Me and My Fabric Shaver

There are many ways to tidy a home, and the KonMari Method® is what worked for me. One of the things I like best about it is the emphasis on using and appreciating what I already have. I derive more pleasure from my possessions now than I ever did before tidying. 

I’d like to introduce an object that I use about once a week: my fabric shaver. I use it to remove the bobbles/pills that develop on fabric from wear. (Growing up, my family called them woobies. I have no idea why. We called the fabric shaver the de-wooby-er.) Some people use sweater combs to a similar effect, but I’ve never tried one personally. 

This is my fabric shave. I bought it about 5 years ago without doing any particular research. It’s still going strong. I am sure there are many other great options on the market.

Since tidying, I really only have clothing that I like, so I feel quite motivated to keep it in excellent condition. Caring for my clothing lets me enjoy the pieces I like for longer, save money, and reduce my environmental impact. It’s also extremely handy for shopping second hand. I recently bought a used merino wool sweater that was covered in bobbles. I brought it home, laundered it, and freshened it up with my fabric shaver. It’s now bobble free, and I’ve been wearing it enough that my husband now calls it my uniform. In the past, I wouldn’t have considered purchasing something that looked so worn. As it turns out, all it needed was some standard maintenance.

Gray sweater sighting.

A word of caution: there is always a risk when you are using a fabric shaver. Fibers can get caught inside, and there may be fiber damage or holes. I personally have considered it worth the risk for all of my clothing. Start with something not-too-precious for practice though!