If you’re still finding fuzzballs on your garment, even with proper care and maintenance, it might be time to break out the fabric shaver.
A shaver can be a miracle worker. But some miracles come with strings attached. The strings here: You need to be especially careful when shaving pills off your clothes, because you run the risk of damaging them.
Alexander Aciman, Wirecutter editor and resident textile and menswear aficionado, warns against being too shave-happy. “Fabric shaving is inherently bad for a fabric, but often only minorly so, and it’s also the easiest way to get rid of pilling,” he says. “I think, in the interest of getting people to wear and enjoy their clothes, it’s the lesser of two evils.”
FIT’s Preeti Arya agrees, adding that you should probably use a fabric shaver on any given garment maybe only once or twice a year, and avoid doing it regularly, as it can compromise the integrity of the fabric.
And you should be careful while using a fabric shaver, just as you would when using a razor on your skin. “Keep the setting on light,” Arya advises, and avoid “pushing too hard or fighting with the garment.” She continues, “It’s okay if the pill is not coming out, but if you mishandle the shaver, you may end up causing more pilling instead.” Gently graze over the entire surface of the garment, being careful not to linger too long in one place.
The best candidates for electric fabric shaving are thick, sturdy fabrics made with cotton, wool, or synthetic materials like polyester or acrylic. Think chunky knit cotton and wool sweaters, wool-blend coats, polyester workout gear, or acrylic knits. Arya points out that synthetic fibers pill more often than natural ones, which could be something to keep in mind the next time you’re shopping for new clothes.
You should not, however, use a fabric shaver on delicate fabrics such as lace, cashmere, or thin wool knits. Instead, for those materials, Zoe recommends a manual sweater comb. “This old-school tool typically has a plastic or wooden handle with fine metal or mesh teeth attached to it, for picking up fuzz,” she writes in our article on laundry aids. To use it, you should pull the fabric taut on a flat surface and gently run the comb over the pilliest areas.
If you’re hesitant to take spinning blades to your prized Aran-wool sweater, I hear you. Just like getting razor burn when you’re shaving your skin, the sharp blades of a fabric shaver can damage fabrics if you don’t use it properly. But I’ve found that the pros often outweigh the cons, and it’s a gamble I’m willing to take.
A fabric shaver is an invaluable tool to have on hand for keeping your clothing looking fresh and new. Although experts say it might not actually extend the lifespan of a garment, Arya points out that if your choice is between throwing a garment out or giving it a quick shave, saving it from the landfill is always a worthwhile endeavor.
I know that it’ll encourage me to re-wear my favorite wool sweater for years to come—and that’s enough for me.
This article was edited by Alexander Aciman and Megan Beauchamp.
