The Best Fabric Shavers, Tested and Reviewed by Cleaning Experts (2024)

The Conair sweater shaver has an enthusiastic fan base. It scored more than 85,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, it's an editor favorite and it's backed by our Good Housekeeping Seal. In our extensive Lab tests, it capably removed pesky pills. The big lint bin is a boon to catch them. The gadget's large 2-inch head covers more area with each pass and it can be adjusted to depill thin-, medium- and heavy-weight fabrics. More to love: It comes in a range of fun colors, including orange and pink.

If you have or a lot of clothing to de-fuzz (like if you want to freshen up your family's wool coats) or any furniture with pills (hello, chenille sofa or fabric-covered office chair), the Sunbeam is a smart pick. The pro is built for bigger jobs with its large 2.5-inch head, ergonomic handle and plug-in AC adapter. It took a few swipes to fully depill the sweaters in our tests, but this model was easy to handle and did the job. Because it comes with an AC adapter, you can plug it into an outlet for a long run without depleting battery power. But in situations where the cord will just get in the way, the model can go cordless, running smoothly on four C-size batteries.

Consumer love, with 17,957 reviewers giving the Gleener four or five stars on Amazon, plus its impressive performance during our Lab testing earned this a spot on our list of faves. Resembling an oversized disposable razor with a depilling head on one side and a lint brush on the other, this sweater shaver offers three head options for different types of fabric and features you won't find on other manual fabric shavers. Select the fabric type: thick, medium weight or delicate. The soft-grip handle is comfortable to hold and comes in several colors, and you also get a travel pouch to pack the Gleener for vacations and business trips.

Top reason we like it: It won't snag or cut knits. A worn black dress looked new again and the Gleener safely and evenly depilled a sweater we had accidentally nicked with a motorized shaver. Because it's manual, there's no need for batteries or charging. However, expect to spend more time and energy removing pills, as it may require multiple passes. Our experts recommend gliding it gently over fabrics so as not to stretch them.

This model stands out for its versatility and bonus features. Though we haven't yet tested the Beautural in the Lab, we think the flexibility to use batteries or a plug-in cord that's almost 10 feet long is key to reaching and working around bedding, furniture, drapes, throws, pillows and more. Designed with a textured handle for a comfy, secure grip and a large lint bin to catch pills, the shaver has an extra-large 2.8-inch head that can quickly tackle big swaths like sofa cushions and sheet sets. Some Amazon reviewers report that lint shavings can get trapped in the head so you may want to check the top of the device occasionally during use.

Unique details include a blade lock for safety and a two-speed motor so you can turn down the power for delicate fabrics. The Beautural also comes with accessories: a replacement blade, lint brush and storage bag.

Don't rush into buying another gadget that doesn't fit your needs and ends up in the junk drawer, where jammed corkscrews and old calculators go to die. Weigh these factors first, to be sure you get your money's worth.

✔️ Surface area of the shaver head. How big is the part that sweeps over the fabric? Check product specs on our list for each model's head diameter in inches. The bigger it is, the more area it can cover in one pass.

✔️ Power source. What's nice about a rechargeable fabric shaver or a battery-operated one is that you can take them anywhere and smooth away pills without a cord getting in the way. However, if you have a big depilling job (furniture or a lot of sweaters at once), a plug-in fabric shaver will give you the most lasting power. With a manual shaver or sweater comb, you'll never have to worry about recharging or replacing batteries and most are compact, so they're good for travel, but expect to spend a little extra time to achieve the same effect as with a powered-up model. A manual shaver may also give you a bit more control when working with delicate fabrics.

✔️ Design. Would you prefer a long handle with an ergonomic grip for smooth maneuvering or a compact model that's easy to store or pack?

✔️ Bin size and ease of emptying. A large bin can catch a lot of sweater pills. But you also want to be sure the bin is not a headache to empty and clean.

✔️ Fabric weight options. If you will depill a wide range of garments, it's a bonus if you can adjust the shaver speed based on garment weave from delicate to bulky.

Bad things can happen to good sweaters. And if garments are made with short fibers, they are more likely to break off and form pills, especially in areas exposed to abrasion (even from the washer and dryer). When you pass a fabric shaver over a garment, rotating blades, a mesh screen or a rough stone texture lifts and breaks off loose, broken fibers, leaving the surface smooth and pill-free. Since the whole point is preserving the item, it's important to maneuver gently to avoid damaging the weave, no matter which depiller you choose.

Here's the best way to use a fabric shaver: Because garments can get nicked when they're bunched or gathered up, hold the fabric taut with one hand while using your dominant hand to move the shaver over the surface of the garment. Be careful not to press too hard; several light passes usually suffice.

Manual options like combs and stones are generally smaller and don't require batteries. They work by pulling the loose pills from the fabric and gathering them onto a metal comb or pumice-like stone to be cleaned off later. These tools require more passes to fully clear away pills and you have to be careful not to stretch or distort the fabric. Take note: Sweater stones tend to disintegrate as you use them, so you might need to vacuum the floor after depilling your sweater.

Carolyn Forté is an industry expert with decades of fabric and fiber testing and laundering experience. She has spent 40 years guiding tests in the Good Housekeeping Institute, assessing the appearance of clothing, bedding, upholstery fabrics and more after laundering and abrasive wear-and-tear tests and conducting countless home care product evaluations. Her sweaters always look good. That's why colleagues drop by to get her depilling tips for their favorite knits.

Contributing writer Alice Garbarini Hurley most recently updated this article. She has written about home, kitchen and style since the 1980s and worked at Good Housekeeping for 10 years. Her work has appeared in Seventeen, Coastal Living, InStyle and other magazines. Her sister, MaryAnne, a neat freak and cashmere sweater lover, was eager to read this review.