Pilling is small balls of fibres that form when loose fibres in the fabric are rubbed loose through use and washing and felt together. They're best removed with a fabric shaver, which carefully shaves them away, while loose fluff and hairs are picked up with a lint roller or fluff brush. You can't avoid pilling entirely, but you can delay it with gentle use and the right washing routine.
Dims Studio's own figures: Items in the throws category have an average rating of 5.0 out of 5 stars across 12 customer reviews, showing that pilling rarely affects how satisfied customers are with a good throw.
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Suddenly there are small balls of fabric on the throw, right where you usually lie under it. This isn't a sign that the blanket is falling apart, but a completely normal result of the fabric being used. Pilling occurs on almost all textiles sooner or later, but some materials and weaves are more prone to it than others.
In this guide, you can read exactly what happens in the fabric when pilling forms, which tools actually work once it's there, and how you can keep it under control in everyday life without having to wash the throw more often than necessary.
The short answer: what is pilling, and how do you remove it
A pill is a small ball of fibres that forms on the surface of a piece of fabric. It occurs because loose fibres gradually work their way out of the weave or knit, and when the fabric rubs against itself or other surfaces, the loose fibres felt together into small, firm balls. The balls stay attached because some of the fibres in them haven't broken off but are still anchored in the fabric itself.
Pilling is therefore a surface flaw caused by ordinary wear, and it doesn't necessarily say anything about the quality of the fabric. The best way to remove it is to gently shave the surface with a fabric shaver, and you can delay how quickly it comes back by using and washing the textile gently.
Why pilling happens
Pilling forms because fabric is never quite finished shedding fibres. Every time a throw or cushion is used and washed, the fabric is pressed and rubbed, causing some of the loosest fibres to push out of the surface as small bits of fluff. The textile industry describes the process in four stages: first the fluff forms, then the fibres felt together, the balls grow bigger, and finally they wear off the fabric completely.
Because rubbing drives the process, pilling typically appears where the fabric is exposed to the most contact in everyday use. On a throw, this is often where you sit or lie, or where the blanket rubs against a sofa or seat cushion. On a cushion, it's often seen where it's pressed against your back or the armrest.
Which materials pill the most
How much a fabric pills depends on the fibre, how it's processed, and how the textile is used. Some fibres and weaves are significantly more prone to it than others, and it can be useful to know this before you decide whether a throw or cushion is behaving normally.
| Material or property | Tendency to pill |
|---|---|
| Wool | Pills, but decreases over time as the weak fibres fall off |
| Cotton | Has a certain tendency to pill |
| Polyester | Pills easily, and the pills stick because the fibres are strong |
| Nylon | Pills easily, and the pills stick because the fibres are strong |
| Acrylic | Pills easily, and the pills stick because the fibres are strong |
| Linen | Pills less than most other fibres |
| Silk | Pills less than most other fibres |
| Long fibres | Pills less because there are fewer fibre ends |
| Short fibres | Pills more because there are more fibre ends |
| Knitted fabrics | Pills more than woven fabrics |
| Woven fabrics | Pills less than knitted fabrics |
| Tight knit | Pills less than loose knit |
| Loose knit | Pills more than tight knit |
| Blends of strong and weak fibres | Pills when the weak fibre breaks and the strong fibre holds the bobble in place |
| Fine wool | Softer, but with more tendency to pill than coarse wool |
| Coarse wool | More hard-wearing and less prone to pilling |
Tip: If you're after a soft wool plaid, expect a few more pills at the start. These usually lessen as the loosest fibres shed.
How to remove pilling from a throw
Once the pills have formed, the best tool is a fabric shaver. It's a handheld electric device with a rotating blade sitting beneath a protective mesh. You glide it gently over the fabric, and the blade shaves off the pills without cutting into the textile. It's mostly used on clothing, especially wool, angora and cashmere, but it can also be used on bedding, curtains and blankets.
- Place the plaid or cushion on a flat surface so the fabric lies taut.
- Move the fabric shaver in gentle motions, without pressing hard.
- Work through a small area at a time so you can keep track of the result.
For loose fluff, dust and pet hair that hasn't formed into bobbles, a lint roller or a lint brush is the right choice. The lint roller has single-sided adhesive paper on a handled cylinder, and you roll it over the fabric so fluff and hair stick to the paper. The lint brush has a fabric pad on a handle that picks up fibres as you move it in one direction across the surface. Neither tool is designed to remove pills that have already formed in the fabric, they're best for loose fluff and hair that sits on top.
How to prevent pilling
You can't avoid pilling entirely, but you can do a lot to delay it and keep it under control. Turn the throw or cushion inside out before washing it, if possible. This reduces the friction the surface is exposed to in the machine, and it's one of the methods textile experts point to for preventing pilling.
In everyday use, you can also reduce friction by avoiding leaving the throw in the same spot all the time, or letting it rub against rough surfaces like a basket or a sofa with a textured cover. When buying new, tightly woven or tightly knitted fabrics with long fibres are generally less prone to pilling than loosely knitted fabrics with short fibres.
The washing itself also matters, but that belongs in its own articles. You can read more in How do you care for and wash a throw? and in How do you wash wool? Caring for wool blankets and wool textiles.
Looking for a new throw, handpicked with quality in mind?
See throwsIs pilling a sign of poor quality
No, pilling is not in itself a sign of poor quality. All fabrics pill to some extent, because the process is linked to perfectly ordinary wear, and it's a surface flaw rather than a fault in the textile itself. How much and how quickly the pills appear depends on the fibre, the processing and how the textile is used, not just on whether it's expensive or cheap.
On wool, pilling typically decreases over time, because the weak wool fibres that form the balls eventually work themselves loose and fall off. On synthetic fibres such as polyester, nylon and acrylic, on the other hand, the pills are more persistent, because the strong fibres hold onto the balls firmly even once they've formed. Pilling also doesn't affect the fabric's function until an area with a lot of pilling becomes thin enough to form a hole. Until then, it's a matter of appearance, not a sign that the textile is falling apart.
Throws and cushions in everyday life
A simple way to spread out the wear is to move your throws and cushions around instead of leaving them in the same spot all the time. Turn the cushion, or lay the throw a different way on the sofa every so often, so it's not always the same points being rubbed against your body, the sofa or the armrest.
It's worth removing pilling regularly, rather than waiting until there's a lot of it. If you have a favourite throw or a cushion you use often, it's worth keeping a closer eye on exactly the spots where it's used the most. You'll find throws, quilted throws and cushions in the shop, all handpicked by Dinna, in Throws, Quilted throws and Cushions.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my throw get pilling?
Because loose fibres are pushed out of the fabric when it's used and washed, and friction gathers them into small balls, especially where the fabric is worn the most.
How do you remove pilling?
You carefully shave it away with a fabric shaver, a handheld device with a rotating blade under a mesh, which can be used on wool and blankets, among other things.
Can you avoid pilling entirely?
No, all fabrics pill to some extent, but you can delay it by turning the textile inside out before washing and by reducing friction in everyday use.
Which fabrics get the least pilling?
Linen and silk pill less than most other fibres, and tightly woven or tightly knitted fabrics with long fibres generally pill less than loose knits with short fibres.
Is pilling a sign of poor quality?
No, pilling is a surface flaw that occurs from ordinary wear on practically all fabrics, and it doesn't in itself say anything about the quality.
Can a lint roller remove pilling?
A lint roller is best for loose fluff, dust and hair sitting on top of the fabric, but it's not designed to remove pilling that's already attached to the fabric.
Summary
Pilling is a perfectly normal consequence of fabric being used and washed, and it occurs because loose fibres rub together into small balls, especially where the textile is worn the most. A fabric shaver gently shaves them away, while a lint roller or fabric brush keeps loose fluff and hair under control day to day. You can't avoid pilling entirely, but with gentle use, less friction and the right choice of fabric, you can keep it under control.
Read also
- How do you care for and wash a throw?
- How do you wash wool? Caring for wool blankets and wool textiles
- What is merino wool? Merino wool and cashmere explained
- What's the difference between cotton, linen and wool in home textiles?
- How do you store blankets and throws over summer?
- Kintsugi: how to repair ceramics with gold
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