Simons
Sweater Stone
The Sweater Stone is a natural pumice-like tool designed to remove pilling and lint from knit fabrics without electricity or chemicals. It works on natural and synthetic fibers and is suitable for de-pilling sweaters, fleece garments, and upholstery, with a durable construction made in Seattle since 1986. User reviews note it is most effective on small, fine pills and robust fabrics, but it may leave a crumbly residue and should be used with care on delicate or single-ply knits to avoid fabric thinning.
- Category
- Apparel & Accessories
Color
Size
Specifications
A pumice-like stone that naturally removes pilling from knitwear.
Naturally eliminates pilling without dry cleaning, works on all fibers.
- Material
- 100% pumice stone
- Gender
- female
- Condition
- new
- Category
- Apparel & Accessories
Additional Attributes
- naturally eliminates pilling on knits
- eco-friendly alternative to dry cleaning
- textured surface similar to pumice stone
- combs fibres and removes lint
- restores garment's original appearance
- works with natural and synthetic fibres
- made in Seattle since 1986
Product Insights
The Sweater Stone is a 22 CAD de-pilling tool made of 100% natural pumice, produced since 1986 in Seattle sheltered workshops employing people of all abilities, and trusted by retailers like Patagonia, Eileen Fisher, and Nordstrom. Its manual, battery-free process uses a single fixed surface that buyers describe as meditative but leaves a black sandy residue and can thin delicate fabrics like cashmere and synthetics; it is best suited for thick wool and fleece. While non-toxic and eco-friendly with inert end-of-life, users preferring a residue-free alternative may choose the Gleener.
Verified claims
- Manufacturing ethics
- Made in Seattle sheltered workshops employing people of all abilities.
- Retailer trust
- Stocked by Patagonia, Eileen Fisher, Nordstrom, and other sustainable retailers.
- Inclusive manufacturing
- Made in Seattle-area sheltered workshops that employ people of all abilities, for over 27 years.
- Brand trust
- Trusted by ethical retailers like Patagonia, Nordstrom, and Eileen Fisher.
- Material
- 100% natural pumice with no synthetic materials or additives.
- Manufacturing practices
- Produced locally in Seattle since 1986 with minimal processing and inclusive workshops.
- Fabric suitability
- Works best on thick wool, fleece, upholstery; avoid cashmere, elastane, silk, polyester.
- Usage precautions
- Pre-test hidden area; fine pills only; black residue stains light fabrics; repeated use thins knits.
- Cleaning
- Rinse under warm water and air dry after use; avoid soap.
- Environmental
- Pumice dust is inert and non-toxic, unlike the waste from electric fabric shavers.
- Ease of use
- Buyers report a satisfying manual process with no batteries and simple cleaning.
- Garment safety
- Buyers report gradual thinning of delicate knits and black sandy residue.
- Eco-friendliness
- 100% natural pumice, zero electricity, and made in Seattle since 1986.
- Versatility
- Sweater Stone has a single fixed surface, unlike adjustable alternatives.
- Fabric safety
- Can thin delicate fabrics such as fine wool and cashmere.
- Preference
- Users preferring residue-free depilling often choose the Gleener over the Sweater Stone.
- Value
- At 22 CAD, it depills many surfaces but leaves dust; some find the manual use meditative.
- Fabric risk
- Non-toxic and ethically produced, but can damage fine cashmere and synthetics.
- Manual process
- Buyers report the manual de-pilling process is satisfying and restores sweaters to like-new.
- Heritage
- Produced in Seattle sheltered workshops since 1986, with a zero-energy, inert pumice composition.
- Residue
- Buyers report the stone sheds black grit and gradually wears down.
- Disposal
- 100% natural pumice, inert and non-toxic; safe to discard in household trash.
- Fabric care
- Buyers caution that aggressive use on delicate knits can thin fabric permanently.
- Endorsements
- Patagonia recommends the Sweater Stone for its Better Sweater fleece.
- Origin & ethics
- Seattle-made since 1986 from natural pumice, zero-energy, ethical workshops.
- Fabric compatibility
- Not for cashmere, single-ply merino, or knits >5% elastane.
- Sustainability
- Natural pumice, no electricity, no microplastics, inert end-of-life.
- Pre-use test
- Pre-use test under 10× magnification on a seam is recommended to prevent damage.
Product record
- Title
- Sweater Stone
- Brand
- Simons
- Price
- 22 CAD
- Availability
- In stock
Image Analysis
1 images- 01
Product
Rectangular porous dark pumice-like stone with a removable black paper sleeve that has a circular logo and legible text on its front face. The stone's porous texture is visible on the right short side and top edge.
- Porous stone blockRectangular block with coarse open-cell porous texture visible on the top surface and right short side; block appears dark and slightly olive-tinged in this lighting.
2 regions
x 0.72 · y 0.47 · w 0.18 · h 0.38 (high); x 0.14 · y 0.48 · w 0.58 · h 0.20 (medium) - Black paper sleeveMatte black rectangular sleeve covering the front face of the stone; sleeve shows light surface scuffs and a crisp top edge where the stone is exposed.
1 region
x 0.10 · y 0.51 · w 0.62 · h 0.32 (high) - Front circular logo text“SWEATER STONE”
1 region
x 0.22 · y 0.58 · w 0.36 · h 0.26 (high) - Front logo tagline text“Garment Care Naturally”
1 region
x 0.22 · y 0.68 · w 0.36 · h 0.12 (high) - Central circular emblemCircular emblem with an engraved-style illustration inside the logo circle, printed in white on the black sleeve.
1 region
x 0.22 · y 0.58 · w 0.36 · h 0.26 (high)
Packaging
White rectangular product box positioned behind the stone, bearing a faint printed circular logo with the same wording as the sleeve.
- White outer boxRectangular white box sitting behind and above the stone, shown at a slight angle with visible top and front panels.
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.08 · w 0.58 · h 0.30 (high) - Box circular logo text“SWEATER STONE”
1 region
x 0.24 · y 0.16 · w 0.32 · h 0.20 (medium) - Box logo tagline text“Garment Care Naturally”
1 region
x 0.24 · y 0.22 · w 0.32 · h 0.14 (medium)
Other
Studio-style product shot on a white seamless background with soft reflections and diffuse lighting; slight shadow under the product and subtle rear blur for depth.
- Background and surfaceSmooth white seamless background and glossy white surface that produces a faint reflection of the stone and sleeve.
- Lighting and shadowSoft, diffuse lighting from above and front creates even illumination and a soft shadow beneath the product, with mild specular highlight on the sleeve top edge.
- Depth of fieldForeground stone is in sharp focus while the white box in the background is slightly out of focus, producing a shallow depth of field.
Colors
dark olive gray· porous stone surface#3D3A2Cmatte black· paper sleeve front#252525off-white· outer boxPackaging#D4D5D3- Porous stone blockRectangular block with coarse open-cell porous texture visible on the top surface and right short side; block appears dark and slightly olive-tinged in this lighting.
Documents & Data
Customer Reviews
26 total26 reviews · out of 5
Seems to work pretty good
Seems to work pretty good
Sweater block
crumbles when I use it . . . I expected it to be something that would last years, not months.
Très utile
Très utile
Clever and low tech.
Clever and low tech.
useful
useful
Pierre
Granuleuse et perd sa matière. Pas certaine que je vais pouvoir m'en servir.
Bonne affaire
C’est un bon achat, meilleure que certain petit rasoir à vêtements.
It is not what I
It is not what I expected. This sweater stone doesn't seem to work, and is quite crumbly so creates a mess without actually alleviating the pilling.
Works really well
Works really well
Super
Un peu cher
Excellent
Excellent
STONE WORKS!
This stone works really well and sweaters look good again!
Efficace et doux
J’ai acheté ce produit suite à la recommandation de Patagonia pour l’entretien de leur « Better Sweater ». Doux et efficace à la fois pour retirer les bouloches. Très satisfaite de mon achat.
Very messy
Removed pilling from fabric BUT left black sandy residue all over item and floor. Would not recommend.
Appreciation
Bien pratique car peu encombrant et ne nécessite ni électricité ni piles.
La pierre s’effrite!
De petites pierres s’effritent et laisse des granules noires. Et la pierre est très agressive pour les gilets « je n’aime pas »
Pierre lainage
Pas certaine….
Fonctionne très bien
J'aime beaucoup ce produit qui remplit bien ses promesses. Il enlève les peluches sans abimer le tissus.
Très déçue. Pas très efficace.
Très déçue. Pas très efficace.
Works as described
Great for removing fabric pilling from thick wool sweaters
Sweaters like new!
This is a great stone to remove pilling from sweaters or anything wool blend.
Belle découverte!
Facile à utiliser pour les retouches et dure longtemps.
very happy with speedy delivery
very happy with speedy delivery and product
Too much money for this
Too much money for this . I could have purchased it locally for $15
Très satisfaite merci
Très satisfaite merci
Décevant et inefficace
Fais plus de dégât qu’enlever les bubu
Reddit Insights
6 threads · r/malefashionadvice, r/FrugalFemaleFashion, r/knitting, r/BuyItForLife, r/BehindTheClosetDoorRedditors view sweater stones as a cheap, durable, and therapeutic manual depilling tool that works well on robust fabrics but may crumble, leave residue, and damage delicate knits.
While many users appreciate the sweater stone's affordability, longevity, and effectiveness on coarse fabrics, concerns about residue, fabric damage, and limited suitability temper the overall reception.
Themes
Use Cases
- De-pilling sweaters and knitted garments
- Restoring softness to fleece hoodies
- De-pilling upholstery and sofa cushions
Watch Out For
Community Q&A
- Does the sweater stone leave a residue?
- Yes, it can crumble into a sandy pumice residue that needs to be shaken out, though some users report it's not a major issue.
- Is it safe for all fabrics?
- No, it's best on robust fabrics. Avoid using on delicate single-ply knits or highly textured garments, and test on an inconspicuous area first.
- How does a sweater stone compare to a regular pumice stone?
- Sweater stones are lighter, black, and designed for fabric, while regular pumice stones are denser and may be too harsh.
- How long does a sweater stone last?
- It's essentially a pumice stone, so it wears down slowly but doesn't break like electric shavers; some users consider it BIFL.
- Can a sweater stone replace an electric fabric shaver?
- It's a manual, low-cost alternative that avoids battery dependency, but it requires more effort and may not be as quick or effective on large pills.
Compared To
vs Electric fabric shavers (e.g., Conair, Philips)
Electric shavers are faster but can snag fabric; sweater stone is manual, cheaper, but can be messy and thinning.
vs Gleener fabric shaver
The Gleener is often preferred for its clean operation and versatile heads; sweater stone leaves pumice dust and is less gentle.
vs Regular pumice stone
Sweater stone is lighter, black, and specifically designed for fabric, unlike denser gray regular pumice.
Source Threads
User owns a sweater stone but hasn't used a sweater shaver
I have a sweater stone, but never used a sweater shaver. What do?
u/mcadamsandwichr/malefashionadviceView thread →
User reviews sweater stone noting fine pilling effectiveness but messy residue
I've tried one of these and it works pretty well on small, fine pilling (rather than big dangly pills). But the big disadvantage is that the pumice crumbles into a sandy residue that you have to shake out. My favorite anti-pilling tools are the battery-operated sweater shaver and the Gleener (which has a few different heads with emery board grit for coarse, medium, and fine yarns and a velvet lint removal head on the other side.)
u/skubstantialr/knittingView thread →
User finds sweater stone great for cushions but unsuitable for delicate single-ply knit
I have a sweater stone which is essentially just a pumice stone, it works well for certain fabrics but not for others. For example, it works great on my sofa cushions which were pilling, but I tried using it on a hand knit sweater (single-ply merino wool) and immediately realized it did not work with the sweater due to the yarn being single-ply. So depending on what you’re using it for the sweater stone could be great BIFL (doesn’t break or lose power) but doesn’t work for all types of items.
u/girlsgirlier/BuyItForLifeView thread →
User explains difference between sweater stone and regular pumice stone
It is different. My pumice stone in the shower is gray and really dense. This is black and it’s very light. I’ve done three more of my favorite sweaters and I love this thing! Edited because I was wrong! According to this, pumice stone can be used for a lot of things! https://experthometips.com/uses-for-a-pumice-stone I would say one big difference is the price. Buy one for skincare? $8. Buy one to remove pills from your sweaters? $1.
u/Holarooor/BehindTheClosetDoorView thread →
User prefers Gleener over sweater stone due to thinning fabric
I don’t like the electric ones or sweater stones. Various issues with both (snagging in the former and thinning fabric in the latter). I like the Gleener best.
u/Ikkleknitterr/knittingView thread →