User:Klachey/sandbox

a small ball of matted fibers that forms on the surface of a fabric.

Related Terms
Washing

Discussion
Pilling occurs from the rubbing or abrasion of fabric during normal wear and use when the fibers begin to unravel and become tangled together creating a tiny ball - or pill - on the surface of the fabric. Pilling happens primarily on man-made fabrics like polyester, polyester blends, acrylic, and nylon because shorter fibers are used in the creation of yarns for those products. Tightly twisted weaves show pilling less, while looser weaves made with shorter fibers allow for more movement therefore, more pilling.

To avoid pilling there are certain steps to follow : Pilling can be removed with a fabric comb, a motorized, handheld fabric shaver, or by cutting them carefully off with scissors.
 * Turn the garment inside out before washing
 * Wash smaller loads so less abrasion happens in the wash cycle
 * Use liquid detergent and fabric softener
 * If possible, lay the garment flat and air dry