How to Deal With Fabric Pilling
Hunter Douglas Window Fashions are always made with high-quality materials, from the operating systems to the fabric and hardware accessories. Yet even with high-quality fabric, pilling can occur. At F&R Interiors serving the greater Los Angeles area, we know pilling can be frustrating. So we created this post to explore why pilling occurs and how to handle it.
About Fabric Pilling
Fabrics are made of many little fibers, which can come loose. Loose fibers then move to the surface of the fabric, where friction twists them into small balls. The fibers that aren’t loose also twist with the balls, which then anchors them to the main part of the fabric. All fibers do this, although it happens more noticeably with human-made fabrics, because natural fabrics shed loose fibers more easily and because human-made fabrics are stronger, so the pilling anchor is also strong.
Causes of Pilling
Dual-fiber fabrics (like cotton-poly blends) tend to pill because the weaker fiber (in the example, the natural cotton) more easily breaks while the stronger fiber (human-made poly) holds the pills to the fabric. Also, cotton fibers tend to be shorter, with more tiny ends than fabrics like silk or linen, which tend to have longer, more continuous fibers that don’t break. A variety of things can trigger pilling, including moisture in the air and whether the fabric might rub against something frequently. Some items, like fleecy tracksuits or blankets, can even transfer pills to furniture fabric through abrasion.
Treating Pilling
Technically, you can’t really prevent pilling from happening—it’s all just a natural part of the process for fabric fibers. However, you can reduce the chances of it by reducing how much friction the fabric experiences. And once you have pills, de-pilling simply by removing the loose surface fibers with either a battery-operated pill shaver or a pill comb. You can find either at your local fabric or sewing store. And rest assured, removing the pills will not impact the quality or performance of the fabric. In actuality, even if pilling reoccurs, it will be lessened and will eventually diminish because all of the extra, loose fibers will be gone. If you’ve noticed pilling on one of your fabric Hunter Douglas window fashions and are concerned about how to handle it, feel free to contact an F&R Interiors representative. We’ll be more than happy to offer advice.
Resolving Fabric Pilling in the Brentwood & Sherman Oaks CA Areas
At F&R Interiors, we’ve been serving the Greater Los Angeles since 1990, with a showroom at 1529 S. Robertson Blvd. We offer the full line of Hunter Douglas window treatments including beautiful custom curtains, top treatments, pillows, and more. Our personalized service, quality products, and professional installation services ensures you’ll find the perfect window treatment solution for your home or business.
We service the Greater Los Angeles area including Brentwood, Sherman Oaks, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Hancock Park, Los Feliz, Hollywood Hills, and San Fernando Valley, CA and surrounding areas. Contact us for more details.