When it comes to winter coats and sweaters, there’s nothing quite like that feeling of warmth and comfort during the sometimes harsh winter months. But, are you a Goodwill shopper that knows how to revive and refresh woolen sweaters, coats and outerwear? As we always say at Goodwill–reduce, reuse and recycle, but I always add REVIVE to our famous mantra.  

A common deal breaker for most people when it comes sweaters and coats are items that have pilling on them. Fabric pilling is the formation of small, fuzzy balls on the surface of a fabric. If it’s a good quality sweater, it’s easy to remove the pills with a special fabric comb that you can purchase. I found this one years ago, and I absolutely swear by it as the best. It isn’t super cheap, but it’s far less expensive than replacing a sweater that needs a little help!  See my pictures of how I use it in the slideshow below.

Another must have is a garment brush! These work great for all coats, blazers and jackets that are woven fabric. Simply brush DOWN the item from shoulder to hem and it should loosen any lint or fuzz. 

Last but not least is a lint roller to remove fuzz and pet hair. I like the one I’ve linked to here, but a quick DIY is to use duct tape wrapped around your hand.     

I know clothing maintenance is not as glamorous as the fashion itself, but knowing how to maintain and revive items you can find at Goodwill is a smart way to help support our mission, and your wardrobe!