How to remove pilling (bobbles) from jumpers and knitwear
In short: Lay the jumper flat and glide a fabric shaver over the bobbles, keeping clear of buttons, zips and embroidery. Pick off a few by hand, or use a comb gently. To slow new pilling, wash it inside out on a gentle cycle and skip softener on wool.
By Abu Bakar SaadatPublished 28 October 20264 min readPublisher: Saadat Rafiq
✓ Reviewed by Moaz Abdullah, BS Textile Engineering Technology · 29 October 2026
IllustrationAt a glance
- Best tool
- Battery fabric shaver or de-piller (Woolmark)
- A few bobbles
- Pick them off by hand (Woolmark)
- Avoid
- Zips, buttons, loose threads, embroidery (Philips)
- Prevent
- Inside out, gentle cycle, no softener on wool (Woolmark, Whirlpool)
- Advice from
- Woolmark, Philips, Whirlpool and Cleanipedia (Unilever), read 28 October 2026
- Checked
- October 2026
Pills, or bobbles, are little balls of tangled fibre. They form where a garment rubs, during wear and in the wash: Woolmark says elbows, underarms, sleeves, the front and the sides are the usual places, especially if you sit at a desk a lot. You can remove them safely in a few minutes. You can slow them down, but no one can promise they won't come back (Woolmark).
Which method suits your jumper?
Just a few bobbles
Pick them off by hand, after drying or before ironing (Woolmark).
Lots of bobbles, smooth or fine knit
A fabric shaver, one of the fastest methods (Whirlpool). Steps below.
Chunky or loose knit
A comb, very gently (Woolmark), or tape. Don't use a razor on chunky knits (Cleanipedia).
Light fuzz, not proper bobbles
Sticky tape or a lint roller is enough (Whirlpool).
How to remove bobbles with a fabric shaver
Lay the jumper flat and smooth it out.
Illustration Philips says to lay the garment on a flat surface and straighten it. A flat, unwrinkled surface lets the shaver cut only the bobbles, not the knit underneath. Work on a clean, dry jumper.
You should see: the knit lying flat with no folds, the bobbled areas facing up.
Careful: keep the shaver away from zips, buttons, loose threads and embroidery (Philips). It can catch them and cut the yarn.
Find the bobbled areas and anything the shaver must avoid.
Illustration Check the elbows, underarms, sleeves and sides first (Woolmark). Note where the buttons, zips and any embroidery are, so you can work round them. Snip a loose thread with scissors rather than shaving it.
You should see: a clear idea of the patches to shave and the parts to leave alone.
Glide the shaver smoothly over one patch at a time.
Illustration Hold the fabric flat with your other hand and glide the shaver smoothly over the surface (Philips). Don't press it into the knit. Do one area, check it, then move on. Empty the shaver's fluff container as its manual describes.
You should see: a smooth surface where the bobbles were, and fluff collecting in the shaver.
Lift the last fuzz with tape or a lint roller.
Illustration Press sticky tape onto the area and peel it away (Cleanipedia), or roll a lint roller over it (Whirlpool). Pick off fuzz at edges and hems by hand (Cleanipedia).
You should see: no loose fibres left on the surface, including round cuffs and hem.
Wash it inside out next time, on a gentle cycle.
Illustration Turn knitwear inside out before washing (Woolmark, Whirlpool) and use a gentle, cold cycle or hand wash (Whirlpool), as the label allows. Don't overload the machine, which adds friction (Whirlpool). For wool, follow how to wash a wool jumper, and skip fabric softener (Woolmark).
You should see: the jumper going into the wash inside out, in a load with room to move.
How to slow pilling down
| What to do | Why | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Wash inside out | The inside takes the rubbing, not the face | Woolmark, Whirlpool |
| Gentle, cold cycle or hand wash; don't overload | Less friction in the drum | Whirlpool |
| Do up zips, buttons and hooks before washing | They can snag fibres | Whirlpool |
| Wash heavy fabrics apart from knits | Heavy fabrics rub lighter ones | Whirlpool |
| Wool: no fabric softener | Woolmark lists it as a cause to avoid | Woolmark |
| Dry flat or on low heat rather than tumbling | Tumbling creates friction | Whirlpool |
| Limit rubbing in wear, such as bag straps on a favourite jumper | Pills form where fabric rubs | Woolmark, Whirlpool |
How to tell it worked
- The elbows, underarms and sides look smooth again.
- No holes or thin patches where you shaved.
- No cut threads round the buttons, zip or embroidery.
- No loose fuzz left on the surface.
If something goes wrong
| What happens | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The shaver snags or pulls the knit | The fabric wasn't flat, or you pressed too hard | Lay it flat and straighten it (Philips); glide lightly |
| A thin patch or small hole appears | The blades cut into the knit | Stop on that area. Darn small holes before they spread |
| Bobbles come back after a few wears | Normal: pilling forms wherever the fabric rubs (Woolmark) | Shave again when needed, and use the prevention table above |
| Fuzz from other clothes sticks to it | Fibres picked up in the wash | Sort by colour and fabric (Whirlpool); use tape or a lint roller |
Questions readers ask
Why does my new jumper pill so much?
Pilling comes from rubbing as you wear it, and it shows first on elbows, underarms, sleeves, the front and the sides (Woolmark). Knits pill more than woven fabrics, and short, loose fibres pill most (Whirlpool). Woolmark says no one can promise a garment won't pill.
Will dry cleaning remove bobbles?
No. Whirlpool says dry cleaning doesn't remove pills, though some cleaners offer pill removal as an extra service.
Can I use a razor on a jumper?
Only on fine knits, never chunky ones, and test a small hidden patch first (Cleanipedia). Stretch the fabric taut and move gently along its shape.
Is pilling a sign of a poor-quality jumper?
Not on its own. Woolmark lists longer fibres, higher yarn twist and tighter fabric among the things makers use to reduce pilling, but any knit can pill where it rubs.
Sources
We base our articles on the makers' official documentation.
- The Woolmark Company: What is pilling? And how do I avoid it?
- The Woolmark Company: Wool care factsheet: pilling, GD5407 (PDF, 2025)
- Philips support: What is the best way to use my Philips fabric shaver?
- Whirlpool: What is fabric pilling and how to prevent it?
- Cleanipedia (Unilever): How to get rid of bobbles on wool (8 December 2022)
