Somewhere in my 30s, a switch occurred and I started to actually take proper care of my belongings. When I was younger and more naive, I never considered the idea of even cleaning out the vacuum filter,—let alone de-molding the washing machine’s rubber gasket—and how such care could affect my products’ longevity. Now, I find myself scrubbing that dang gasket quite often, but as annoying of a job as it is, it’s well worth the hassle. Anyway, the same care also applies to my clothes, and with a closet full of timeless yet delicate pieces—like my favorite Spanx styles—I’ve picked up a few tricks for caring for my clothes and ultimately, increasing their shelf-life for as long as possible.

I first used the Pilo 2 Fabric Shaver and Lint Remover two years ago when Steamery gifted it to me. After a couple of years of use, it’s become my best-kept secret to caring for my post-laundry clothing, and now I’m finally willing to share it.

Steamery Pilo 2 Fabric Shaver and Lint Remover

At first, I used it occasionally whenever I noticed extreme pilling in my sweaters, sweatshirts, and every once in a while, a T-shirt that could use some refreshing. But it wasn’t until recently that it became my latest obsession. After stocking up my wardrobe with my favorite basics from Lululemon and Spanx, I quickly realized that this fabric shaver was truly a godsend.

After a few wears—and a few unfortunate stains—I was so bummed when I noticed that my favorite sweater had dramatically pilled in the dryer. I was just about to give up when I remembered that I had the fabric shaver in my drawer for such clothing emergencies, and on a wing and a prayer, I turned it on and got to shaving.

The deeply pilled area was like-new in about 10 seconds flat. I only had to lightly graze over the area once before the fabric was perfectly healed—as if nothing had happened. Then, I went on a de-pilling, lint-removing frenzy. I fabric-shaved every pair of Lululemon leggings to discover the same near-perfect results. I even used it on the fabric chaise in my room and was seriously impressed with the before and after.

This fabric shaver and lint remover is gentle enough to use on even the most delicate fabrics, including knits, wool, cashmere, merino, and alpaca. It has an ergonomic, Scandinavian design that is comfortable to use and is as easy as maneuvering an iron (actually, it’s even easier than that since the Pilo 2 is more lightweight). 

It works by delicately running strong razor blades against the fabric’s surface, quite literally shaving the pills off. When you remove the interior bin, you’ll see the small pieces of destroyed fabric that the shaver cut off before you dump it out. The shaver is completely battery- and cord-free as it is rechargeable via a micro USB, and you get an hour’s worth of shaving out of just one charge.

I also love how compact it is, which makes it portable enough to travel with. I’ll definitely be sure to pack it with me on my next trip and bring it with me to weddings or other important events that require business casual or otherwise fancy attire.

As a shopping writer, heed my advice and buy the Pilo 2 Fabric Shaver and Lint Remover with the intention of taking better care of your clothes. It’ll be the best investment into your wardrobe that you’ve ever made; trust me, it’s worth every penny. Check out more of my favorite products for caring for clothes and other fabric below.

Conair Handheld Garment Steamer for Clothes

Steamery Stockholm Cirrus 2 Travel Steamer

Super Lint Electric Lint Remover

Leather Honey Complete Leather Care Kit

MicroStitch the Original Tagging Gun Kit

The Laundress Delicate Wash