How to remove small balls from a sweater.
How to remove small balls from a sweater. Sweaters keep us warm and cozy in winter. They’re a must-have in our cold-weather closet. But with time, small fabric balls pop up on them. People call these pills or lint balls. These tiny balls make sweaters look old and shabby. Friction, washing, or just wearing the sweater can cause pilling. It’s a common problem. But don’t toss out your favorite sweater yet! You can get rid of these pesky balls at home. There are easy ways to do this. These methods work well. They’ll make your sweaters look new again.
Understanding Why Sweaters Pill
When fabric fibers break and get tangled up because of friction, we call it pilling. You’ll see this a lot on sweaters made of wool, cotton, polyester, and mixed fabrics. A few things make pilling more:
- Rubbing and friction: Places like armpits, sleeves, and sides pill more because they move around and rub a lot.
- Washing and drying: Washing machines and dryers shake things up, which can make loose fibers clump together.
- Fabric type: Softer and looser fabrics tend to pill more than woven ones.
So now that we know what causes these little fabric balls, let’s talk about how to get rid of them at home.
Effective Ways to Get Rid of Tiny Fuzz Balls on Sweaters at Home
1. Try a Fabric Shaver
A fabric shaver, also called a lint remover or depiller, stands out as one of the best tools to remove sweater pills. It has small spinning blades that cut off pills without hurting the fabric.
How to use it:
- Put your sweater on a flat surface.
- Switch on the fabric shaver and move it over the problem spots.
- Gather the removed pills and throw them away.
You can find fabric shavers online and in stores, which makes them a handy fix.
2. Try a Razor or Disposable Shaver
A normal razor works just as well as a fabric shaver to remove pills. This offers a cheap fix that most people have at home already.
Steps to follow:
- Spread the sweater flat and smooth the fabric.
- Use a clean, sharp razor to scrape over the pilled spots.
- Pick up the loose pills with your hands or use tape to gather them.
Tip: Be careful and use short strokes so you don’t harm the fabric.
3. Use a Pumice Stone or Sweater Comb
A pumice stone or sweater comb serves as another excellent option to get rid of pilling. These tools have designs that work well with delicate fabrics and can lift the pills without causing damage to the material.
Steps to follow:
- Place the sweater on a flat surface and stretch it a bit.
- Rub the pumice stone or sweater comb over the pilled area with care.
- Use a lint roller or tape to clear away the loosened pills.
This approach works well for wool and cashmere sweaters.
4. Use Adhesive Tape or Lint Roller
For minor pilling, adhesive tape or a lint roller can help you remove the fabric balls.
Instructions:
- Put some sticky tape around your fingers (sticky part facing out).
- Press it on the areas with pills and pull it up.
- Keep doing this until you’ve removed all the pills.
A lint roller does the job in the same way and helps to fix things up.
5. Cut Large Pills with Scissors
For bigger fabric balls, you can use small scissors to trim them off.
Steps:
- Place the sweater flat on a surface.
- Take small, sharp scissors and cut off the pills with care.
- Watch out not to cut the sweater’s fabric itself.
This approach works well with thicker fabrics that can handle trimming.
How to Stop Sweaters from Pilling
You can remove fabric balls, but it’s better to stop them from forming. Here’s how to keep your sweaters from pilling:
1. Wash Sweaters
- Flip sweaters inside out before washing to cut down on friction.
- Use cold water and a gentle cycle in the washing machine.
- Don’t wash sweaters with rough fabrics like jeans or towels.
- Put delicate fabrics in a mesh laundry bag to protect them.
2. Pick the Right Detergent
- Use a mild detergent made for wool and delicate fabrics.
- Fabric softeners can help lower friction and stop pilling.
3. Hang to Dry Instead of Using the Dryer
- Dryers that use heat and tumbling can make pilling worse.
- To dry sweaters, lay them flat on a towel instead of hanging them up.
4. Store Sweaters the Right Way
- Don’t hang sweaters. Fold them neatly to stop stretching and rubbing.
- Keep them in a cool, dry spot to avoid damage.
Conclusion
Sweater pilling happens often, but you can get rid of those tiny fabric balls at home if you know how. You have options: a fabric shaver, razor, pumice stone, or even everyday stuff like tape can keep your sweaters looking new. Also, if you wash and store them right, you can stop pilling before it starts. These tricks can help your favorite sweaters last longer and stay fresh for years.
If you use these easy methods, you’ll have soft sweaters without pills all season. You won’t need to spend extra cash on dry cleaning or buying new ones.
