5 Simple Ways to Get Rid of Bobbles on Clothes

Have you ever seen your once-favourite cotton sweatshirt now covered in small fuzz balls named “bobbles” or “pills”? If yes, you are in the right place!

Bobbles can make your clothing look more dull and worn out than it actually is, especially the ones made of natural textiles like cotton. If not removed on time, these pills can even lead to a complete wear-through of the textile and reduce its lifecycle.

There are three stages involved in the formation of bobbles. First is “abrasion”- the friction faced by fabrics due to rubbing against each other or other items (like our skin). Then comes “agitation”- the loose or broken fibres get entangled with each other making clinging balls of fibre. Finally, when the physical action weakens the ability of bobbles to cling to the clothing, they fall off in the stage named “depletion” or “removal”.

Why do bobbles appear on clothing?

Bobbles mainly happen on clothing due to the friction caused by rubbing against each other or other items (like our skin). It not only makes your clothing look dirty and worn out but also takes a toll on its quality and longevity.

Other than this, bobbles can also transfer from one piece of clothing to another. For example, if you toss a pilled towel in with your clean laundry, you can kiss your whole load goodbye- it’s gonna be a bobble party!

How to debobble clothes?

To remove pilling and bobbles from your clothing, you can use a fabric/bobble shaver, a razor, a fabric care detergent, a lint remover/defuzzer, and a pumice stone.

Use a fabric/bobble shaver

A fabric shaver is an ideal choice for keeping even your most delicate sweaters in tip-top condition. Most of us (including myself) think of clothing as dull and worn-out when it actually needs just a little maintenance to be revived to its original state. Whether it’s your favourite coat or an upholstered couch, a bobble shaver works well on everything that has pills on it.

There are hundreds of different shavers available on the market. Depending on the fabric type, composition, and intensity of pilling, you can pick one that works best for you. Some of the top picks include Conair Fabric Shaver and Lint Remover (inexpensive and works great), Gleener Fabric Shaver and Lint Remover (comes with different blade settings), and Rowenta Port able Lint Remover Shaver (for delicate fabrics).

Use a Razor + Lint Remover

When it comes to using a razor as a pilling remover, of course, some caution is required. If you use a really sharp razor or apply more than necessary pressure, it can damage the textile or even cut through it.

We recommend using a single-blade eyebrow or facial razor from any local shop. These razors generally have a softer stroke and can work well on delicate fabrics. If not, getting those cheap disposable razors for removing pilling and bobbles from clothing is also a great idea.

Now, you may need to put in extra time and effort to remove pilling using this method. Lay the garment flat on a clean and hard surface and start moving the razor on the pilled areas. Repeat the process till all the pilling is removed. Then using a lint remover, collect all of this debris, and you will be good to go.

Use BIORESTORE cotton pill remover

BIORESTORE Re-Tergent is the latest innovation in pilling removers. It is a laundry powder that removes both lint and pilling in the washing machine. Yes, you heard that right! In the washing machine!

It works on clothing with at least 70% cotton composition and restores the vibrancy and hand feel of your garments as well. Instead of throwing out your cotton faves, you can make them look and feel as good as possible with just one BIORESTORE wash.

Just add your bobbled clothing to the machine, add the recommended amount of BIORESTORE cotton, and run a cycle at 40ºC for 2 hours. Once the cycle is completed, toss the clothing in a tumble drier and done!

The results of BIORESTORE cotton are really long-lasting. Unlike defuzzers and shavers, once you use this laundry powder on your clothing, you can forget about the pilling issues for a while.

Use Lint Remover / Defuzzer

Lint removers typically come with a sticky surface that can catch pet hair, dandruff, excessive fibres, and other fuzz from your clothing. For travellers on the go, there are multiple great options such as Gleener on the Go which is a lightweight and compact device.

While a lint remover works decently to remove fuzz and other debris, unfortunately, it doesn’t work on fabric pills. Moreover, it is highly unsustainable which is why it may not be the best choice for long-term laundry care.

You can also use a lint brush for de-fuzzing your clothes. They are much more sustainable than traditional tape rollers and can keep your clothes looking flawless.

Use a Pumice Stone

From scrubbing off the dead skin on your heels to removing those pesky little balls of fibre from your clothing, a pumice stone can be used for multiple purposes.

Pumice stones are generally abrasive and can damage or scratch the fabric of your clothing, especially the ones made of wool, cotton, and silk.

If you are not cautious during the debobbling process, you can also cause holes or tears in the clothing. Considering this, it's not recommended to use a pumice stone as a fabric pill remover, but if nothing else is available, you can try it as a last resort.

What detergent removes pilling?

BIORESTORE Re-Tergent is the best pill remover for cotton and cotton blends. While it’s not a traditional detergent, you can use this laundry powder to revive your dull and worn-out cotton faves, only in one home laundry wash.

Does vinegar remove pilling?

Vinegar has antistatic properties, which means that when added to the washing machine, it can help prevent the pills from sticking to the fabric. But it doesn’t remove the already existing pilling on clothing.