a bag strap sits.
On soft, loosely knitted fabrics: lambswool, cashmere, acrylic and blends tend to pill more than tightly knitted or long-fibre wool.
On blends: wool or cotton mixed with acrylic or polyester often pills more, because the strong synthetic fibres hold the pills in place instead of letting them fall away.
In the washing machine: a normal cycle with heavy clothes like jeans rubs sweaters hard.

Mentioned in this guide

Lavender & Geranium Plant-Based Laundry Liquid, Bio-Enzyme, for Machine & Hand Wash

Plant-based · 100% biodegradable · Lab tested

Rs. 480.00~~Rs. 800.00~~

View product

How to remove pilling from a sweater

Option 1: Fabric shaver (lint remover)

An electric or battery fabric shaver is the quickest and safest method for most sweaters. Lay the sweater flat on a table, hold the fabric smooth with one hand, and move the shaver gently in small circles over the pilled area. Do not press down. Empty the lint chamber often.

Option 2: Sweater comb or pumice stone

A sweater comb or a sweater stone lifts pills off when you brush it lightly in one direction across the fabric. These work well on thicker knits but can be too rough for fine cashmere or very thin sweaters, so test on a hidden area first.

Option 3: Disposable razor

If you have nothing else, a new, clean disposable razor works. Lay the sweater flat and stretched slightly, hold the razor at a low angle, and shave gently in one direction in short strokes. Go slowly, especially around seams and thin areas, because a razor can cut the fabric if you press too hard.

Option 4: Pick by hand

For a few large pills on a delicate shawl or cashmere sweater, simply pull them off with your fingers or snip them with small scissors. Do not pull hard, or you will drag more fibres out.

Mistakes to avoid when de-pilling

De-pilling a wet sweater. Always work on a dry garment.
Pressing hard with a razor or shaver, which can thin the fabric or make holes.
Working on a crumpled sweater. Lay it flat and smooth.
De-pilling too often. Every time you remove pills, you remove a little fibre. Do it only when it is needed.

How to stop sweaters pilling

Wash inside out. This protects the outer surface from rubbing in the wash.
Use a gentle or wool cycle with cold water, or hand wash. Less movement means less friction.
Wash woollens separately or with other soft items, never with jeans, towels or clothes with zips.
Use a mesh laundry bag for sweaters and shawls in the machine.
Choose a mild liquid detergent. Liquid dissolves fully in cold water and does not leave grains that rub against the fibres.
Wash less often. Air sweaters between wears instead of washing them every time.
Dry flat, away from heat. Tumble drying and hot drying weaken fibres and increase pilling.
Rotate your sweaters so one favourite does not take all the wear.
Watch out for rubbing. Bag straps, rough jackets and seatbelts all cause pilling in the same spots.

Which fabrics pill the least?

Tightly knitted, long-fibre fabrics pill the least. Merino and good-quality long-staple wool, mercerised cotton and tightly woven fabrics tend to hold up well. Loosely knitted sweaters, short-fibre wool, acrylic and many blends pill more. When buying a sweater, look for a tight, even knit that does not feel fluffy or loose when you rub it between your fingers.

Does pilling mean a sweater is poor quality?

Not always. Even expensive cashmere pills, especially in the first few wears, because the softest fibres are short and loose. Pilling usually reduces after the first few de-pillings as the loose fibres are removed. If a sweater keeps pilling heavily after many washes, it is usually a sign of a loose knit or a synthetic blend.

Caring for the rest of your winter wardrobe

For full washing steps, see our guides on how to wash woollen clothes at home without shrinking and our complete winter clothes care guide. If your clothes are taking too long to dry, read why clothes don't dry in winter.

Our Plant Based Laundry Liquid is a liquid detergent that dissolves easily in cold water and is gentle on skin. It is free from harsh toxins, parabens and synthetic VOCs, 100% biodegradable and independently lab tested.

Frequently asked questions

Can you remove pilling with a razor?

Yes. Use a new, clean disposable razor, lay the sweater flat, hold the razor at a low angle and shave gently in short strokes. Do not press hard, and take extra care on thin areas and seams.

Does washing a sweater inside out stop pilling?

It helps a lot, because the outside of the sweater rubs less against the drum and other clothes. Combine it with a gentle cycle, cold water and a mesh bag.

Why does my new sweater pill so quickly?

New sweaters, especially soft wool and cashmere, have loose surface fibres that pill in the first few wears. Pilling usually slows down once these are removed.