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Get rid of pilling, lint, pet hair, and more to restore your favorite textiles.
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
As fabric starts to wear, its fibers begin to loosen and clump together, forming the pilling.
Pills on sweatersand sofascan occasionally become darker, due to dirt or dust getting into them.
To learn more about how we tested fabric shavers, check outour testing processbelow.
Credit: Amazon
The collection bin is on the small side.
After testing 20 models, we found theConair Portable Fabric Shaverto be the best fabric shaver overall.
The shaver comes in six different colors and is safe to use on most household fabrics.
The Conair’s ergonomic handle made the shaver easy to use.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
The fabric shaver is on the smaller side, which makes it easy to travel with.
We found the lint chamber the easiest to remove and put back on.
It did take a few passes to scrub the swatch, but it worked quickly overall.
We didn’t experience any jamming, and the blades were still sharp.
Keep in mind, batteries are required but not included with the product.
The wooden handle is a little slick.
This basic, no-frills fabric shaverfrom Rurisis the best if youre on a budget.
The pure copper head is made to be long-lasting, along with a beech wood handle.
There are no batteries needed and the lightweight product is easily portable.
Like any other fabric shaver, you’ll want to apply less pressure when it comes to delicate fabrics.
We found that the fabric shaver was safe to use as there are no exposed blades.
However, cleaning was a bit trickier as there isn’t a handy collection bin as with electric models.
We found it to take a bit longer to use than other fabric shavers.
If you’re looking for an adjustable model, we recommend theRowenta Portable Lint Remover Shaver.
We liked that the shaver was lightweight and easy to hold.
The lint container was easy to empty as the compartment pops out and snaps back in by hand.
We simply tapped the container on the surface we were working on to get the fuzz out.
And if the blades begin to dull over time, the brandsells spare bladesets for replacement.
But after two months of using the shaver weekly, we didn’t notice any dulling.
The shaver is powered by two AA batteries, which are included.
Overall, the shaver was effective despite the time it took to see discernible results.
After we completed testing, the fabric we used was visibly smoother and felt smoother as well.
Theres only one speed setting.
TheAllisable Fabric Shaverworked quickly and efficiently.
After one swipe through our sample fabric, we noticed about 25 percent of the pilling was gone.
We noted no clogging or jamming, and the item came with a small brush to clean the blades.
Fuzz builds up in the shaver after extended use, and no tools are provided to help with removal.
The versatility and efficiency of theGleener On The Go Portable Fabric Shavermakes it the best option for manual use.
We found that the design was very easy and comfortable to grip for extended use, too.
The delicate fabric option was ineffective on the tea towel.
Credit: Amazon
The buildup will need to be cleared by hand.
Part of what made Gleeners fabric shaver stand out was its fuzz collection function.
It was incredibly effective at removing dog hair from clothes.
Ruri’s Portable Lint Remover was effective, but you’ll need to pull your fabric taut.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
It requires a bit more force and firm pressure to achieve desired effect.
If you have upholstery in need of a refresh, theGleener Battery-Free fabric shaveris up for the job.
Overall, the shaver had an ergonomic design that was very easy to maneuver as needed.
It is also quite sturdy, and we feel that it will last for a long time.
Even with this manipulation of the fabric, we created no snags or holes.
To clean the roller, we used one of the shaver attachments and ran it through the roller.
We recommend following the instruction booklet included with the item.
It advises which brush to use with certain fabrics, and which fabrics are not recommended to be shaved.
We loved how simple it was to use too.
We then started a timer andshaved the remaining pilling offthe left side of the swatch only.
Once all pilling was removed, we stopped our timer and recorded the time it took to remove pilling.
We used the shaving razor until the swatch was clear of pilling, or until two minutes passed.
Comparisons between the two sides were noted.
If the fabric shavers included a cleaning tool, they were used.
An electric fabric shaver is faster to use because it can move quickly over fabric.
Manual shavers are best for thinner, moredelicate fabrics.
If youre looking to cross things off ato-do listquickly, an electric shaver may be your best option.
Manual shavers are great for fine fabrics, but often take longer to work through a garment or upholstery.
Like any tool that uses a blade, fabric shaver blades will get dull.
Some fabric shavers require cleaning in between usage.
Its important to read the directions as to how often to clean the fuzz and lint trap.
When looking for a fabric shaver, consider the needs of the fabric you plan on using it for.
Thicker materials will need a higher blade height for cutting.
Knitted fabrics tend to pill more than woven ones, according to Etheridge and Horn.
Blade design is also important when looking for features.
Fabric shavers with more blades remove fuzz and pills from thick fabrics fast.
Other types of fabric shavers come with various blades that coincide withfabric key in.
Electric fabric shavers often have different tweaks depending on how you wish to use them.
For example, theRowenta Portable Lint Remover Shaverhas a three-setting depth control for a customized fabric shave.
Size and Portability
Fabric shaver dimensions and surface size can vary greatly.
Credit: Amazon
Speaking of size, see to it to note how large of a fabric shaver youre looking to purchase.
If youd like atravel version, dont forget to look at the size and weight of the product.
Power Source
Fabric shavers can be manual or electric.
The Rowenta blades can be replaced if they begin to dull.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Electric fabric shavers may be battery-operated, with either non-rechargeable or rechargeable batteries.
confirm you use from top to bottom, with little to no pressure, to avoid damaging the fabric.
However, during testing, we found its battery and collection bins to detach too easily during use.
They were also difficult to reattach after they came loose.
Like other models we tested, this shaver was easy to hold and use.
But overall, we didnt its performance made it stand out from the pack.
Your Questions, Answered
How much do fabric shavers cost?
The cost of fabric shavers depends on whether youre looking to buy an electric or manual version.
Electric fabric shavers tend to be pricier, but you might find affordable devices in either style.
Devices with multiple blades, added accessories, or additional features will cost more.
Some of the priciest fabric shavers we tested were among the most disappointing.
What is the lifespan of a fabric shaver?
What can you use fabric shavers on?
She compared her findings with our testing results gleaned from trying out 20 different fabric shavers.
Credit: Amazon
The Allisable shaver has a slightly larger body than other options we tested.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit: Amazon
Credit: Amazon
The larger Gleener has a similar bladeless lint collector to its compact counterpart.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
