Today we’re testing the following de-pilling tools for your knits. Enjoy! And yes. This is a 40 minute video about fabric shavers. Relax and go with it. ❤
When I was in the army I used to use the razor to shave my beret and it worked pretty well. We had to shave down some of the bulk before wetting and shaping. I later got an electric one which didn't do well for the beret but it was so helpful for sweaters and sweatshirts. I loved your comparisons.❤
Thank you for sharing that! I do feel like the razor is a great option for those ‘in a pinch’ moments or for smaller items. Especially those that are, similar to your beret, of felted fabric. I mean it really does do the job!
My son is in the army. I had a proud mom moment when we went to his basic training ceremony. He was telling us BCT stories--his DS said his beret looked the best and told him to show the other guys what to do. I don't know if he connected shaping his beret with seeing me block handknits, but I like to think I was in the back of his mind telling him to leave his beret alone until it was completely dry 💚
I have a smaller version of the rechargeable and have used it for years. I also have used disposable razor. Pros - Cost and convenience vs. Speed and efficiency. I choose the battery operated. The razors nick fingers, land fill issues. The comb intrigues- purse ready.
Many of these gadgets come from China or somewhere else in Asia, so I always enjoy reading the translated product descriptions and scrolling over all the images on the left to read the details. Sure enough, the Bymore Fabric Shaver is "precise and expeditipus!" 🤣🤣
Be really careful with the electric one. If you go on uneven fabric or if you press just a little bit too hard you will get a gorgeous hole! I speak from experience. Gleener all the way!
I’m with you on satisfaction of the rechargeable depiller! I take it out on the deck with a pile of sweaters and get some satisfying outdoor time! Neighbors think I’m bonkers, until they start bringing me their items! Even made some extra unwanted $$$!!! I also have the Gleener for a quick refresh! They all make great gifts!
Hi Tayler, I was binge watching several of your episodes and I noticed that you asked for some video content ideas at the end of a couple of them. I really enjoy your videos and I find the podcast so helpful. I would like for you to review Coco Knits book/workshop. I am intrigued by her process, but I don't feel confident enough to buy yarn and try one of her sweaters on my own, My local yarn store does offer a class using her techniques occasionally, but so far, I have not been able to take the class. I am looking for input as to how well do Julie's techniques work, is it worth the time to learn her methods and how other people feel about her methods. I think you have an excellent review style and I am curious as to what you think of her style and also if you have ever knit one of her patterns. Thank you so much for all of your content regarding knitting and I am looking forward to catching up on the older videos as well as viewing your new ones as they come out. Happy Holidays to you and your family.
I have an electric shaver and have a wool comb. The comb works well but if you have a really pill-y sweater, it takes so much time to de-fuzz. I’d get frustrated with how much time it would take and usually just give up. The comb also seemed to lose its effectiveness over a lot of uses where it wouldn’t remove the fuzz but just kind of pressed it into the sweater. The electric shaver is better, so much quicker, and really satisfying. This may be weird, but I’d get one sweater done and and pull out a bunch more sweaters to de-fuzz because it was just so satisfying and actually kind of fun, it made a tedious job enjoyable. You do need to be careful with the shaver because it’s really easy to get fabric sucked in and it can cut holes in finer fabric like socks or cotton t-shirts, if you’re not paying attention. For thicker fabrics, like sweaters, you really can’t beat the shaver, bonus, the new ones are rechargeable, unlike the older ones that required batteries. I’d pass on the Bic, not a fan of the exposed blade, too easy to hurt yourself or accidentally cut into your sweater if you’re not paying attention or get a little too aggressive with the shaving.
Team blade here! I think the cutting is functionally better than the stretching and breaking done by sweater stones, combs, etc. I use my safety razor, though. FWIW, I’ve never cut a whole in a sweater, though you do have to be careful and pay attention, obviously.
Thanks for your comparisons. I think I would go with the electric shaver. Time is a factor and it does a great job. I’ve had various types over the years and they all did a great job.
Loved this comparison of various tools to de-pill, but I feel that the electric option is best as it just removes pills without stretching your knits and potentially damaging the knit fabric.
You are so wonderful at testing out different items. There are Pros and cons for each one of these. The gleaner is ideal, the Buy more fabric shaver is also ideal. By the look of it the little comb one looks impressive. The thing about the Bic disposable razor is very risky on hand knit items because you have put so much work into making it and might cut it also yes its 30cents but its more plastic in the land fill. I use the little wooden one type. I haven't used it too much but it does well and if you get bored waiting for the Doctor, you can use it then, just a thought. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and the tools.
I have a version of the Fabric Shaver which I love. It has an optional cord so you don't have to make sure it's charged all the time. I've revitalized a couple of OLD sweaters that I love and want to continue to wear.
I think a sweater shaver is best for hand knits, and that a gleener/comb is better on durable felted wools, such as coats and hats. The pulling action of a gleaner on items that have looser plies, like handknits, will produce more pilling in the long run since it's just another source of friction. Also, the same way that a bic is a cheap alternative to a shaver, a pumice stone is a cheap alternative for a wool comb. I LOVED this video, and I'm off to do some online shopping for a new sweater shaver! 😊
I have a feeling that the comb and the gleener work by 'pulling the fuzz off' manually and felting the surface left behind a little bit resulting in strenghtened fabric, while the razors (the electric and the bic) only cut off the most outer layer and thin the fabric out, so for myself I would be really careful choosing my favorite tool. But I haven't got any of these devices, so feel free to prove me wrong!
Yes! I think you may be right. It’s interesting actually and I think what you’re saying here really plays a part when you get into using them more frequently.
I love my Gleener. I know it’s not perfect but I get anxiety using a lint shaver. I’ve had lint shavers take a bite out of my clothes in the past. When it comes to my handknits, it’s coming nowhere close to them. Thanks for doing this video - it was really interesting!
I love that you did this video! I work at my LYS and we sell the gleaner and the little comb. I haven’t tried either so now I feel like I can talk to customers more intelligently. Also, I think I would prefer the battery operated one for my own personal use! Thanks again
Just went on Amazon and got the Bymore shaver! Thanks for the recommendation 😊. I have a gleaner and combs and an electric shaver already. I like that the bymore is rechargable - no batteries. The gleaner is good but I find that sometimes it can drag the fabric whereas the electric shaver removes pilling without pulling the fabric and is much faster. However I do often use the gleaner first, then go over with the electric shaver.
I used to have a little sweater comb, just like the pretty cedar model you used (mine didn't have a lovely cedar handle though). It was SO useful, and I did carry it in my notions bag. It wore out, and I haven't replaced it yet but boy do I miss it! I think I would get the electric gadget for big overhaul jobs, and keep a sweater comb in my daily carry again. Thanks for the great comparison video!
I've had a cheap battery operated piller that I have used for years and it still works just need to change the batteries. A little noisy and you can hear when it gets a pill but love at how quick it works.
Thanks for this very informative video! I am always astonished that the gleener gets so many positive reviews. It looks to me like it is pretty aggressive and kind of even “damaging” the fabric. Sometimes the white “head” doesn’t work well on a certain fabric and the black one is doing too much, like on my weekender in Brooklyn Tweed Shelter. The Gleener created even more pilling! I am very disappointed in the Gleener and can’t recommend it. Probably I am doing something wrong but I don’t know what…
Thanks for sharing this info. I love that you compared and contrasted them for us. I have one similar to the electric one you demonstrated. I use it often. This past week I even used it on my teen son's trackpants and sweat shirts. It ate up those pills right away! It gave his clothes a new life, which is important to a teenage boy!
Just watched this great video! Very helpful. I got up midway grabbed a bic razor and did my favorite years old store bought sweater and it worked like a charm. I will probably purchase the Gleaner.
Years ago I was gifted a “sweater stone” it’s almost like a pumice stone for your feet but much softer/crumbly. It works pretty well on more sturdy knits but I tend to use my electric depiller more frequently
I just used a comb this morning for an oversized cardigan. It worked on sleeves good but the body not so good. So i used my electric shaver. The comb is nice for when u put on the garment and there is pilling in arm area.
THANK YOU!! I've recently revisited alot of last year's sweaters (and several older ones) which were packed from our big move this year. All are covered in pills! It's overwhelming! I don't remember my early adult life sweaters having that issue. Maybe a tiny bit. As a knitter since I was 20, and someone who studied fiber and dyeing in college, pilling wasn't something I really remember dealing with. I'm going to get one of these and in the mean time, use my razor (not so busy in the winter anyway!) to see how it all goes! THANKS so much!!
I've de-pilled using a disposable razor before (while testing swatches of different yarns), and I've personally found that - while it does a good job - I would be worried about the structure/durability of the fabric in the long run; in my tests, after a few shavings, the razor had definitely cut some of the plies of the yarn in spots. For much the same reason, I would be worried about the electric shaver as well (it looks greater, but what is it really doing to the fabric in the long run?)
Yes totally. I’m not sure how sustainable a razor is in the long run and with extensive use. It would definitely be something you need to be careful with. However I feel like with occasional or even just ‘in a pinch’ scenarios, it holds up. But…it is a razor so. Yeah. Dicey. 😅
I've had the same thing happen with a razor, and yes, if you press a sweater shaver down onto the fabric, it will pull some of the plies in and produce micro cuts. The key to a shaver is to keep pressure light and even, almost like it is floating over the fabric.
I wouldn't have thought to use a disposable razor on my hand knits but it works treat. It may be the solution to a sweater that I have gleened many times without success. Thanks!
I've been team clothing shaver for years! I have a different version with standard batteries and nothing else has ever beat it. Its small, efficient, and fast. I use it on hand knits as well as store bought and they all look new after a good once over. The one I have probably cost me $12? Something like that.
I adore my Gleener! I, too, misplaced mine…but happily I found it again. I wish the nylon bag were a nice, bright colour. That would make the kit way easier to find in a drawer/closet/stash.
Another excellent roundup! I have the comb and the Gleener and have never used either (I know, I know. And yes, my sweaters are a mess). But I’ll get the electric shaver and my sweaters will be transformed, I am sure of it. So thank you.
Just now getting to watch this one. I have a corded version of the Bymore Fabric Shaver and I love it. Works like a charm. I'm quite impressed at the very decent job done by the budget-friendly Bic Shaver. Never woul have guessed! Thanks for sharing these options with us!
I have had a mini electric shaver forever but was very surprised to discover a razor worked better on yoga pants! It’s just so slow… it was also a fancier razor with something extra along the top edge and I think a plain razor would work much better.
Thank you for this comprehensive overview. Have been pondering what to buy for de-pilling my knits and here you are with an evidence based review! Think I'm going with the motorized shaver - time efficiency wins the game for me.
That was great. I had heard that a Bic razor would work but was so afraid to try it! I have owned the battery gleaner and really liked it but that was many years ago. Thank you, Tayler. ❤️🎄
I have an electric one from Prym. It looks a bit different than yours, and it does a great job, too. I think if I spend so much money on wool, I can also spent some money for keeping the sweaters nice looking, and save me time!! great episode 🧶 greetings from 🇨🇭
I have a battery powered one similar to the one you tried. I'm very happy with it. Also, I have a few grandkids that are 6/7 years old....they like to give their sweaters and Knitted Animal Friends that I've knit them a shave. I always supervise, and there's a good guard on it so it seems quite safe.
Was super interested in this deep dive when I saw it pop up. And you did not disappoint, Tayler! I also have a misplaced greener (lol) and recently bought a comb. Now I’m thinking about budgeting for that electric one, as it seems to really do a clean job. I haven’t knit any sweaters yet… but I have a few store bought garments that could use some new life!
I’m so glad this was helpful Rachel! After this video, I went to town on all the sweaters in the house (😂) with the electric depiller and it was SO satisfying. A solid investment for sure. ❤️
this video came at the exactly right time as I was just contemplating about getting a wool comb yesterday but after your review I know I won`t need to. I do have an electric shaver similar to the Bymore one on hand, it was just something we always had at home for Sweatpants and other storebought items but I never thought about using it for my handknits because it seems I`m stupid like that. 😉 so yeah perfect timing and thank you so much!
I've just used a BIC/cheap razor. My father uses BIC razors on his crazy expensive Loro Piana jumpers. If it's good enough for him it's good enough for me!
Great subject!!! I have been concerned on multiple depilling of my finer items. So I go easy. Also have a question about direction of the procedure. Should I go in the direction of the “grain” like you do with wood? I would think the rechargeable one is most likely to be multiple direction. I’ve also wondered if most yarns also have a direction? My Grandma taught me about thread when learning to sew. I run it through my fingers to test the smoothness of the “draw”. I do that with yarn too. But it sometimes is a guess.
I really appreciate your testing these depilling options. I use a battery operated shaver myself. While I appreciate how satisfying using a manual depiller can be with so many sweaters I need the speed of an electronic one. Good to know my razor will do a great job as well. I had heard of using a razor but was hesitant to try it. Now I'm confident that it will make a great backup option!
Just an FYI you can buy an battery operated one like the one you charged at the 99cents store. Its much smaller but its mighty. The battery last forever. I have always bought them there and gift them with my socks or sweaters.
I have some store bought cotton socks I want to shave now. And thanks to my old job, I have a lifetime supply of cheap razors to use. I feel better about using nice yarn now, especially after I practice on the store socks. And the fuzz can be stuffing later on. Thanks for doing this test and showing us like a tutorial.
@@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS I worked at a women's shelter and we got a lot of donations some we couldn't use. For a long time we weren't able to offer the guests razors because it was a safety risk that they might use them for reasons not acceptable. So we ended up with bins full of them that either went home with staff/ volunteers or passed on to other agencies with more stable and safe clients. Shelters need a lot of things people don't realize, but also can't safely use a lot of things that do get donated so I always tell people to call ahead and ask 1st.
I have an electric one that is much smaller than the one to you got. if I were to guess it's about the size of the gleener and I love it, it's quick and easy and does a really good job.
FWIW, I've done a similar experiment out of curiosity. My electric shaver is diff than yours, less fancy and also less expensive. Undoubtedly it wins. There's no point in using a Gleener or the like after trying the motorized version, IMO. Having said this, I have actually cut a stitch accidentally (on a new pair of handmade socks that I loved) because the fabric wasn't entirely flat and that stitch must have just got caught as I was going from one side of the sock to the other (at the fold). I had to mend it and it was on the top of the sock so that sucked. But I learned from the experience and my usage of the gizmo has been more careful and skilllful ever since. One other potential downside is that the charge on mine only lasts so long. So if you're working on a very pilly garment, you might go through a full charge. And one other thing - with mine, I actually unscrew the face to remove more fluff from the blades. It will work less well over time unless you do this occasionally. Of course, when doing that you have to be very careful. PS: Gleener has a travel version.
My mom gave me a battery type back in the late 80's or early 90's. Loved it. The Gleener looks nice, I like the other comb attachments. My thoughts on the come is ,yes, comparable to the Gleener. The Bic would probably scare me, it would be my lat choice. Really appreciate your time to compare all of them thank you 😊. I was looking for a new depiller.
Great helpful video. I have a sweater shaver and a Gleener and really like both of them. I like the Gleener for travel because it has the lint remover and the different attachments and the white attachment works really well on my jersey knits that pill.
I'm too scared to use the razor on my hand knits. I've used it to get rid of pilling on sweatshirts before, but that fabric is also much smoother and has less bumps and structure the razor could potentially cut into
I've got a woven wool bedspread with major pilling action. I've tried the little combs and electric shavers on sweaters before and no issues with either. However, the size of the bedspread demands an electric shaver.
I just use tiny scissors to remove the balled up fibers in the worst areas. That way I don’t accentuate it but the fabric looks a bit nicer. But also : darning the pilling spots with a tightly coiled nylon-wool sock yarn is a very good way to reinforce them and prevent pilling, as this type of yarn doesn’t pill much usually. You can even use mercerised cotton or linen for the abrasion resistance, for example on the palm side of sleeve cuffs.
My mom told me years ago, not to start shaving fabric until it really needed it (like your husbands sweater) or very cheap cotton sheets. She said once you start you have to keep repeating it more and more because it has weakened the fibers. She scared me off using them, haha (mama trauma). Have you or anyone done this to swatches and see if thats true? Or did she just not want to shave my sweater 😊 liked the video and really liked the bic and the electric one!
I would be worried about that, too - weakening the fibre or taking off too much over time, and the fabric getting thinner. I generally just pick the most obvious pills off by hand but I guess that would not be very practical for a fine store-bought sweater, for example. I wonder how handknits would hold up to frequent shaving/de-pilling.
As someone said in a previous thread, the pills are bits of fiber that have come apart from the fabric, so from this perspective, the fabric is already. “weakened.” I would argue that removing the pills doesn’t really cause it to be any weaker. But, I’m also not an expert in the structural integrity of fabric. 😅
@@rachelmitchell2144 That makes a lot of sense, I hadn't thought of it that way. I guess it's just the idea of blades near my precious knits that scares me!
I have a lilly brush and a razor designed for bikini lines. The clerk warned me the ravor wasn't good for skin as it is dull. It's sharp enough for pills. The brush handle is better when I'm wearing it. I need a different brush for depilling.
I’ve had very poor results from the electric devices. I have tried 2 one that looks like the bymore but I’ve lost it so I’m not 100% sure on this. The one I recently bought was by con air and was rated almost 5 stars. They were both awful on my hand knits. The pills were heavy and I noticed you had almost no pilling. With heavy pills I’d go over it and over it and over it and get so frustrated that I’d pull em off by hand. I ran to get my razor to get the job done. That and the time it took to depill depleted the charge so the razor rpm was much slower after a few minutes. I had heard you speak about the gleener and then heard a couple others state they liked it so I reluctantly bought one. WOW! That thing is absolutely amazing. I love my gleener. I have used the heavier blade thing but I will try the middle one.the heavy duty one worked so great though.
If the pills are too big they can't make it past the holes on the electric shaver. But they are great for upkeep on knit items in bulk. Like shaving everything knit once a year to keep the pilling at bay.
Very strange… I have only bad results with my Gleener. I have the impression that it creates pills and kind of damages the fabric. Probably I am doing something wrong
I used to have one of those electric shavers but found it didn’t really work that great, maybe I need to try a newer one. A disposable works really good for defuzzing felted items.
i use all. techniques you featured except the comb. Use them on both sweaters and the fabric on my sofa. The only problem with the electric pillar is that the razors under the screen become dull.
I have used the Bick but you have to be super careful on fine store bought knits and it is not good at all on textured knits as it will weaken some of the threads. On the whole my rechargeable sweater shaver works a treat on everything and I never caused damage with it on anything and I have had one of several brands for 30 yrs or more.
I just looked in your Amazon shop b/c wanted you to get some credit for the battery shaver but didnt see it in your shop. I'm sure you have a million things on your plate this time of year but didn't want you to miss out on some $$
Thank you so much for thinking of me Suzanne! If you follow the link in my description, that provides me a small commission (at no cost to you, btw). I truly appreciate it. 🙏❤️
Question: how do you know the difference between something being fuzzy (ex: alpaca I think?) And something with a halo (ex: mohair/lopi?) And would you use these products on knits with a halo? Great video! I love the really indepth side by side
Great question! So in this video, and most of the time when I use the word "fuzzy" I'm meaning having a halo. In which case, I'm not wanting to completely de-fuzz this sweater, but rather pull away the loose fibers.
I tried all these options except the wool comb. I used to have a fabric shaver, and I quite liked it. In terms of durability, this is probably one of the less durable options, but I had mine for at least for 5-10 years, so that is still pretty good, but I saw some models with two heads, so this would be a model I would pick because removing pills can be a very long and tedious task. I expect the Gleener will last much longer than a shaver. The Bic option is going to take forever and may not work on acrylics, so only to be used if this is all you have.
Great question! From what I read in the manual for the shaver, the blades need replacing after roughly 3 months of "consistent use"--whatever that means. The comb on the other hand doesn't require any honing or replacing. The Bic razor...I would give that maybe three all-over uses. Hope this helps!
I was given one years and years ago. It works ok…I think it can tend to create more fluff that then turns into more pills eventually. So I only use it on certain “sturdy” knits and tend to stick with my electric de-puller for the most part.
I had one years ago and it worked much like the comb. The only thing I did not like was as you ran the stone over the garment it produced a smell! Not a nice smell either. Wonder what I ever did with that stinky thing.
For boucle or very chunky, cabled knits, I just lift the pills with my fingers and cut the web holding them on with scissors. It can be tedious but works better, I think, than the shaver style on texture-y knits.
Today we’re testing the following de-pilling tools for your knits. Enjoy!
And yes. This is a 40 minute video about fabric shavers. Relax and go with it. ❤
I’ll watch just for that! Actually I’ll watch because I love your podcast but that was funny! 😂
I was a teenager in the 1970s (yes, I am OLD). We had stretch pants that would pill and we would shave them with razors. You brought back memories.
When I was in the army I used to use the razor to shave my beret and it worked pretty well. We had to shave down some of the bulk before wetting and shaping. I later got an electric one which didn't do well for the beret but it was so helpful for sweaters and sweatshirts. I loved your comparisons.❤
Thank you for sharing that! I do feel like the razor is a great option for those ‘in a pinch’ moments or for smaller items. Especially those that are, similar to your beret, of felted fabric. I mean it really does do the job!
My son is in the army. I had a proud mom moment when we went to his basic training ceremony. He was telling us BCT stories--his DS said his beret looked the best and told him to show the other guys what to do. I don't know if he connected shaping his beret with seeing me block handknits, but I like to think I was in the back of his mind telling him to leave his beret alone until it was completely dry 💚
I have a smaller version of the rechargeable and have used it for years. I also have used disposable razor. Pros - Cost and convenience vs. Speed and efficiency. I choose the battery operated. The razors nick fingers, land fill issues. The comb intrigues- purse ready.
Many of these gadgets come from China or somewhere else in Asia, so I always enjoy reading the translated product descriptions and scrolling over all the images on the left to read the details. Sure enough, the Bymore Fabric Shaver is "precise and expeditipus!" 🤣🤣
Oh I know. It’s always an interesting read. 😂😂
Be really careful with the electric one. If you go on uneven fabric or if you press just a little bit too hard you will get a gorgeous hole! I speak from experience. Gleener all the way!
You have GREAT videos. I learn so much from you and appreciate your wide range of knitting topics. That is all. For now. 😊
This means so much Jody. Thank you!!
I’m with you on satisfaction of the rechargeable depiller! I take it out on the deck with a pile of sweaters and get some satisfying outdoor time! Neighbors think I’m bonkers, until they start bringing me their items! Even made some extra unwanted $$$!!!
I also have the Gleener for a quick refresh!
They all make great gifts!
I heard the name buy more and I just kept thinking of the TV series Chuck
Hi Tayler, I was binge watching several of your episodes and I noticed that you asked for some video content ideas at the end of a couple of them. I really enjoy your videos and I find the podcast so helpful. I would like for you to review Coco Knits book/workshop. I am intrigued by her process, but I don't feel confident enough to buy yarn and try one of her sweaters on my own, My local yarn store does offer a class using her techniques occasionally, but so far, I have not been able to take the class. I am looking for input as to how well do Julie's techniques work, is it worth the time to learn her methods and how other people feel about her methods. I think you have an excellent review style and I am curious as to what you think of her style and also if you have ever knit one of her patterns.
Thank you so much for all of your content regarding knitting and I am looking forward to catching up on the older videos as well as viewing your new ones as they come out. Happy Holidays to you and your family.
After using any method (I have traditionally used a razor) use a lint roller to clean up the loose fuzz.
I have an electric shaver and have a wool comb. The comb works well but if you have a really pill-y sweater, it takes so much time to de-fuzz. I’d get frustrated with how much time it would take and usually just give up. The comb also seemed to lose its effectiveness over a lot of uses where it wouldn’t remove the fuzz but just kind of pressed it into the sweater. The electric shaver is better, so much quicker, and really satisfying. This may be weird, but I’d get one sweater done and and pull out a bunch more sweaters to de-fuzz because it was just so satisfying and actually kind of fun, it made a tedious job enjoyable. You do need to be careful with the shaver because it’s really easy to get fabric sucked in and it can cut holes in finer fabric like socks or cotton t-shirts, if you’re not paying attention. For thicker fabrics, like sweaters, you really can’t beat the shaver, bonus, the new ones are rechargeable, unlike the older ones that required batteries. I’d pass on the Bic, not a fan of the exposed blade, too easy to hurt yourself or accidentally cut into your sweater if you’re not paying attention or get a little too aggressive with the shaving.
All of your de-pilling comparisons were easy to see 👀. Brava!
Team blade here! I think the cutting is functionally better than the stretching and breaking done by sweater stones, combs, etc. I use my safety razor, though. FWIW, I’ve never cut a whole in a sweater, though you do have to be careful and pay attention, obviously.
Cutting versus stretching and breaking is a good point! I didn’t think of that.
Thanks for your comparisons. I think I would go with the electric shaver. Time is a factor and it does a great job. I’ve had various types over the years and they all did a great job.
Wow! This background is really beautiful. It's really fun to see the room you film in from another pov.
Thank you Elizavet!
Loved this comparison of various tools to de-pill, but I feel that the electric option is best as it just removes pills without stretching your knits and potentially damaging the knit fabric.
I love the Gleaner. The StevenBe of StevenBe in Minneapolis saw my pilly sweater and actually handed me a gleaner to try it out. I was sold!
Hello to a fellow Minneapolis knitter! StevenBe is an absolute ICON
You are so wonderful at testing out different items. There are Pros and cons for each one of these. The gleaner is ideal, the Buy more fabric shaver is also ideal. By the look of it the little comb one looks impressive. The thing about the Bic disposable razor is very risky on hand knit items because you have put so much work into making it and might cut it also yes its 30cents but its more plastic in the land fill.
I use the little wooden one type. I haven't used it too much but it does well and if you get bored waiting for the Doctor, you can use it then, just a thought. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and the tools.
I have a version of the Fabric Shaver which I love. It has an optional cord so you don't have to make sure it's charged all the time. I've revitalized a couple of OLD sweaters that I love and want to continue to wear.
I have used a wool comb in the past and it worked perfectly but it took a loooong time. I like the look of the “electric” one for big jobs.
Thank you for doing this. I've had a wool comb for decades, and I had no idea these other items were a thing.
I think a sweater shaver is best for hand knits, and that a gleener/comb is better on durable felted wools, such as coats and hats. The pulling action of a gleaner on items that have looser plies, like handknits, will produce more pilling in the long run since it's just another source of friction. Also, the same way that a bic is a cheap alternative to a shaver, a pumice stone is a cheap alternative for a wool comb. I LOVED this video, and I'm off to do some online shopping for a new sweater shaver! 😊
I've used a Bic razor in the past and cut a hole in my sweater, so be gentle with that! I have a comb and it works just fine for me.
Oh no!! Yes. This is very good advice!
I have a feeling that the comb and the gleener work by 'pulling the fuzz off' manually and felting the surface left behind a little bit resulting in strenghtened fabric, while the razors (the electric and the bic) only cut off the most outer layer and thin the fabric out, so for myself I would be really careful choosing my favorite tool. But I haven't got any of these devices, so feel free to prove me wrong!
Yes! I think you may be right. It’s interesting actually and I think what you’re saying here really plays a part when you get into using them more frequently.
I love my Gleener. I know it’s not perfect but I get anxiety using a lint shaver. I’ve had lint shavers take a bite out of my clothes in the past. When it comes to my handknits, it’s coming nowhere close to them. Thanks for doing this video - it was really interesting!
I love my Remington clothes shaver! It is electric. I've had it for years.
I have used a razor and ruined a sweater (not hand knit) great information! Thank you for showing this and the time you put into it.
I love that you did this video! I work at my LYS and we sell the gleaner and the little comb. I haven’t tried either so now I feel like I can talk to customers more intelligently. Also, I think I would prefer the battery operated one for my own personal use! Thanks again
I have an electric on and I'm very happy with it.
Just went on Amazon and got the Bymore shaver! Thanks for the recommendation 😊. I have a gleaner and combs and an electric shaver already. I like that the bymore is rechargable - no batteries. The gleaner is good but I find that sometimes it can drag the fabric whereas the electric shaver removes pilling without pulling the fabric and is much faster. However I do often use the gleaner first, then go over with the electric shaver.
I used to have a little sweater comb, just like the pretty cedar model you used (mine didn't have a lovely cedar handle though). It was SO useful, and I did carry it in my notions bag. It wore out, and I haven't replaced it yet but boy do I miss it! I think I would get the electric gadget for big overhaul jobs, and keep a sweater comb in my daily carry again. Thanks for the great comparison video!
I've had a cheap battery operated piller that I have used for years and it still works just need to change the batteries. A little noisy and you can hear when it gets a pill but love at how quick it works.
Thanks for this very informative video! I am always astonished that the gleener gets so many positive reviews. It looks to me like it is pretty aggressive and kind of even “damaging” the fabric. Sometimes the white “head” doesn’t work well on a certain fabric and the black one is doing too much, like on my weekender in Brooklyn Tweed Shelter. The Gleener created even more pilling! I am very disappointed in the Gleener and can’t recommend it. Probably I am doing something wrong but I don’t know what…
I have an electric one like yours and I love it. I used a bic razor only one time and cut my jumper 😢
Thanks for sharing this info. I love that you compared and contrasted them for us. I have one similar to the electric one you demonstrated. I use it often. This past week I even used it on my teen son's trackpants and sweat shirts. It ate up those pills right away! It gave his clothes a new life, which is important to a teenage boy!
That was fun and informative!
It's amazing that the razor did such a good job!! This was very interesting. Thank you❤
I know, right?! So interesting!
Just watched this great video! Very helpful. I got up midway grabbed a bic razor and did my favorite years old store bought sweater and it worked like a charm. I will probably purchase the Gleaner.
Years ago I was gifted a “sweater stone” it’s almost like a pumice stone for your feet but much softer/crumbly. It works pretty well on more sturdy knits but I tend to use my electric depiller more frequently
I just used a comb this morning for an oversized cardigan. It worked on sleeves good but the body not so good. So i used my electric shaver. The comb is nice for when u put on the garment and there is pilling in arm area.
THANK YOU!! I've recently revisited alot of last year's sweaters (and several older ones) which were packed from our big move this year. All are covered in pills! It's overwhelming! I don't remember my early adult life sweaters having that issue. Maybe a tiny bit. As a knitter since I was 20, and someone who studied fiber and dyeing in college, pilling wasn't something I really remember dealing with. I'm going to get one of these and in the mean time, use my razor (not so busy in the winter anyway!) to see how it all goes! THANKS so much!!
I've de-pilled using a disposable razor before (while testing swatches of different yarns), and I've personally found that - while it does a good job - I would be worried about the structure/durability of the fabric in the long run; in my tests, after a few shavings, the razor had definitely cut some of the plies of the yarn in spots. For much the same reason, I would be worried about the electric shaver as well (it looks greater, but what is it really doing to the fabric in the long run?)
Yes totally. I’m not sure how sustainable a razor is in the long run and with extensive use. It would definitely be something you need to be careful with. However I feel like with occasional or even just ‘in a pinch’ scenarios, it holds up. But…it is a razor so. Yeah. Dicey. 😅
I've had the same thing happen with a razor, and yes, if you press a sweater shaver down onto the fabric, it will pull some of the plies in and produce micro cuts. The key to a shaver is to keep pressure light and even, almost like it is floating over the fabric.
I wouldn't have thought to use a disposable razor on my hand knits but it works treat. It may be the solution to a sweater that I have gleened many times without success. Thanks!
I've been team clothing shaver for years! I have a different version with standard batteries and nothing else has ever beat it. Its small, efficient, and fast. I use it on hand knits as well as store bought and they all look new after a good once over. The one I have probably cost me $12? Something like that.
I adore my Gleener! I, too, misplaced mine…but happily I found it again. I wish the nylon bag were a nice, bright colour. That would make the kit way easier to find in a drawer/closet/stash.
Another excellent roundup! I have the comb and the Gleener and have never used either (I know, I know. And yes, my sweaters are a mess). But I’ll get the electric shaver and my sweaters will be transformed, I am sure of it. So thank you.
Just now getting to watch this one. I have a corded version of the Bymore Fabric Shaver and I love it. Works like a charm. I'm quite impressed at the very decent job done by the budget-friendly Bic Shaver. Never woul have guessed! Thanks for sharing these options with us!
I have had a mini electric shaver forever but was very surprised to discover a razor worked better on yoga pants! It’s just so slow… it was also a fancier razor with something extra along the top edge and I think a plain razor would work much better.
I love my Gleener for all my handknits . I used the white end on my cotton bed sheets that add lots of tiny pills and it worked really well.
Thank you for this comprehensive overview. Have been pondering what to buy for de-pilling my knits and here you are with an evidence based review! Think I'm going with the motorized shaver - time efficiency wins the game for me.
That was great. I had heard that a Bic razor would work but was so afraid to try it! I have owned the battery gleaner and really liked it but that was many years ago. Thank you, Tayler. ❤️🎄
My pleasure Catherine. Thank you for watching!
I have an electric one from Prym. It looks a bit different than yours, and it does a great job, too.
I think if I spend so much money on wool, I can also spent some money for keeping the sweaters nice looking, and save me time!!
great episode 🧶 greetings from 🇨🇭
I have a battery powered one similar to the one you tried. I'm very happy with it. Also, I have a few grandkids that are 6/7 years old....they like to give their sweaters and Knitted Animal Friends that I've knit them a shave. I always supervise, and there's a good guard on it so it seems quite safe.
Was super interested in this deep dive when I saw it pop up. And you did not disappoint, Tayler! I also have a misplaced greener (lol) and recently bought a comb. Now I’m thinking about budgeting for that electric one, as it seems to really do a clean job. I haven’t knit any sweaters yet… but I have a few store bought garments that could use some new life!
I’m so glad this was helpful Rachel! After this video, I went to town on all the sweaters in the house (😂) with the electric depiller and it was SO satisfying. A solid investment for sure. ❤️
this video came at the exactly right time as I was just contemplating about getting a wool comb yesterday but after your review I know I won`t need to. I do have an electric shaver similar to the Bymore one on hand, it was just something we always had at home for Sweatpants and other storebought items but I never thought about using it for my handknits because it seems I`m stupid like that. 😉
so yeah perfect timing and thank you so much!
I've just used a BIC/cheap razor.
My father uses BIC razors on his crazy expensive Loro Piana jumpers. If it's good enough for him it's good enough for me!
Great subject!!!
I have been concerned on multiple depilling of my finer items. So I go easy. Also have a question about direction of the procedure. Should I go in the direction of the “grain” like you do with wood? I would think the rechargeable one is most likely to be multiple direction.
I’ve also wondered if most yarns also have a direction? My Grandma taught me about thread when learning to sew. I run it through my fingers to test the smoothness of the “draw”. I do that with yarn too. But it sometimes is a guess.
I really appreciate your testing these depilling options. I use a battery operated shaver myself. While I appreciate how satisfying using a manual depiller can be with so many sweaters I need the speed of an electronic one. Good to know my razor will do a great job as well. I had heard of using a razor but was hesitant to try it. Now I'm confident that it will make a great backup option!
I have a Gleener, but I just bought the shaver, because it looked like it would be great for an entire sweater with pilling. Thanks for the demo!
My pleasure! Honestly, I’m happy I have both options as well. ❤️
That was very helpful to watch!! I'm still leaning towards the gleener!! Thank you!!
I'm glad! Thank you for watching Caroline!
Just an FYI you can buy an battery operated one like the one you charged at the 99cents store. Its much smaller but its mighty. The battery last forever. I have always bought them there and gift them with my socks or sweaters.
Ooo that’s a really great idea! Thank you!
I have some store bought cotton socks I want to shave now. And thanks to my old job, I have a lifetime supply of cheap razors to use. I feel better about using nice yarn now, especially after I practice on the store socks. And the fuzz can be stuffing later on. Thanks for doing this test and showing us like a tutorial.
Me too! I have an electric “de-piller” now and I love it
My pleasure Christiana! And now I'm curious about your old job and what it had to do with disposable razors. 😉
@@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS I worked at a women's shelter and we got a lot of donations some we couldn't use. For a long time we weren't able to offer the guests razors because it was a safety risk that they might use them for reasons not acceptable. So we ended up with bins full of them that either went home with staff/ volunteers or passed on to other agencies with more stable and safe clients. Shelters need a lot of things people don't realize, but also can't safely use a lot of things that do get donated so I always tell people to call ahead and ask 1st.
I have an electric one that is much smaller than the one to you got. if I were to guess it's about the size of the gleener and I love it, it's quick and easy and does a really good job.
I have yet to buy any depilling gadgets, so this is very helpful. What is the yarn in your red Felix sweater? It’s gorgeous.
I really appreciate you and enjoy your videos ❤
Thank you so much. I appreciate YOU. 🙏❤
Thank you for testing,now I know what I would like to buy
I have used a razor, a stone abrasive thing and an electric shaver.
They each had their limitations. I might try the gleaner.
FWIW, I've done a similar experiment out of curiosity. My electric shaver is diff than yours, less fancy and also less expensive. Undoubtedly it wins. There's no point in using a Gleener or the like after trying the motorized version, IMO. Having said this, I have actually cut a stitch accidentally (on a new pair of handmade socks that I loved) because the fabric wasn't entirely flat and that stitch must have just got caught as I was going from one side of the sock to the other (at the fold). I had to mend it and it was on the top of the sock so that sucked. But I learned from the experience and my usage of the gizmo has been more careful and skilllful ever since. One other potential downside is that the charge on mine only lasts so long. So if you're working on a very pilly garment, you might go through a full charge. And one other thing - with mine, I actually unscrew the face to remove more fluff from the blades. It will work less well over time unless you do this occasionally. Of course, when doing that you have to be very careful. PS: Gleener has a travel version.
I needed this video in my life I hate pilling 😅🎉
My mom gave me a battery type back in the late 80's or early 90's. Loved it. The Gleener looks nice, I like the other comb attachments. My thoughts on the come is ,yes, comparable to the Gleener. The Bic would probably scare me, it would be my lat choice.
Really appreciate your time to compare all of them thank you 😊.
I was looking for a new depiller.
Great helpful video. I have a sweater shaver and a Gleener and really like both of them. I like the Gleener for travel because it has the lint remover and the different attachments and the white attachment works really well on my jersey knits that pill.
I'm too scared to use the razor on my hand knits. I've used it to get rid of pilling on sweatshirts before, but that fabric is also much smoother and has less bumps and structure the razor could potentially cut into
What a informative comparison. Thank you!
This video reminded me that my mom got me a wool comb last Christmas. I have a sweater with a few pills and should try it out.
I have the gleener but haven’t used it yet. The electric one you showed looks interesting 🤔 ❤️Thanks for sharing the comparisons!
A really comprehensive video, tysm! I was scared of the electric ones but I'm ordering one now
Thank you so much for watching! Glad you found it useful. ❤
I find the electric shaver works a treat.however, i can only use it when my DH is out because of the noise.
@@hilarycohen1470Yikes, I'll be cautious then
I've got a woven wool bedspread with major pilling action. I've tried the little combs and electric shavers on sweaters before and no issues with either. However, the size of the bedspread demands an electric shaver.
I just use tiny scissors to remove the balled up fibers in the worst areas. That way I don’t accentuate it but the fabric looks a bit nicer.
But also : darning the pilling spots with a tightly coiled nylon-wool sock yarn is a very good way to reinforce them and prevent pilling, as this type of yarn doesn’t pill much usually. You can even use mercerised cotton or linen for the abrasion resistance, for example on the palm side of sleeve cuffs.
Great suggestions here. Thank you! ❤️
Hi, thank you for the test ! But how does they work on textured fabric ?
My mom told me years ago, not to start shaving fabric until it really needed it (like your husbands sweater) or very cheap cotton sheets. She said once you start you have to keep repeating it more and more because it has weakened the fibers. She scared me off using them, haha (mama trauma). Have you or anyone done this to swatches and see if thats true? Or did she just not want to shave my sweater 😊 liked the video and really liked the bic and the electric one!
I would be worried about that, too - weakening the fibre or taking off too much over time, and the fabric getting thinner. I generally just pick the most obvious pills off by hand but I guess that would not be very practical for a fine store-bought sweater, for example. I wonder how handknits would hold up to frequent shaving/de-pilling.
As someone said in a previous thread, the pills are bits of fiber that have come apart from the fabric, so from this perspective, the fabric is already. “weakened.” I would argue that removing the pills doesn’t really cause it to be any weaker. But, I’m also not an expert in the structural integrity of fabric. 😅
@@rachelmitchell2144 no but what you said makes sense. The little pills have broken free already.
@@rachelmitchell2144 That makes a lot of sense, I hadn't thought of it that way. I guess it's just the idea of blades near my precious knits that scares me!
I’m not sure where I should post this but I would love to see your thoughts on knitting/project journals. I’m getting one for Christmas! 🎄
This is a great place to suggest this. Thank you!
I have the Gleamer which can also get a travel version of.
I have a lilly brush and a razor designed for bikini lines. The clerk warned me the ravor wasn't good for skin as it is dull. It's sharp enough for pills. The brush handle is better when I'm wearing it. I need a different brush for depilling.
I’ve had very poor results from the electric devices. I have tried 2 one that looks like the bymore but I’ve lost it so I’m not 100% sure on this. The one I recently bought was by con air and was rated almost 5 stars. They were both awful on my hand knits. The pills were heavy and I noticed you had almost no pilling. With heavy pills I’d go over it and over it and over it and get so frustrated that I’d pull em off by hand. I ran to get my razor to get the job done. That and the time it took to depill depleted the charge so the razor rpm was much slower after a few minutes. I had heard you speak about the gleener and then heard a couple others state they liked it so I reluctantly bought one. WOW! That thing is absolutely amazing. I love my gleener. I have used the heavier blade thing but I will try the middle one.the heavy duty one worked so great though.
If the pills are too big they can't make it past the holes on the electric shaver. But they are great for upkeep on knit items in bulk. Like shaving everything knit once a year to keep the pilling at bay.
Very strange… I have only bad results with my Gleener. I have the impression that it creates pills and kind of damages the fabric. Probably I am doing something wrong
I used to have one of those electric shavers but found it didn’t really work that great, maybe I need to try a newer one. A disposable works really good for defuzzing felted items.
i use all. techniques you featured except the comb. Use them on both sweaters and the fabric on my sofa. The only problem with the electric pillar is that the razors under the screen become dull.
I have used the Bick but you have to be super careful on fine store bought knits and it is not good at all on textured knits as it will weaken some of the threads. On the whole my rechargeable sweater shaver works a treat on everything and I never caused damage with it on anything and I have had one of several brands for 30 yrs or more.
I just looked in your Amazon shop b/c wanted you to get some credit for the battery shaver but didnt see it in your shop. I'm sure you have a million things on your plate this time of year but didn't want you to miss out on some $$
Thank you so much for thinking of me Suzanne! If you follow the link in my description, that provides me a small commission (at no cost to you, btw). I truly appreciate it. 🙏❤️
Nice pod cast. Are the extra blades for the battery power shaver different from one another or they simply exact replacements for the blade you used?
Question: how do you know the difference between something being fuzzy (ex: alpaca I think?) And something with a halo (ex: mohair/lopi?) And would you use these products on knits with a halo? Great video! I love the really indepth side by side
Great question! So in this video, and most of the time when I use the word "fuzzy" I'm meaning having a halo. In which case, I'm not wanting to completely de-fuzz this sweater, but rather pull away the loose fibers.
I tried all these options except the wool comb. I used to have a fabric shaver, and I quite liked it. In terms of durability, this is probably one of the less durable options, but I had mine for at least for 5-10 years, so that is still pretty good, but I saw some models with two heads, so this would be a model I would pick because removing pills can be a very long and tedious task. I expect the Gleener will last much longer than a shaver. The Bic option is going to take forever and may not work on acrylics, so only to be used if this is all you have.
I wonder if they worn with cabled sweaters since they are less flat.
Does anyone know how the long the blades can be used for any of these options before needing replacement?
Great question! From what I read in the manual for the shaver, the blades need replacing after roughly 3 months of "consistent use"--whatever that means. The comb on the other hand doesn't require any honing or replacing. The Bic razor...I would give that maybe three all-over uses. Hope this helps!
I bought the Gleener few years ago. I find it does an average job. I was disappointed because I just heard good comments about it.
Is there a “nap” to knitted garments?
This was awesome! Thanks for sharing 😁
My pleasure! Thank you for watching. ❤️
Has anyone tried the 'sweater block' type depiller? It looks almost like a pumice stone. I have wondered how well it works.
I was given one years and years ago. It works ok…I think it can tend to create more fluff that then turns into more pills eventually. So I only use it on certain “sturdy” knits and tend to stick with my electric de-puller for the most part.
I had one years ago and it worked much like the comb. The only thing I did not like was as you ran the stone over the garment it produced a smell! Not a nice smell either. Wonder what I ever did with that stinky thing.
What would work on boucle type knitted blanket?
For boucle or very chunky, cabled knits, I just lift the pills with my fingers and cut the web holding them on with scissors. It can be tedious but works better, I think, than the shaver style on texture-y knits.
I have the Gleener. I used it recently to remove pills from a sheet. Hate when sheets pill….makes me feel I am sleeping in sand.
Oh gosh, I so know that feeling!
:)