Who hasn't seen them - those little balls of fluff that form on some items of clothing and textiles after a while.
Why do they appear - and above all: how can they be avoided or combated if they have already become established? And what does this actually have to do with ‘peeling’? You can find answers and tips here...
![[Translate to English:] Was ist Pilling](/fileadmin/user_upload/magazin/magazin_artikel/pilling-tc.jpg)
What is pilling
Pilling is the term used to describe the small, annoying nodules or balls of fluff that form on fabrics after some time of use and don't look particularly pretty.
The main effect of pilling is first of all on the appearance - it creates an unattractive, dingy look. The functionality of the pilled fabrics is initially only slightly impaired - whereby the stressed areas run the risk of forming holes or even tearing over time.
Synthetic fibres are particularly susceptible to pilling, but wool and cotton are also at risk.
How does pilling occur?
"Pilling occurs during everyday use by us, but also in the washing machine and tumble dryer: the mechanical and thermal stress naturally favours the release and knotting of the fluff.
When we receive complaints about our (pilling-free) fitted sheets, we usually find ‘foreign pills’: these pills originate from foreign fabrics, such as pyjamas, which have worked their excess fibres into the sheet over the course of many nights.
The so-called ‘pills’ occur particularly where fabrics are rubbed against each other through movement.
Pilling often occurs in the low-price segment
Pilling occurs particularly with short-fibre fabrics, which are often found in the low-price segment.
Long-staple cotton is used to produce particularly fine and tear-resistant cotton yarns. If these are twisted (= two yarn threads make one twisted thread) and gassed (= yarn finishing in which protruding hairs are removed with a flame) and mercerised (yarn finishing that makes the material smoother and more homogeneous on the surface), the end product is much less susceptible to pilling and extremely hard-wearing.
How can you avoid pilling?
So what can we do about those cheeky & annoying nodules that pop up from time to time without being asked?
Well, the area of fitted sheets can be ticked off with the purchase of pilling-free Formesse sheets! Otherwise, you can of course consider opting for products with a special anti-pilling treatment. However, this is usually a chemical treatment that is usually at the expense of nature.
Further tips & tricks
- Treat new textiles carefully with a lint roller before using them for the first time, as the manufacturing process always leaves a lot of loose fibres on the fabric.
- Be sure to follow the care instructions (ideally BEFORE you cut off the annoying flags - perhaps take a photo of them so that you don't forget them later).
- Turn inside out before washing (at least then the pills will form on the inside).
- Do not use fabric softener. This forms a smoothing film on the fibres, making them easier to loosen later.
- Air dry the items more often instead of exposing them to additional friction in the tumble dryer (this also saves electricity and protects the environment).
When it's already too late
• For light pilling: treat with a lint roller or lint stone
• For medium pilling: treat with a lint brush
• For heavy pilling: remove the nodules with a lint shaver
What does this have to do with peeling?
The term ‘peeling’ (to peel off) is often confused with the word ‘pilling’. Here too, beads often play a role in combination with friction, but these are used in cosmetic or dermatological skin treatments: layers of skin are removed mechanically or chemically in different stages, for example to improve the appearance of the skin or to make pigmentation spots and scars disappear. The finest microparticles, clay, cores and lasers are used for this purpose. Such treatments have their origins in ancient Egypt and are also traditionally carried out in the Turkish hammam. Here in Germany, peeling has been practised since the 1960s and the methods range from DIY peeling with a small tube from the chemist's to high-tech treatments on a grand scale!
Lint, pilling & the environment
Our research has revealed some astonishing facts:
According to a study published in the journal ‘Environment Science and Technology’, washing machines rub off more than 1,900 tiny microparticles per wash cycle from fleece fabrics made from polyester and acrylic textile fibres, for example. They are not retained in sewage treatment plants. If these microparticles enter the sea via wastewater, they form part of the plastic waste in the oceans. Such particles were found in the sediment of 18 beaches worldwide, and not a single sample was free of them.
As we all know, every little helps a lot, so all the more reason to look out for quality products made from natural raw materials! #savethesea