How to Get Rid of Lululemon Pilling + Can You Return Pilled Leggings?

You just spent nearly $100 on a new pair of leggings, but now they seem like they’re fuzzy and falling apart. Pilling is what happens when fabric degrades in high-friction areas like your crotch, thighs, or backside.

If you’re wondering about Lululemon’s pilling policy and how to prevent pilling, here is everything you need to know.

Does Lululemon Refund for Pilling?

Lululemon’s Quality Promise says “if our product doesn’t perform for you, we’ll take it back.” They stand behind the performance of their leggings and yoga gear, so you can claim this “warranty” by bringing the leggings and proof of purchase to your local Lululemon store where they can issue an exchange for a new product.

If your product was purchased within 30 days and still has the tags attached, you can do a simple return. Their return policy tends to be fairly lenient and they ensure that returns are completely free.

The main reason pilling wouldn’t be covered is if the leggings have been used past their expected lifetime or appear to be otherwise damaged by wear-and-tear.

According to Schmiggy, Lululemon no longer acknowledges pilling as a quality issue, yet some customers still report success returning or exchanging their pilled leggings. Ultimately, there is no use in trying. Some leggings truly are defective from a lack of quality control in Lululemon’s supply chain, while others start pilling due to improper care from the customer.

How Do You Keep Leggings from Pilling? 5 Simple Tricks

Lululemon pilling is a pain in the butt to deal with after it starts, but you can easily prevent pilling with proper care.

Use a fabric shaver to remove pilling

If your leggings have already started pilling, you can remove pilling and restore the fabric with a fabric shaver.

The iRUNTEK Rechargeable Fabric Shaver is a battery-powered lint and pill-remover with 3 speeds, 3 shaving hole sizes and 4 blades. It makes removing pilling as quick as ironing. The tool gently cuts off fuzz to restore a sleek, soft surface. We especially love how easy this fabric shaver is to use and recharge.

The Rechargeable Fabric Shaver Magictec Lint Remover works with 3 razor sharp blades and a mesh cover that gently shaves off the upper layers of pilling without damaging the fabric.

Wash them correctly

The most important way to prevent pilling in Lululemon leggings is to wash them correctly. Many Lulu products can be fairly delicate. For example, the Align pant is more likely to pill than other fabrics because it is so thin and stretchy.

If you’re wearing those leggings on a daily basis, they can easily get snagged or wear away where your thighs touch. But an even greater risk is posed by the washing machine. Improper care is the number one reason why leggings eventually pill.

Our top washing tips include:

Learn more in our Ultimate Guide on How to Wash Lululemon Pants, Leggings, Tops + Accessories.

You can also use a mesh lingerie laundry bag to further protect your Lululemon leggings in the wash. We love this 3 Pcs Durable Honeycomb Mesh Laundry Bags for Delicates. It protects yoga pants, workout gear, and other delicate fabric clothing from getting snagged in the wash.

Use leggings for their proper use

Lululemon leggings are made for specific uses like running, training, or yoga. If you wear yoga leggings to the gym, they are far more likely to train. Similarly, Align pants aren’t cut out for medium impact sports.

When in doubt, choose a legging that is designed for your regular activities or is slightly more durable than what you intend to do. For example, if you want a basic pair of black leggings for daily wear, go for an Everlux fabric pant like the Wunder Train Tights. These leggings are designed to resist the high impact of weightlifting and gym use, which means they are less likely to pill during leisure wear.

Choose the right size

Customers who purchase leggings that are too small are more likely to experience pilling. While Lululemon leggings are crazy stretchy, the fabric is not invincible. As it repeatedly over-stretches to a larger body size than it was designed for, the fabric can degrade and start pilling. Reference Lululemon’s size charts so you can ensure you are comfortable and fully covered.

To prevent pilling and ripping, be sure that your size selection allows plenty of give and a full-range of motion. Use this guide to Everything You Need to Know About Lululemon Products (Sizing, Returns, Exchanges, Alterations, + Customer Service).

Be realistic about the lifetime of leggings

Sometimes pilling is unavoidable. Leggings can start to pill from extended use or regular wear over a long period of time. You can expect Lululemon leggings to last for at least 1-2 years of regular wear. After that, pilling can happen more quickly because the fabric has stretched out and worn down.

Top 3 Best Pilling-Resistant Lululemon Leggings

Unfortunately, some of Lululemon’s bestselling leggings like the Align pants are known for pilling over time. Use the strategies above to prevent pilling or choose these pilling-resistant options for longer lasting performance:

Wunder Unders are the perfect leggings for training and high impact workouts that cause a lot of friction in the legs. The thicker, sweat-wicking Everlux fabric is resistant to fraying. Everlux is arguably Lululemon’s most indestructible fabric that will last for years without pilling. These leggings are still buttery soft and lightweight, yet they feel thicker than Nulux or Luxtreme fabrics. This is the best option for high-impact sports, hiking, or women who tend to put a lot of wear-and-tear on their leggings.

If you need an ultra-stretchy legging for yoga that won’t pill, these running tights perform surprisingly well on the mat. The extra flexible Nulux fabric provides unrestricted movement and lightweight coverage without risking any fabric fraying or loose threads. Just be careful not to snag them in the wash!

If you want leggings that feel as soft and lightweight as possible while still resisting pilling, these running tights are surprisingly long-lasting. The stretchiness and low-seam construction of these leggings is complimented by durable stitching and a shape-holding design. The Nulux fabric feels lighter than Everlux. As long as you wash and dry them correctly, these leggings should not fall victim to pilling.

Key Takeaways: Prevent Lululemon Pilling with Proper Care and Use

Whether you live in leggings or mainly wear them to yoga class, keeping them pill-free isn’t rocket science. Our best advice for preserving the quality of your workout fabrics is to wash them as delicately as possible. Air dry and never treat with harsh heat or detergent.

You should also select fabrics that are specifically designed for the level of impact you most commonly do in your workouts. Worse comes to worse, you can always use a fabric shaver to regenerate the surface of your leggings.

May your yoga pants be soft, stretchy, and pill-free!

Namaste!