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7 Best Fabric Shavers to Get Rid of Pilling
Make that well-worn sweater feel like new again!
This story was updated in June 2023 to add a new top pick.
As satisfying as it is to pick little pill balls off your sweaters, a fabric shaver can buzz them all off in one swipe, saving your clothing from looking old and worn before its time. Sometimes, it only takes one or two wearings for a garment to start pilling on the sleeves, under the arms, along the side seams or anywhere there’s friction. While you can check labels when shopping and avoid fabric blends that tend to pill, the easiest fix is to use a fabric shaver to extend the life of your garment. Sometimes that sweater is just too cute to ditch!
At the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Care and Cleaning Lab, we tested 18 different pill removers, ranging from motorized electric shavers to simpler tools like fabric combs. To test each fabric shaver, we washed and dried rayon-polyester-blend sweaters 15 times to create the worst possible pilling scenario, then tried each model. The picks below are our top-tested fabric shavers along with newer models that have received rave reviews from real users.
Our top picks:
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
After our picks, you can read more about how we test fabric shavers, plus how to use them safely to keep your treasured garments and home furnishings looking great for years to come. Looking for more ways to keep your clothing looking like new? Check out our picks for the best clothing irons, best clothing steamers and best ironing boards.
Conair Fabric Defuzzer
Pros
- Large lint bin
- Easy to use with adjustable head
Cons
- Batteries not included
Not only does this shaver have over 70,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, it's also an editor favorite and it's backed by our Good Housekeeping Seal. It removed pills well in our Lab tests, and it has a large lint bin to collect shaved pills. We like that it has a large head to cover more area with each pass and that it can be adjusted to remove pills from thin-, medium- and heavy-weight fabrics. Another perk: It comes in lots of fun colors.
| Type | Motorized |
|---|---|
| Head diameter | 2 inches |
| Power source | Two AA batteries |
Evercare Fabric Shaver
Pros
- Works quickly and easily
- Compact and comfortable to hold
- Includes small brush to remove lint from head
Cons
- Batteries not included
- Lint bin is small and a little tricky to remove
This small but mighty shaver removed pills from our test sweaters quicker and more easily than others we tested. We found the compact size surprisingly comfortable to hold — plus it's easy to store and offers a great value compared to larger and pricier models. It also comes with a small brush to remove trapped lint from the head and a cover to protect the blades when you're not using it, though the lint bin is small and can be tricky to remove.
| Type | Motorized |
|---|---|
| Head diameter | 1.5 inches |
| Power source | Two AA batteries |
Sunbeam Professional Electric Fabric Garment Defuzzer
Sunbeam Professional Electric Fabric Garment Defuzzer
Pros
- Comfortable grip
- Large head and lint bin
- Runs on electricity or batteries
Cons
- May require multiple passes to completely clean fabric
Whether you have pills on furniture or just lots of clothing that needs de-fuzzing, this fabric shaver is built for bigger jobs with its large head, comfortable handle and plug-in AC adaptor. Though it took a few passes to fully remove the pills in our tests, it was easy to use and effective. Because it comes with an AC adapter, you can use it non-stop while plugged into an outlet without fear of running out of battery. But when you need to ditch the cord, it also runs on four C-size batteries.
| Type | Motorized |
|---|---|
| Head diameter | 2.5 inches |
| Power source | AC power or four C batteries |
STEAMERY Pilo No.2
STEAMERY Pilo No.2
Pros
- Rechargeable
- Good size for travel
- Comes with brush for cleaning
- Stylish
Cons
- Pricey
- Tricky to clean
Stylish and functional, this fabric shaver from Steamery is rechargeable (via a USB-C cable) making it a great option for traveling since you don’t have to worry about replacing batteries. During our test, we found that it removed pills in only a few gentle passes and left us with a satisfying ball of fuzz. It also comes with a brush for cleaning, though a tester did find it a little tricky to clean. Laurie Jennings, General Manager of the Good Housekeeping Institute, tested this little shaver and said, “I was over the moon to use this sweater shaver on my favorite (but very beat up) bally black sweater. From the second I opened the box I could tell it was a big improvement on my old one. Bigger surface area for shaving, really nice design and ergonomic shape and exceptional performance.”
| Type | Motorized |
|---|---|
| Head diameter | 2 inches |
| Power source | USB-C charging cable |
Gleener Fabric Shaver & Lint Brush
Gleener Fabric Shaver & Lint Brush
Pros
- Doesn't need batteries or charging
- Comes with three heads
- Includes a lint brush
- Available in several colors
Cons
- May take multiple passes for completely clean results
After testing the Gleener and seeing all the positive online reviews, we feel it's worth a mention in our roundup, especially because it offers different head options and has features not found on other manual fabric shavers. It resembles an oversized disposable razor with a de-pilling head on one side and a lint brush on the other. Choose the head that's most appropriate for the fabric you are cleaning: big and bulky, medium or delicate. The soft-grip handle is comfortable to hold, and it comes with a pouch for travel.
Best of all, there's no fear of nicking or cutting your sweaters. In our test, it worked well to give new life to a worn black dress and to safely de-fuzz a sweater we previously nicked with a motorized shaver. Because it's manual, be prepared to put more effort and time into eliminating pills, and we recommend that you work gently to keep from stretching fabrics.
| Type | Manual |
|---|---|
| Head width | 4.75 inches |
| Power source | N/A |
BEAUTURAL Fabric Shaver Home-Edition
BEAUTURAL Fabric Shaver Home-Edition
Pros
- Long plug-in adapter
- Comfortable handle
- Comes with extra accessories
Cons
- Pricier than others
This shaver stands out for its versatility and useful features. Though we haven't tested this model, we think the flexibility to use batteries or a plug-in cord that's almost 10 feet long means you can easily de-pill bedding, furniture, drapes, throws, pillows and more. Its wide head can cover big areas like wool coats and sofa cushions. It also has a textured handle for a more comfortable and secure grip and a large-capacity lint bin to catch all of the fuzz. Especially unique are the blade lock for safety and the two-speed motor so you can dial down the power for delicate fabrics. Also included are accessories like a replacement blade, lint brush and storage bag.
| Type | Motorized |
|---|---|
| Head diameter | 2.8 inches |
| Power source | AC power or four AA batteries |
McGowan Sweater Comb II
Pros
- Won't nick delicate fabrics
- No batteries or outlet required
- Compact and portable
Cons
- Takes longer to remove pills
If you're worried about damaging delicate fabrics with an electric shaver, this comb is a simple yet effective way to remove the pills. Our Lab tests found that the Sweater Comb removed fuzz balls without pulling or stretching out the fabric, making it an ideal choice for finer fibers like cashmere or merino wool. It's also small, lightweight and easy to tuck into a desk drawer or suitcase for travel, though because it’s manual, it does take more time and effort than an electric shaver.
| Type | Manual |
|---|---|
| Head width | 4 inches |
| Power source | N/A |
How we test fabric shavers
While testing fabric shavers in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care & Cleaning Lab, we included everything from motorized electric shavers to fabric combs and pumice stones for a total of 18 different products designed to remove pill balls from clothes.
We purchased multiple identical garments made of a rayon/polyester blend that was likely to pill, then washed and dried them 15 times each to create the worst possible pilling scenario. We tested each tool on the pilled garments and then scored on how well it removed pills in one pass and how many passes it took to completely clean the fabric. We also evaluated the shavers for ease of use, how comfortable each was to hold and how easy it was to clean.
Outside of the Lab, we sent the shavers off to consumer testers to get feedback on their experience using the product, how easy (or difficult) they found it to use and clean, how long the shaver held a charge if it was motorized, as well as any other feedback they want to share.
How do fabric shavers work?
Simply pass a fabric shaver over the surface of the garment and either rotating blades, a mesh screen or a rough stone texture will lift and cut or break off the loose fibers, leaving your garment smooth and pill-free. No matter what type of pill remover you use, it must be applied with care so you don't damage the fabric.
For the best results with motorized fabric shavers, hold the fabric taut. Fabrics get nicked when they're bunched up. Also, there's no need to press down too hard: Several light passes usually do the trick.
Manual options like sweater combs and stones are more compact and don't require batteries. They work by pulling the loose pills from the fabric and gathering them onto a metal comb or pumice-like stone to be cleaned off later. They may take more passes to fully clean away pills and care must also be taken when using them so you don't stretch or distort the fabric. Take note: Sweater stones also tend to disintegrate as you use them so you'll likely have debris to vacuum up from the floor when you are done, which can be annoying.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Lexie Sachs and Carolyn Forté are industry experts with decades of fabric and fiber testing and laundering experience between them. Each has spent many years assessing the appearance of clothing, bedding, upholstery fabrics and more after laundering and abrasive wear-and-tear tests; this has enabled them to provide consumers with the best advice about how to properly shop and care for clothing and home furnishings to better avoid and eliminate pilling.
Lexie Sachs (she/her) is the executive director of the Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she researches, tests and reports on fabric-based products ranging from sheets, mattresses and towels to bras, fitness apparel and other clothing. She also evaluates luggage, rain gear, disposable paper goods and baby products. Lexie has more than 15 years of experience in the textiles industry and a degree in fiber science from Cornell University. Prior to joining GH in 2013, she worked in merchandising and product development in the fashion and home industries.
Carolyn Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care and Cleaning Lab. Using deep analytical testing and writing expertise in appliances, cleaning, textiles and organizational products, she produces cleaning and home care advice for GH, has authored numerous books and bookazines for the brand and partners with the American Cleaning Institute to co-produce the Discover Cleaning Summits. She holds a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences from Queens College, City University of New York.
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