Whenever you are washing your clothes, you should be careful to not make a mistake. There are many factors that may cause damage to the garments (cause discoloration or shrink them, for example). Those could be the cleaning solution you are using, the temperature of the water, the cycle you chose, or an inappropriate cleaning approach that is not suitable for the particular type of fabrics.
If you just took out your laundry load and your favourite shirt lo longer fits, do not panic. It happens to the best of us. If you or someone else accidentally threw a sweater or a pair of jeans in the dryer on high heat, keep reading to find out how to unshrink them and enjoy them again. Depending on the fabric, you may not be able to completely restore them to their original condition, however, there are steps you can take to loosen the fabric.
Why do clothes shrink?
A high-quality fabric or garment should be able to maintain their original shape and size when washed according to the care label of the fabric. As long as you follow the manufacturer’s instructions, you should be able to clean and dry those clothes without causing any damage to them. In fact, the type of the fibres is one of the main reasons for shrinkage of fabrics. Natural fabrics, such as cotton and linen, are more likely to shrink due to their moisture absorption qualities. Natural animal hair fibres, such as wool and cashmere, absorb moisture as well, but they also undergo a permanent interlocking of fibres that causes a garment item to appear smaller when wet, which might be misinterpreted as shrinking.
Other reasons why clothes may shrink include how much tension a yarn is under when the fabric is woven, knitted, or processed, as well as the overall quality of the clothing. To reduce shrinkage, higher-quality producers use unique finishes and production techniques.
How to prevent shrinkage in the first place?
Lowering the wash temperature and air drying cotton goods will help reduce shrinkage. Blue jeans and other heavier, sturdier fabrics can be line dried by hanging them by the hems on pants hangers. As the jeans dry, the weight of the damp cloth will naturally lengthen them. Because wet fabric is heavier than dry fabric, less sturdy lightweight textiles should be laid flat to dry, because shoulder seams can rip out or stretch if hung to dry.
Never attempt any cleaning on your own if you are not 100% certain about the particular fabric you are treating. Wool, silk, and other delicate fabrics are best brought to a professional or hand washed at home. Use delicate laundry solutions and lukewarm water. Avoid harsh scrubbing, wringing, scrubbing and other aggressive motions that may damage the fabric or cause it to lose its shape.
How to unshrink clothes?
- Fill a sink or a tub with lukewarm water and add a cap full of baby shampoo, hair conditioner, or laundry soap formulated for delicate fabrics.
- Let the garment sit in the tub for at least 30 minutes.
- After half an hour, remove the garment from the water, gently squeeze out most of the moisture but do not rinse the fabric yet.
- Lay the clothing on a clean dry towel and roll it up gently squeezing until the garment is no longer dripping wet but is just slightly damp.
- Lay the piece of clothing on another clean dry towel and gently stretch it out to its original size.
- Allow the garment to air dry.
For cotton seaters – If you are worried about washing your cotton sweater, even though the care label says you can, grab a large piece of paper and outline the sweater before you throw it in the washing machine. That way you will be able to tell if it actually shrunk after the cleaning. If it did, use the steps above to restore it back to its original size.
For wool knits – If wool knits have not felted (that is permanent), you can stretch them out to their original size while they are still damp. It is best if you avoid shrinking wool knits in general. Always follow care label instructions. If it says dry cleaning only, do not attempt to wash it. It is always a good idea to wash those by hand. Use lukewarm water and gently squeeze out the cleaning solution and never wring or rub them aggressively.
For synthetic fabrics and polyester – Polyester and other synthetics do not shrink. Some machine washable wools are actually blends that contain a small proportion of polyester or acrylic to stabilise the wool and avoid shrinkage. If you are not sure whether your wool sweater contains some polyester, check the label before tossing it in the washing machine. Better safe than sorry.