Why is the fabric on my sofa fuzzy / balling up (i.e. what is fabric pilling?)

This is a frequently asked about topic when shopping for furniture.
Fabric pilling is not something to worry about when it comes to picking out your furniture. Pilling is a common materialization that occurs in many homes.
Please note, this is not a fabric blemish, nor is it a flaw of the manufacturer.

SO, WHAT CAUSES THE FABRIC TO PILL?

The short answer is friction. When people rub against the fabric, the loose fibers will twirl into small fiber balls.
When fabrics are from more than one fiber type, the more likely it is to pill. Since one fiber is stronger than the other, the weaker fiber becomes loose while securely attached to the stronger fiber holding the pill.

NATURAL FABRICS VS MAN-MADE FABRICS

Natural fabrics are not as tight as man-made fabrics; to this extent, the loose fibers can easily shed without much (if any) pilling.
Man-made fabrics are tight fibers built for durability that hold the loose fibers to the fabric and are more likely to develop pills.

NATURAL FABRICS (Least Likely)
Cotton
Wool
Silk
Hemp
Cashmere

MAN-MADE FABRICS (Most Likely)
Polyester
Acrylic
Nylon
Rayon
Spandex

CAN FABRIC PILLING BE PREVENTED?
Fabric pilling is not preventable because all fabrics will pill to some degree…but it is treatable!There is an easy tool you can purchase called the fabric defuzzer that will shave away the pilling.

Updated on: 02/13/2021