How to remove ugly bobbles or fabric pills from sweaters using simple home remedies

Now that winters are here, all our sweaters, knitwear, and other warm clothes are out. But one of the most upsetting things you see on most of the warm winter wears are the ‘BOBBLES’.

Punam Srivastava, a homemaker who lives in Lucknow, said she was shocked this year to see almost all her good sweaters full of bobbles. “Almost all my and my husband’ sweaters and a few knitwear were covered in ugly bobbles. I don’t understand as it has never happened before. Now I am seeking remedies on how to get rid of these.” There are many like her who suffer with wobble issues. For those who don’t know, bobbles are small fuzzy balls which appear on fabric with wear and washing.

These are caused by friction that breaks or sometimes tangles fibers into tiny knots. It makes garments look old and worn. But thankfully, there are several effective remedies which can remove these fur balls and restore your clothes.Reasons behind fabric pilling or wobbling

First, it is important to understand what fabric pilling is. So, it happens when loose fibers on a fabric’s surface become tangled and form little balls. Bobbles are quite common on sweaters, knitwear, fleece, and other winter wear.

It happens because of many reasons such as washing the article in washing machines, and repeated wearing.Let’s have a look at some home remedies:How to removal manuallyLint rollers or sticky tapes to the rescue

Lint roller is among the easiest, cheapest and also the safest ways to remove light fuzz from clothes. All you have to do is roll it over the affected fabric in the same direction. It will remove the sticky sheet when it gets full. No lint roller? Worry not, you can use strong adhesive tape also.

Wrap it around your fingers with the sticky side up. Press gently against the fuzz, lift and repeat unless you see the fuzz on the tape.

Easy, right?Pumice stone or sandpaper A pumice stone or sandpaper also helps in wobble removal. These act as a scrubber and lightly abrasive items pick up pills without tearing the fabric. All you have to do is keep the garment flat, pull it tight, and gently rub the stone or sponge in one direction. Soon they’ll disappear.Velcro hair rollersVelcro hair rollers are also quite effective. These can grab loose pills and remove them. Hold the fabric flat and gently roll the Velcro across the garment. The Velcro will pull away the fuzz. Use on sweaters and scarves.Disposable razor

Another effective home remedy is by using a disposable razor. Get a razor and slide over the fuzzy areas of the fabric. The razor will remove/trim these balls, leaving the surface clean.

People swear by this method! Make sure it doesn’t rip the fabric. So use light and short strokes. Also do not use the razor on delicate fabrics like silk or lace.Nail clippers/scissors For more stubborn bobbles, you can use a pair of scissors or nailcutter. These help in trimming the pills but be cautious as the blade can also cut the fabric surface.Preventive practicesIt is said ‘Prevention is better than cure’. You can prevent bobbles by:Wash inside out

This practice always works. If you are washing your sweaters, turning garments inside out before washing. It reduces friction which means fewer pills.Gentle washing and air dryingAlways use gentle detergent for washing your winterwear. Also avoid tumble drying. Instead, let the clothes air dry.Don’t overwashWash such clothes only when required. Frequent laundering also increases fiber abrasion and can increase pilling. A non-DIY option

There are some non-DIY options also available. It’s worth noting that fabric shavers (also called pill removers or lint shavers), which are designed specifically for removing pills.

These devices are easily available online. You can use them when there is a lot of pilling across several items.There’s no doubt that bobbles can make your favorite sweaters look old and worn, these are absolutely irritating. But the good thing is you don’t need expensive products to bring your sweater back to life! With these simple household tools and methods, you can effectively remove bobbles.