Pilling
Also: bobbling · fuzzballs
Pilling is the small balls of tangled fibers that form on a fabric's surface where it rubs against itself or other surfaces — common on knits, under the arms, and at the cuffs. It's one of the most frequent signs of wear on used clothing and a key input to the fabric-condition grade.
How to get pills off a garment
- 1Lay the garment flat on a hard surface. Doing this on your lap stretches the knit and the shaver will cut it.
- 2Go over the pilled area with a fabric shaver on its lowest setting, or a sweater comb for anything loosely knitted or cashmere.
- 3Work in one direction, short strokes, and empty the shaver often. A full chamber presses pills back into the fabric.
- 4Stop when the surface reads smooth from a low angle. Chasing the last few pills is how people shave a hole in a sleeve.
Stopping it happening again
Pilling is abrasion, so it comes from friction rather than dirt. Turn knitwear inside out to wash, use a mesh bag, wash cold on a gentle cycle, and skip the dryer. The underarm and the side where you carry a bag will always go first.
How to spot it
- Look at high-friction zones: underarms, inner thighs, cuffs, and collar
- Angle the garment under light — pills cast tiny shadows
- Run a hand across the surface; pilled fabric feels rough, not smooth
Grade impact
Pilling drives the Fabric Condition factor (30% of the grade). Light, sparse pilling nudges an item from Excellent (8) toward Good (6); heavy, widespread pilling that dulls the whole surface pushes it into Fair (5) or lower.
Fixability
Often improvable: a fabric shaver or sweater comb removes surface pills, though it can't restore fibers already thinned by abrasion. De-pilling before photographing can legitimately raise the grade.
How to disclose it
Note it plainly ('light pilling at the cuffs') and show a close-up. Disclosed pilling rarely causes a return; undisclosed pilling in a 'like new' listing does.
Pilling — frequently asked
- Does pilling lower a clothing grade?
- Yes. Pilling is assessed under the Fabric Condition factor. Light pilling drops an item a tier or so; heavy pilling across the garment can take it to Fair or below. De-pilling before grading can raise the result.
What if it does not all come out?
Most of the time some of it stays, and the leftover is what a buyer sees. A garment is worth what its condition says it is worth, so the sensible next question is how much this particular flaw moves the number.
Ready to Grade Smarter?
Join resellers who trust GradeThread to standardize condition grading, build buyer confidence, and sell faster.