How to Prevent Pilling on Clothes

Why Prevention Is Better Than Removal

While pilling can be removed with a fabric shaver or cashmere comb, preventing it from forming in the first place keeps your clothes looking newer for longer and reduces the maintenance required. Most pilling is caused by friction — during wearing and especially during washing — so reducing friction is the key to prevention.

1. Turn Clothes Inside Out Before Washing

Turning garments inside out before washing reduces friction on the outer surface — the side that's visible when worn. This is the single most effective prevention step for knitwear, fleece, and cotton blends.

2. Use a Mesh Laundry Bag

A mesh laundry bag reduces the friction and agitation that causes pilling during machine washing. Place prone-to-pilling items in a mesh bag before putting them in the machine. This is especially important for cashmere, wool, and fine knitwear.

3. Use the Gentle Cycle

The gentle cycle uses less agitation than a regular cycle, which significantly reduces friction on fabric surfaces. Use it for all knitwear, wool, cashmere, and any garment labeled "delicate."

4. Wash in Cold Water

Cold water causes less fiber movement than hot water, reducing the friction that leads to pilling. It also helps preserve color and prevents shrinkage.

5. Use a Gentle Detergent

Harsh detergents can weaken fabric fibers, making them more prone to pilling. Use a gentle, low-agitation detergent for delicate items. For wool and cashmere, use a specialist wool wash detergent that's formulated to protect natural fibers.

6. Air Dry Instead of Tumble Drying

The tumble dryer creates significant friction and heat, both of which accelerate pilling. Air drying — flat for knitwear, hung for other items — eliminates this source of friction entirely.

7. Store Carefully

Friction during storage also causes pilling. Fold knitwear rather than hanging it (hanging causes stretching and friction at the fold points). Avoid overcrowding shelves and drawers where garments rub against each other.

8. Address Pilling Early

When pills do form, remove them promptly with a fabric shaver or cashmere comb. Small pills are easier to remove than large ones, and removing them early prevents them from growing and pulling more fibers into the ball.

Final Thoughts

Preventing pilling is mostly about reducing friction: inside-out washing, mesh laundry bags, gentle cycles, and air drying. These habits add almost no time to your laundry routine and significantly extend the life and appearance of your clothes.