Pilling. We all know it: those small, annoying little balls on your favorite sweater or scarf. Whether it's wool or acrylic, both materials can get it. But what exactly is pilling and, more importantly, how can you reduce it? We'll explain it to you!
What exactly is pilling?
Pilling occurs when fibers in a garment come loose due to friction and clump together into small balls. This can happen during wear, but also when washing. Wool and acrylic are two common materials that are prone to this. But how exactly does this work with women's clothing made from these materials?
Pilling on wool in women's clothing
Wool is a natural material with a somewhat curly fiber structure. This allows loose fibers to easily come to the surface, especially in the beginning. So if your new woolen women's clothing starts to pill, don't panic right away! This is completely normal. The good news? After a few wears and washes, the pilling often decreases because the loose fibers have been removed.
Do you want to get rid of those annoying pills quickly? Use a pill remover or a lint comb to gently remove them. And another tip: wash your wool items by hand or on a gentle cycle to avoid excessive friction.
Pilling on acrylic in women's clothing
Acrylic, a synthetic material, can unfortunately cause more pilling than wool. This is because the fibers of acrylic are shorter and smoother, causing them to come loose more quickly and accumulate in little balls. Unfortunately, acrylic often pills longer than wool.
But don't worry! Here too, the pill remover is your best friend. With some extra care and gentle washing (for example, by hand or inside out at a low temperature), you can keep pilling under control on your acrylic women's clothing.
No stress if you see your favorite sweater pilling!
How do you prevent pilling?
Now that you know how pilling works, what can you do to prevent it? Here are a few tips:
- Was inside out: This reduces the friction on the outside of your women's clothing.
- Choose hand wash or gentle wash programs: This especially applies to delicate materials such as wool and acrylic.
- Avoid excessive rubbing: For example, do not wear or wash garments together with rougher materials.
- Think about what you are going to do: activities with a lot of movement cause a lot of friction. Also if, for example, you have a lot of contact with a table edge or desk.
- Use a pill shaver or pill comb: This way you can quickly and effectively remove pilling and make your clothes look fresh again.