Edit ArticleHow to Prevent Pilling Stopping pilling on clothing can seem like an impossible task. However, there are steps that you can take to reduce pilling and even prevent it. Many of your laundering habits can be modified to help prevent pilling on garments. Follow these steps to protect your garments from unattractive pilling. Turn your clothes inside-out before washing them. By turning your clothing inside-out, you will reduce the amount of pilling that will occur on the exterior of the clothing. This is because the washing machine's motion will be primarily affecting the interior of the clothes. Use gentle detergents designed to wash delicate garments. Abrasive detergents increase the likelihood that your garments will pill. When possible, use liquid detergents, as powdered detergents grate against clothing while dissolving in a washing machine. If you must use hard-grained, powdered detergent, add the detergent into the washing machine while it is filling up with water and allow it to agitate for few minutes so the detergent dissolves before you put your clothes into the machine.

Choose a delicate cycle. Delicate cycles treat your clothes gently during washing. To further help prevent pilling, use the shortest cycle offered, as it will mean less time that clothes will be agitated in the washing machine. Avoid rubbing your clothes on yourself and other fabrics. Rubbing is the leading cause of pilling. If you take care to not rub your clothes more than you have to, you might find that you can extend the original look and feel of your clothing. Wash clothes susceptible to pilling by themselves whenever possible. Allow your garments to air-dry. Let your garments dry naturally in your laundry room or outside in a gentle breeze. Avoid putting your clothes into your drier, since the constant movement won't do much to stop pilling on your clothes. If you are short on time and have to use your drier, select a gentle cycle that uses very low heat. Check on your clothes every few minutes, and remove them as soon as they are dry. Hand-wash your garments whenever possible.

Washing your clothing by hand can significantly reduce the amount of pilling on your clothes. Hand-washing can be done easily in a clean sink. Turning your clothes inside out before washing them can also help preserve the colors of clothes. Pilling occurs most often on clothes made out of polyester or polyester blends. If you'd like to avoid the hassle of pilling altogether, buy clothes that are made out of materials other than these. You can use tape to remove pilling from clothing. Avoid using scissors, as you might damage the garment. Invest in an electric piller or fabric shaver to combat existing pilling. These devices can be purchased in many general stores or sewing shops. They can give your clothes a fresher feel and might even help restore them to their original look. Don't leave your clothes in your drier for longer than is absolutely necessary. Unnecessary movement and heat increases pilling.Hoping to add some polished knitwear to her wardrobe, Denise Anker spent several hundred dollars last fall on two Vince brand sweaters.

One, made entirely of cashmere, has held up well and Ms. Anker wears it regularly. The other, a wool-cashmere blend charcoal-gray cardigan—and at $395 the more expensive of the two—has shown troubling signs of a vexing winter wardrobe problem: pilling. "After two wearings, it became a... Fighting Breaks Out in South Africa’s Parliamenttobymac hoodie Trump Vows to Contest Appeals Court's Ruling on Travel Bansmugmug hoodie Melania Trump Files Libel Lawsuit Seeking $150 Milliondiamond supply hoodie zumiez A Drone Tour of China's Rusting Shipyards Saroo and Sue Brierley on 'Lion' Characters They InspiredHow to avoid those annoying fuzz balls When it comes to pilling, no season is safe: think fuzzy sweaters in the winter and rough bikini bottoms in the summer.

But have you ever have wondered what those tiny fuzz balls really are, or why they happen? TODAY Style sought answers from Sean Cormier, an assistant professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology, who teaches a class about textile quality assurance. Why does it happen? It's important to understand that fabrics consist of either long fibers or short fibers and, generally, short fibers — like cotton — are more likely to pill. There are more tiny ends (as opposed to one long, continuous fiber, like silk) that can get tangled together and create pills, which usually happen when the fabric is rubbed or abraded somehow. "Silk is a natural filament, which means it's long fibers," he said. "You unravel a silk cocoon and it's one continuous fiber that runs 1,600 yards." Denim is another safe bet for fabrics that rarely pill. On the flip side, "synthetic acrylic is terrible for pilling," Cormier said. RELATED: How to avoid pilling in yoga pants - 6 athletic wear questions answered

"It's basically a substitute for wool," he said. "Like those cheap hat-glove-scarf three-piece sets. Those things last one season and then they pill and look really hairy. Any fiber that doesn't tend to absorb water — polyester, nylon — also tends to pill." Another factor to consider is twist. In other words, how tightly the fibers are held together in the garment. "The higher the twist, the firmer the feel of fabric," Cormier said. "You'll see pilling on a lot of loose knits because there's more area for the abrasion to take place and it's not as tightly twisted." How do you avoid it? There are ways to minimize pilling, though. One easy solution is to wash clothes inside out. RELATED: Not all button-up shirts are button-downs. "The washing machine goes back and forth — [the garment] is rubbing against other articles of clothing. If you wash something inside out, the face of the fabric won't be abraded as much and pills will show up mostly on the backside," Cormier said.

Another gentler option is hand-washing clothes — that includes swimsuits. If you've noticed your kids' bathing suit bottoms are starting to develop annoying bits of fuzz, encourage them to avoid sitting on rough surfaces, like the concrete edge of a swimming pool. Pro tip: Sit on a towel instead. Or, consider using a laundry detergent with enzymes. "They eat away at the fabric — not a lot, but a little bit — and that little bit will remove some of those loose, short fibers that tend to pill. Enzymes are used in a lot of wash products. RELATED: The surprisingly functional reason high heels were invented Brands such as Tide and Arm & Hammer carry laundry detergents with enzymes. You could also invest in a sweater-shaver, a tool that runs over the surface of the fabric and slices the pills off, but Cormier is hesitant to recommend it because if you shave too much, you could ruin the garment. “I would think you’re more likely to create a hole, but some people swear by it,” he said.