Pilling
a small ball of matted fibers that forms on the surface of a fabric (1).
Related Terms[edit | edit source]
Translation[edit | edit source]
| English | Pilling |
|---|---|
| French | bouloches |
| Spanish | moteo |
| Portuguese | borboto |
| Italian | |
| German | Pillingeffekt |
| Arabic |
Discussion[edit | edit source]
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 (2). Pilling happens primarily on man-made fabrics like polyester, polyester blends (3), acrylic, and nylon because shorter fibers are used in the creation of yarns for those products (2). Tightly twisted weaves show pilling less, while looser weaves made with shorter fibers allow for more movement therefore, more pilling (2). Pilling is more noticeable on knitted fabrics because the lint becomes tangles with the small fiber balls which makes them bigger and more obvious (2).
To avoid pilling there are certain steps to follow (2)(3):
- 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
Pilling can be removed with a fabric comb, a motorized, handheld fabric shaver, or by cutting them carefully off with scissors (3).
References[edit | edit source]
1. The Free Dictionary. (2011). Pilling. Retrieved March 20, 2016, from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Pilling
2. University of Missouri Extension. (n.d.). What is Pilling? What Do I Do About it? Retrieved March 20, 2016, from http://missourifamilies.org/quick/materialqa/material13.htm
3. About Home. (2015, October). Prevent and Remove Pilling From Clothes. Retrieved March 20, 2016, from http://laundry.about.com/od/laundryproblems/f/preventpilling.htm
