With cozy, crisp weather finally on the forecast, I’ve been taking some of my favorite sweaters out of storage. But there is always one inconvenience: pilling! Although some fabrics are more prone to it than others, the truth is that even the highest quality materials like cashmere can still form pills. In this post, I will share how I keep some of my favorite knits pill-free. It encompasses everything from laundry best-practices to the way we structure our outfits!
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Keep Your Sweaters from Pilling by Hand-Washing or Using the ‘Delicates’ Cycle.
Hand-washing our clothes can be tedious. But I always believe that the right investment pieces are worth the proper care! When we wash our sweaters by hand, the motions against the fabric are much gentler. Not to mention, they will not experience friction against other pieces as they would in the wash. If you are strapped for time, the ‘Delicates’ cycle works too. Just make sure you are running a full load with other like items (more below).
Take it an extra step, and use a delicate detergent. I love the one I use from Dirty Labs, which is formulated to be gentler on protein-based fibers (e.g. wool, cashmere, silk). You can read my full review of this product HERE. Use code ‘STYLEDBYSCIENCE‘ for 10% off your Dirty Labs purchase.
Use an Enzyme Detergent.
Enzymes are catalysts that help to breakdown substrates (molecules) in a targeted way. In laundry detergents, they breakdown stains and even help to clip off microfibrils (a technical term for ‘small fibers’) which are known for entangling and creating pills.
Dirty Labs is an excellent enzyme-based detergent that uses their very own ‘Phytolase’ technology to break apart small, loose fibers. In addition to preventing the formation of pills, removing these microfibrils also helps the fabric to appear more vibrant. So using an enzymatic detergent has a multitude of benefits!
Dirty Labs Detergent – Use code ‘STYLEDBYSCIENCE‘ for 10% off your order. This enzyme-based detergent gets all my toughest stains out, and removes microfibrils (tiny fibers) that are known for tangling and forming pills.
Wash with ‘Like’ Items to Prevent Pilling.
While it can be tempting to transfer everything in the hamper into the laundry machine, some items are better kept apart. For example, putting a fine-knit sweater into the washer with your jeans is not the best idea, as the rigid cotton can be abrasive. One possible workaround, however, is to use a delicates bag!
Zipping up your sweaters into a delicates bag creates an extra interface between the fabric and other pieces. As such, there is a decreased chance of snags, and excessive rubbing against other fabrics, which creates pills!
Pay Attention to Areas of Frequent Contact.
The way we style our outfits can play a big role! For example, I used to own a leather crossbody bag that had rough edges along the straps. When I came home from a brief walk, I noticed that the chest area of my sweater was filled with little fuzzies.
Pay attention to these patterns to prevent these mistakes in the future. Also, the fuzzier a sweater is, the more prone it is to pilling. With this concept in mind, you should pair your bags, jackets, and bottoms accordingly since they make the most contact with your sweater.
Air Dry Your Sweaters.
The tumbling action in the dryer makes sweaters prone to forming pills. I find a much gentler way of drying my clothes is laying them flat on a drying rack. Here is my favorite one that I’ve used for years. I love that it comes with a mesh shelf, and holds so many pieces of clothing!
Wash Your Sweaters Inside Out.
This tip is, hands down, the easiest one to follow and makes a huge difference. Turning the fabric inside out ensures that if pills do form in the wash, at least they are less visible. For extra care, you can wash them inside out and place your precious knits inside a delicates, or Guppyfriend bag.
How to Keep Your Sweaters from Pilling: A Summary
Pills can form in our sweaters when they are subject to constant abrasion. Therefore, the best way to prevent it is by being gentler with our knits by following proper fabric care. Lastly, be mindful of what you wear with your sweater because constant rubbing motion against other materials can also create pilling.
I hope you found some new takeaways in this post on how to keep your sweaters from pilling 🙂
Some additional fabric care posts on sweaters:
These are great tips on how to care for my sweaters! I really need to try out this enzyme-based detergent.