How To Get Fuzz Balls Off Sweaters

Seven years ago, I showed you guys how to remove balls of fuzz and lint from a sweater using a pumice stone. It's gets the job done but I notice it takes off a lot of yarn and leaves a wispy halo of upset fabric on the garment. For this reason, I have been hesitant to use this method frequently.

I was excited to discover Gleener de-piller at Vogue Knitting Live. It's (self-) described as the "The Ultimate Fabric Shaver and Lint Remover". Ok, "excited" might be an exaggeration, as I was a little put off by the $20 price tag. Gleener is a plastic hand-held tool that has a fabric shaver on one end and a lint brush on the other. Should a hunk of plastic cost $20?

Months later I looked (like really, looked) at a beloved cable knit sweater. It was truly natty and unwearable but thought of dragging a crude pumice stone across this precious object made me anxious. A few days after that, deep in the bowels of my accessory drawer, I found an expensive hand-knit scarf covered in huge, disgusting fuzz balls. I hadn't worn it in years, probably because it was so gross. The Universe was telling me to invest in Gleener so that I could enjoy the nice things I already had, which is basically like saving money. I ordered a deluxe set that came with replacement "edges" (shavers) and a cute travel case.

The Gleener was pretty easy to use. I just popped on Edge 1. The instructions said that would be best for the large fuzz on my chunky knit of my sweater. (Edge 2 is for finer knits like merino or fleece. Edge 3 is for ultra fine fabrics like t-shirts and silk.) I spread the sweater out on an ironing board. Then I moved the Gleener across the sweater using a firm grip and gentle strokes. Using Gleener didn't seem faster than using a pumice stone, as I worked very carefully. On the bright side, it is large and has an ergonomic design which makes it much easier and more comfortable to hold than a pumice stone. I used the lint remover side to finish the process.

I was impressed with results I was able to achieve with Gleener. It renewed my scarf and sweater! And there's no halo of wispy fibers! The photos show all the lint/fuzz that was removed in the de-pilling process. Not too bad.

Gleener got all the huge gross "pills" off my scarf. Top row: Before. Bottom row: After.

Happy to have my vintage wool cable knit sweater renewed by Gleener. Top row: Before. Bottom row: After.

I think Gleener was worth the $20. Does the world need another single-purpose hunk of plastic? That's a more complicated question to which the answer is most likely "no". Maybe one day Gleener will be made from recycled plastic like Preserve toothbrushes. In the meantime, I'm glad this tool is helping people to get more use and enjoyment out of their clothing before sending it to a landfill or to be recycled.

Olivia Cleans Green is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon's website. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.