What makes clothes pill?

Now that it's summer, it's time to pull out those bathing suits!  One thing with bathing suits is that they tend to pill easily.  Pilling is when little balls form on your clothing.  This is because the fibers in synthetic materials, such as nylon and polyester, are long and strong so instead of breaking off, they tangle and form the little annoying balls known as pills.  While this doesn't do anything to the durability of the clothes, it can be annoying.

While there is no absolute way to keep clothes from peeling, there are some ways to slow down the process.  Washing clothes that are prone to pilling in delicate cycles may reduce rubbing that causes the pills; before putting clothes in the washer, turn them inside out  Also, when wearing bathing suits, don't sit on any rough surfaces as that may aggravate the fibers.

If the pills really annoy you, there are ways to remove them once they form.  There are blocks of pumice or foamed glass that you can rub over clothing and it removes them.  I love the brand Hollywood Fashion Secrets and they sell pumice stones here for $5.99.  There are also several different types of pill shavers that are similar to electric razors that gently cut the pills off.  They range in price with some starting as low as $4!