Fashion Tricks & Secret Weapons:
Pilling Sweaters
By lizzie_jeanne. Filed in Fashion Tricks & Secret Weapons | Tags: care, fashion tips, fleece, lint, pilling, secret weapon, storage, sweater, winter, wool
Sweater season is upon us!
And with great trends and seasonal pieces comes the great responsibility to properly care for our garments.
I’m talking about pilling people!
Those ugly nasty balls of fluff that cling to everything and making our clothes look like ugly worn out hand-me-downs.
Everyone gets them.
My sweaters mostly pill in the underarm and down the side where my purse rubs up against it. (I also get pills on my tights when I wear boots… gross)
And since I have recently broken out some of my favorite cashmere and blended pieces, I thought I would share some of my secrets for how treat and care for your sweaters.
First is my favorite, the Sweater Stone:
If you haven’t heard of this gem, go out and get one. NOW! Made of a pumice material, the stone gently “cuts” those pesky pill balls off of your favorite garments with rough edged “broken cells”. It’s all very scientific and I can’t really explain the process, but the Sweater Stone website describes it best.
I prefer this method of grooming my sweaters because the stone doesn’t cut, snag, or ruin the sweater in any way.
You just brush the stone over the pills and they fly right off as if you were picking them up with a magnet.
Sweater Stone is so confident you will love this product too, they are giving them away for FREE, you just pay for shipping and handling.
(I am in no way connected with Sweater Stone and they have no idea I am endorsing this product, I just wanted to share one of my secrets with you!)
I also like the traditional Electric Lint Shaver/Remover:
But you have to be careful with these.
A very sharp and fast blade cuts the fibers holding the pills to your sweater.
Even though the blade is behind a mesh screen, if you push too hard or get too close they can (and will) cut a hold in your favorite cashmere piece.
I like this better for removing lint from wool or fleece coats, something not as delicate as a fine knit.
You could also invest in a lint roller and a lint brush. These come in handy during the winter months when our clothes tend to molt.
Lastly, I have gathered some helpful tips on how to properly care for your sweaters:
Never hang your sweaters, always fold. Hanging can deform and misshape a knit, making it longer, bigger, or even leaving the impression of a hanger in the shoulders.
Hand wash your sweaters with a gentile cleaning agent like Woolite. Dry by rolling in a thick towel (or multiple), then lay flat on the towel to air dry.
Give good knits a rest! Over wearing your favorite sweater can cause it to fall out of shape and can create permanent stains where you perspire most (underarms!).
Repair a sweater ASAP. As soon as a button falls off, or a snag starts to form a hole, mend your sweater with a needle and thread. Catch the loose knit and prevent the hole from growing!
Do not use mothballs when storing winter clothes over the summer months. Mothballs not only smell, but are very toxic. Use cedar balls or blocks, or even dry bay leaves to prevent your favorite sweater from becoming a feast for moths.
If you have any care or storage tips for sweaters and other winter garments, feel free to share!
