Turn the items inside-out when washing and drying. They may pill on the inside then, but it won't be noticeable when wearing them. Also fasten zippers and snaps. Buttons are optional, but may be necessary to keep button-shirts inside-out throughout the washing and drying process.

I always heard that the heat of the dryer is harder on clothes and causes pilling more than anything else. The dryer's heat breaks down the fibers causing pilling.

I have the same problem,too. Didn't have it with my TL, seems to happening with my bosch. Don't think it's the dryer because most of my clothes are not in there very long.

Pilling:

1. "Cheap" fabric and some synthetics are prone to pilling.

2. Friction - from normal wear - under arms, collars and cuffs, etc.; as well as in the washer and dryer. You'll even notice pilling on furniture - also caused by friction.

Use a "pill shaver" (Fuzz Buster / Clothes Shaver) designed to remove pilling from cloth, or a Sweater Stone (see link below).

I have less pilling since I quit using the dryer and line dry instead.

-Grainlady

Here is a link that might be useful: Sweater Stone

Thanks for all the advice. I'll try a pill shaver. We have one somewhere, but I never used it.

For what it's worth, I only use the dryer for towels and sheets. I sometimes put clothes in for 10-15 minutes to fluff, but never more than that. I'm afraid of my clothes shrinking. I have had that happen too often.

Can anybody tell me how to purchase clothing that won't wear out right away? My husband seems to think that anything expensive must be good, but I've had trouble with expensive clothes too. Price is not a guarantee of quality! (And I'm less forgiving of poor quality in expensive clothes than cheap clothes, because I paid for quality.)

I second the advice of turning everything inside out. That and line drying items. This is the only thing that's helped me with wear and tear and keeping clothes looking newer for longer.

Tracey

Spend an hour combing through clothing in your nearest thrift or consignment shop. Make note of the labels on clothes that look the best--and the worst. Some of the most expensive clothes don't last long enough to be donated, and some of the most reasonably-priced clothes are wardrobe workhorses.

Use the shortest wash that will get your clothing clean, and I agree about closing zippers and turning clothes inside out. I use zipper bags for anything with strings or hooks, also for anything particularly delicate.

A good quality lingerie bag is a great way to protect delicate items from friction in the washer. Buy the good ones - Woolite and Tide (at Target in the closet aisle) are good. The cheap bags are not as tightly woven and cause more friction on the clothes.