Those small fuzzy balls on the sides and underarms of a t-shirt are pills. They make a nearly new tee look old. Pilling is mostly decided by the fibre before you ever wear the t-shirt, and the rest is down to how it is washed.
Pills form when short fibres work loose from the yarn and tangle into balls under friction. Buy t-shirts made from long-staple cotton such as Supima, which has fewer loose ends, wash them inside out on a gentle cycle away from rough fabrics, and skip the dryer. Remove pills that do appear with a fabric shaver, not by pulling.
What causes pilling
- Short fibres. Short-staple cotton has many fibre ends in each length of yarn. Friction pulls them out of the surface.
- Friction. Bag straps, seat belts, desks and arms rubbing against the sides all tease fibres loose.
- Rough washing. Long, hot cycles with jeans or towels act like sandpaper.
- Blends. In cotton-polyester blends, the polyester is strong enough to hold pills on, so they do not fall away.
Which fabrics pill least
Fibre length matters most. Extra-long-staple cottons such as Supima have far fewer loose ends, so they pill much less than regular cotton. A smooth knit also helps: interlock and tight single jersey pill less than loose or textured knits. See Supima vs regular cotton.
How to wash to prevent pilling
- Turn t-shirts inside out, so the outer face rubs less.
- Use a gentle or hand-wash cycle and cool water, or hand wash.
- Wash with similar fabrics: keep tees away from jeans, towels and anything with zips or hooks.
- Do not overload the machine.
- Skip the tumble dryer; dry flat or on a hanger in the shade.
More in how to wash Supima cotton.
How to remove pills
- Lay the t-shirt flat on a table and smooth it out.
- Run a fabric shaver (lint remover) gently over the pilled areas, or carefully use a disposable razor held flat.
- Do not pull pills off by hand: it drags more fibres out and makes the next pills come faster.
When pilling is a sign of quality
A t-shirt that pills heavily in the first few washes is usually made from short-staple cotton or a loose knit. A little light fuzz at friction points can happen to any cotton; widespread bobbling after a month is a fabric problem, not a washing one.
Abraca and pilling
Abraca t-shirts use USA-grown, extra-long-staple Supima cotton. Gutmann polos are a smooth 240 GSM interlock; Lokee round necks are a 180 GSM single jersey. Washed inside out and cool, they stay smooth far longer than regular cotton tees.
Pilling questions
Why do my t-shirts pill?
Short fibres work loose from the yarn and tangle into balls where the fabric rubs. Short-staple cotton and rough washing make it worse.
Does Supima cotton pill?
Much less than regular cotton. Its extra-long fibres leave fewer loose ends on the surface.
How do I stop t-shirts pilling in the wash?
Wash inside out on a gentle, cool cycle, away from jeans and towels, and skip the dryer.
How do I remove pills from a t-shirt?
Use a fabric shaver on a flat surface. Do not pull pills off by hand.
Do cotton-polyester t-shirts pill more?
Pills on blends tend to stay on longer, because the strong polyester fibre holds them in place.
