How to Remove Pilling from a Patagonia Sweater

Written By: Brittany McCrigler
  • Comments: 6
How to Remove Pilling from a Patagonia Sweater

Difficulty

Very easy

Steps

4

Time Required

5 - 10 minutes

Introduction

The day-to-day washing and wearing of sweaters causes piling, or balling and fraying of the fibers that compose the sweater. Pilling is visually unappealing, but more importantly, it can lead to additional fraying of the garment. By removing the pilling you can help lengthen the life of your favorite Patagonia sweater. And we all know that old sweaters are the coziest.

  1. aXTVaGUdSdqhgAwT
    aXTVaGUdSdqhgAwT
    cVHejxCcwMOGmx14
    vs4DAa3n4WBgJ35O

    • Lay the sweater flat on a table. Identify the pilled area of the sweater. It will be covered in little balls of fuzz.

    • Grab your sweater stone.

    • If you ever forget how to remove piling, there is a handy diagram on the back of the box.

  2. eZmBMNU4HYjVsRuq
    eZmBMNU4HYjVsRuq
    SXQex1SAmbdUnuv3

    • Working along the grain of the sweater, gently brush the sweater with the sweater stone.

    • As you use the stone you may notice a funny smell, that is a natural part of the stone which is released as it crumbles away. You will also notice small pieces of debris, as the stone cuts away pills it also breaks apart slowly. Simply shake out the sweater when you are done to remove debris.

    At this point…does all of the “stone debris” come off? Also, what about that smell, does it linger, will it come out with washing? Thank you.

    Nan -

  3. ML5dpAZQjyFquT3p
    ML5dpAZQjyFquT3p
    41oYqdNB2njAOyRx

    • Lift the sweater stone.

    • To prevent snags, always lift the sweater stone when changing directions.

    • Brush the sweater stone the opposite direction along the grain of the sweater.

  4. JyZFmOTPWglBFYTM
    JyZFmOTPWglBFYTM
    xMgPjJBaQeRKyaTo

    • Continue brushing until the pilling is removed.

    • Clean your sweater stone by rubbing your hand across the stone to remove the lint.

    Will that stone smell be on your hands? How bad is that smell? Thank you.

    Nan -

Author

Brittany McCrigler

Member since: 05/03/12

89748 Reputation

4 comments

I also have used a disposable razor to shave pills and fuzz off of Patagonia sweaters and capilene - it worked really well. Just lightly run it down the sweater. If any fuzz is persistent, do the same but perpendicular to the first direction you used. It made my sweater and capilene pants look like new again!

AE3 -

Yup, right there with AE3, disposable razor: they last a long time, and they can be re-sharpened a bit by shaving a piece of glass (nothing is disposable). This sweater stone looks kinda like pumice. I’m curious about it, but I wouldn’t buy one.

Rue Koegel -

Can you use a sweater stone on the Nano-Air to remove piling as well?

Trey -

Can't speak to fleece or nano puffs, but with wool sweaters a stone or plucking the pills pulls fibers upward and perpetuates the problem. Best to take scissors and ever-so-carefully, holding them parallel to garment, shear the pills off.

Susan McGrath -