Q: I enjoy wearing merino wool sweaters during the week and hand-knit lamb’s-wool ones on weekends. But what can I do about those annoying little balls of fuzz that always seem to appear? Am I doomed to a life of pulling them off one by one?

A: Not unless it gives you solace. These balls are called pills, and you can shave them off pretty quickly. Special sweater razors are made expressly for this purpose. I bought mine at Woolworth’s, but, alas, that store is gone with the wind. I am told these wonder buzzers can be ordered from www.brookstone.com for about $15. I’d bet a conventional electric razor would do the job, although I can’t test that theory because I don’t happen to have one and am not planning to acquire one anytime soon. My wife has been known to de-fuzz her woolens with a Bic disposable safety razor, and she says it’s easy if you’re gentle. No shaving cream is necessary. The only people doomed to pulling off pills one by one are those in hell who, while they were alive, washed my cashmere socks in hot water and then put them in the dryer.

April 2001

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