8 Best Fabric Shavers to Buy in 2022

Jun 05, 2023

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These little gadgets are shear genius.

It doesn't take much for your favorite sweater to become studded with pills. You know—those dreaded fuzzy beads of fabric that come with regular wear and tear. But what exactly causes this kind of texture?

Essentially: agitation. Everyday wear puts a strain on fabrics, particularly looser knits like wool and cashmere. Simple acts like your arm rubbing against your torso while you walk, your forearm hitting the desk while you type, or your handbag digging into your shoulder can cause pilling. So can more forceful agitation, like a spin in the washing machine. Unfortunately, over time, pilling isn't really avoidable—and picking at those little balls of lint is highly discouraged, since it can ruin your garment. But it's not all bad news. The upside is there are simple tools, like a pumice stone, that can help safely remove these unsightly bits of fabric. And if you want something even speedier? Turn to a fabric shaver. These little gadgets are typically electronic (either corded or battery-powered) and feature a protected razor propelled by a motor. You simply hold the tool against your sweater, apply gentle pressure, and shave the pills right off without fear of accidentally cutting the fabric itself. Most can also be used on larger items, like blankets, upholstery, and even sofa cushions.

So if you have a whole trunk of sweaters that could use a refresh, be sure to pick up one of these inexpensive wardrobe essentials. These are the best fabric shavers—both electric and manual—to buy now.

This wildly popular fabric shaver has more than 92,000 reviews on Amazon. Reviewers love it because it's compact, has an easy-grip handle, and is built with a powerful 9,000 rpm motor. It also has another unique convenience feature: a 9.8-foot power cable that gives you more flexibility.

Though super affordable, this ergonomic fabric shaver safely removes fuzz, lint, and pills from just about anything—sweaters, socks, and even sofas. Just set it to one of three heights, depending on the fabric you're working with.

It's just about three inches all around, so this electric fabric shaver fits squarely in your hand to help you get a good grip. And Oprah, who included it on her Favorite Things list in 2019, says it effortlessly tackles the "beady balls" she can't stand to see on her sweaters. Also convenient: It charges via a USB port, so you don't have to fuss with any cables.

If you're tackling a larger project—an old blanket, drapes, or a sofa—a professional-grade fabric shaver will help you perform the task more efficiently. This one features a 2.5-inch shaving surface to eliminate pills, lint, and fuzz from fabrics like wool, cotton, knits, and synthetics quickly yet safely. It also has a large handle—much like an iron—to help you get a better grip.

Though cashmere is prone to pilling the same way wool sweaters are, you have to be much more careful with the delicate fabric. A manual brush, like this one, is a much safer way to tackle the problem. The palm-size wooden block features wire netting on each side—simply run it over your sweater with gentle pressure.

This fabric shaver may be manual, but before you write the style off as too much effort, you should know about the positives. For starters, it eliminates the risk of accidentally cutting your favorite sweater. Beyond that, this model stands out because it comes with three interchangeable edge options to safely de-pill sweaters, coats, sofas, and cushions of all fabrics, including cashmere, wool, cotton, fleece, acrylic, rayon, polyester, and more. It also has a bonus lint brush. And because it's so big, you can tackle larger furniture pieces in less time.

It may not be quite as powerful as some other options, but this fabric shaver will get the job done—no matter where you are. It's powered by two AA batteries (read: no wires) and is less than 4 inches at its longest, so you can easily tuck it into a suitcase as small as a carry-on or a weekender.

Remove pills from wool sweaters, blankets, scarves, and so much more with this electric lint remover. It's powered by just two AA batteries but still has a blade that moves at nearly 9,000 rounds per minute to get the job done efficiently.

Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.

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