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When you have a fave cotton shirt, it's a real bummer when you notice it's taken on some new features -- namely fabric pills. Rather than go around sporting a shirt that has a case of the nubbies, take action to keep this fabric disaster from striking your cotton creations.
Inside-Out Washing
Before washing your cotton shirt, take a moment to turn it inside out. Or leave it that way when you shuck your shirt after wearing and toss it into the laundry hamper. Then, if there's any friction during washing, pilling won't develop on the side of the shirt you show to the world when you wear it.
Lighten Your Wash Load
Yes, putting one cotton shirt in the washing machine to keep it safe from the all the rubbing that goes on during the wash is a little drastic. Yet, if you want your cotton shirt to be saved from the pill factor, you're going to have to lighten the load -- the wash-load that is. Wash your cotton faves with only a few other similar garments to keep friction at a minimum.
Use a Delicate Touch
Never, ever set your washer on a rough and rowdy cycle. A delicate setting is the only way to go if you want to protect your cotton shirts from developing those annoying fabric nubs. If you're really into TLC for your clothes, you can go so far as to hand-wash the garment in the sink with a delicate washing formula.
Shave or Trim It Smooth
If you already have some shirts that are victims of the dreaded pilling, you can always enlist the help of a clothes shaver to banish those fabric bumpies to a place far, far away. If you have steady hands, you can stretch the nubby part of the shirt over the curved edge of a counter and shave the pills with a safety razor. If you're not down with the razor, stretch the fabric and trim the nubbies off carefully with a pair of sharp scissors.
