The item shrank after washing, what should I do? Learning the rules of washing

To stretch washed wool clothes, soak them in cold water and tumble dry on a flat surface. Wet knitwear and cashmere with warm water and rinse with hair conditioner. Steamy and wet clothes will help jeans. Cotton shirts can be ironed on gauze soaked in vinegar. Mixed fabrics can be washed in soapy water and frozen.

After removing clothes from the washing machine, an unpleasant consequence may occur: the clothes will become soaked after washing. Let's figure out how to restore damaged clothing, which is why it shrinks.

Reasons for shrinkage

There are several reasons why an item shrinks in size after washing. These include:

1. 
   Violation of the manufacturer's recommendations for washing and caring for the product.

2. Incorrect spin speed.
3. Washing water temperature is too high.
4. Features of the fabric. It is known that cotton shrinks by 3-5% after the first wash. Corduroy and tartan are most susceptible to this process, while poplin, satin, calico and cambric are slightly lower. Woolen items may be considered at risk.

Two factors most often negatively affect the condition of products: mechanical stress and high temperatures.

The following factors can lead to product shrinkage:

1. Wash in hot water or sudden temperature changes.
2. Spin too fast in an automatic machine.
3. Incorrect drying of the product. Shrinkage is often caused by placing items near heat sources, for example, on a heating radiator.

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may become 1-2 sizes smaller even if the recommended washing temperature is slightly exceeded. Read about how to properly wash dresses here.

What can be done: how to return the previous size and increase it back?

Steam treatment

To stretch a shrunken dress, you can treat it with steam. This effective procedure is carried out as follows:

1. The dress is washed or slightly moistened.
2. Lay it on an ironing board, systematically process the seams and surface of the fabric using a steamer.
3. In problem areas you need to help yourself with your hands. This will allow the product to stretch evenly.

If possible, the dress is steamed on a large mannequin. This allows you to increase the efficiency of the procedure. This method is especially effective for wool and synthetic items.

Freezing

To return the dress to its original size, you can freeze it. Water, turning into ice crystals, tends to expand. The fibers of the fabric will stretch along with it. This is an effective method that allows you to cope with shrinkage of 0.5-1 size.

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

• wet and lightly wring out the dress so that water does not drain from it;
• place it in a plastic bag;
• put the item in the freezer;
• leave for a day;
• take out the dress and let it thaw completely;
• hang the product to dry.

When frozen, the tissue is very fragile. Any careless movement can lead to a violation of its integrity. Therefore, you should not carry out any manipulations with the dress until it is completely thawed.

Many people, having taken their favorite item out of the washing machine and seen that its size has become more like a child’s size, throw it away without even trying to restore it.

a knitted cotton sweater shrank after washing.
In most cases, this can be done, especially if the product contains synthetics.

• wet the item again. To do this, you will need a large container and cool water, as well as a detergent for washing delicate fabrics, which contains lanolin. This is a natural substance that helps wool fibers maintain their natural softness and elasticity. Dip the product into the solution and leave for a few minutes so that the fibers are well saturated;
• rinse in clean water;
• When you take it out, do not squeeze it out and let the excess water drain;
• spread on a soft towel, slightly stretching the fabric to the sides;
• Leave to dry in this position away from heat sources. It is better if it is a well-ventilated, cool room. During the drying process, you can slightly pull the fabric a few more times.

Cotton items

Shirts and trousers made of cotton fabric also shrink. What to do if your shirt shrinks after washing. The product must first be soaked in warm water. You can simply put them in the washing machine and, without adding detergent, put them on one of the fastest modes at a water temperature of 20-30 degrees.

After washing, do not wring out, hang on hangers and leave to dry in this position. This should be done outside in the shade or in a cool, ventilated area.

Iron wet items on the “Cotton” setting, slightly stretching them to the sides with the iron.

Linen clothing usually easily returns to its original size simply by wearing it. After ironing, just put it on and walk around in it for several hours, you will see that it has stretched again.

If it has become so small that you cannot put it on, then wet the fabric and iron it with a hot iron, stretching it to the sides.

Wool fabric

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How to stretch something that has shrunk after washing? Products made from fabric containing 100% wool fibers should be soaked in warm (not hot!) water with the addition of ammonia, glycerin and vinegar (one tablespoon per 2 liters of water). This solution will soften the fibers a little and give them elasticity, and the item will stretch.

If your clothes have already shrunk after washing, you can return them to their original size at home.

A solution of ammonia and water effectively helps to stretch things to the desired size. Clothes are soaked in the solution for 12 hours and then stretched by hand. The product must be dried on a hanger.

Stretching wet material is the most effective way. Jeans, trousers, shorts and T-shirts can not be left in the dryer until completely dry, but put on slightly damp and move around. The plastic fibers of the fabric dry on the body and take on the required size. Thick denim can be ironed after washing, pulling the denim in the direction of the warp thread. Remember that you need to iron from the wrong side.

The steaming function in modern irons does an excellent job of stretching clothes that have shrunk after washing. To avoid damage to the product and straightening of fibers, carefully read the pictograms on the manufacturer’s label before ironing.

The OnlineTkani online store offers high-quality fabrics that have been treated to prevent shrinkage after washing. If the product requires additional processing, please contact our managers for advice.

Stretching with solutions

By washing

Items made of synthetics or combined materials should be soaked in cold water and thrown into the washing machine. Select a delicate wash program, do not add powder or gel, just run the program. Dry the product vertically, hanging it by one edge. Also, after washing, the T-shirt can be carefully laid out on the bedspread and evenly stretched in all directions. Leave the item to dry - this way it will stretch one size.

Knitwear can be stretched using hair conditioner, vinegar 3% and a simple sponge:

• Take a bowl of warm (but not hot) water and soak the product for 5 minutes.
• After five minutes, gently squeeze it out.
• Empty the water from the basin, put a T-shirt in it and moisten it with hair conditioner.
• Start stretching it, if you can’t do it well, add more conditioner.
• Rinse the item and wring it out a little.
• Distribute the T-shirt in the bathroom.
• Soak a sponge in vinegar and move it over the fabric, stretching it slightly.
• Select the delicate wash program and start the program.
• Rinse the item with regular fabric softener to get rid of the vinegar smell.
• Dry vertically.

You will need gauze, an iron, a clothes line and clothespins.

• Place the item in a bowl of water no higher than forty degrees and leave for ten minutes. Pull it out and squeeze it out with utmost care.
• Be extremely careful with drawings or prints - do not over-squeeze, as this may damage the image.
• Gently straighten the damp T-shirt on the ironing board and cover with gauze. Gently stretching it in the directions you need, steam it.
• Do not steam pictures and prints.
• Do not dry the item completely - secure it with the neck down using clothespins on a clothes line and leave to dry.

After washing, place the item in cold water and wring it out lightly. If you are in good health, wear it - this way the fabric will follow the contours of your body without asymmetrical deformation of the product.

Sometimes a problem occurs when a T-shirt stretches unevenly. To avoid this, you need to carefully study the information on the label.

• To buy a quality item of clothing, pay attention to the following nuances:
• The shoulder seams should run exactly along the edge of the humerus.
• Check the seams of things made from materials that stretch - they should not unravel.
• The sleeves of the product should not be tight; to check this, bend your elbows - if something is too tight, the item does not suit you.
• There are fabrics that wrinkle a lot when worn - these are natural materials such as linen or cotton. To check, squeeze the fabric in your fist; if it is very wrinkled, then you need to decide for yourself whether it is worth buying it.

Woolen sweaters lend themselves well to stretching. Such products can be increased by 1.5-2 sizes.

Features of restoration of woolen products:

1. The fibers can be stretched well if you wash the jacket in water with hair rinse. You can also use regular shampoo or fabric conditioner containing lanolin.
2. If the jacket needs to be stretched in length, it can be hung on hangers. Under the weight of its own weight, the product will increase in size.
3. If only the sleeves of a sweater have shrunk, lay it out to dry on a flat surface. Only the deformed area needs to be pulled.
4. The jacket should not be spun in the washing machine at high speed. However, you are allowed to drive off excess water with your hands. This will help it stretch better.
5. Only liquid detergents can be used for washing.
6. Wool should not be ironed or steamed, even on the reverse side.

All efforts will be wasted if you put the jacket to dry next to the heating device. Under the influence of hot air, the fiber will shrink and the jacket will become small.

Cashmere, tweed and drape sweaters are all types of wool, so you need to care for them in accordance with general recommendations.

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If it is not possible to constantly approach and pull a shrunken woolen jacket, after washing it can be spread on a terry towel and secured around the perimeter with pins. They will prevent the fabric from shrinking.

If you cannot change the size of a shrunken item on your own, you need to seek help from specialists. The cost of stretching an item in dry cleaning starts from 550 rubles.

It all depends on the original condition of the jacket. If it has dirt, complex stains, or is severely deformed, the price may be doubled.

Not all dry cleaners perform work to return the product to its original size. The organization must have special mannequins that allow the fabric to dry, giving it the desired shape.

Therefore, before you hand over your jacket to the laundry, you need to clarify the purpose of your visit. They pay for the service only upon completion of it.

• Soak clothes in cool water at a temperature of up to 40 degrees for ten minutes. Then wring out the product and shake lightly;
• If the T-shirt has inscriptions or pictures, wring the clothes very carefully and not too hard, otherwise the design may wear off, fade or fade;
• Place the damp product on an ironing board, place gauze or thin cotton cloth on top and steam the material at a distance of 15-20 centimeters, while stretching the T-shirt in the desired directions;
• Places with drawings and inscriptions are not recommended to be ironed or steamed;
• During steaming, do not dry the material completely, but hang the product to dry with the neck down and secure it. Stretch the material again in the desired directions and leave until completely dry. As a result, the T-shirt will stretch.

Restoring shrunken clothes to their original appearance is not so easy, but it is possible. Let's look at several recovery methods.

• Soak the product in cold water for 15 minutes. After that, pull it out and, without squeezing it, lay it on a flat horizontal surface. It is better to put a terry towel. It should dry naturally.

• This method is similar to the first, but differs in a slightly extravagant drying method. After soaking, you need to put the outfit on yourself or on a mannequin. Make sure your clothes dry this way. It is more likely that after this procedure it will return to its previous size. If the dress has shrunk and become very short, then you can evenly hang the weights. Just make sure the fabric can actually bear the load.
• Probably the most effective and less energy-consuming way to return clothes to their previous size. After the specified soaking, wash the product in the washing machine again. Do not add powder. Choose a delicate washing mode; its essence is that during the washing process the fabric fibers stretch. Naturally, this mode is without spin. After the procedure, hang the clothes on hangers and keep them in an upright position. You can also help stretch the item with your hands during the drying process. There is no need to apply excessive force, otherwise the wardrobe item will be deformed.
• This method is used in dry cleaners. But it is also applicable in everyday life. For this you need a steamer. Lay the clothes soaked in cool water horizontally. Without waiting for it to dry, iron it and treat it with hot steam. Moreover, it is possible to do without advanced technologies. It is enough to hang the wet item in the bathroom after washing, and place a container of boiling water underneath.

Products that the housewife always has at hand will help to revive a shrunken item after washing. These options are suitable for clothing and mixed fabrics or wool.

• Hydrogen peroxide. Dilute 6 tsp. peroxide in 10 l. cool water. Even a very long, shrunken dress should be completely dipped into the solution and left for an hour. After this, remove the material from the liquid and wash it in an automatic machine on a delicate cycle.
• Ammonia. Dissolve in 5 l. water 3 tbsp. l. ammonia, 1 tbsp. l. vodka, 1 tbsp. l. turpentine. after exposure to this cocktail, the fabric fibers will become softer and easier to stretch. Rinse and dry in the resulting solution, hanging the item on a hanger.
• Vinegar. This method is suitable if something made of cotton fabric has shrunk. Vinegar also prevents the item from staining when washed. To prepare a solution, 3% vinegar must be diluted in a bowl of cool water. Then apply it to the product using a sponge, trying to stretch it slightly. Hang the fully processed wardrobe item on hangers to dry. You can soak clothes in the solution for 10 minutes, but this is not as effective.
• There is another option to soak the item with hair conditioner after the vinegar bath. It can smooth out the fabric fibers. After this, rinse well. If conditioner has not been used, then in order to neutralize the unpleasant smell of acetic acid, you need to wash the outfit with the addition of conditioner.

• Baking soda. It is necessary to prepare a solution at the rate of 10 g. soda per 1 liter of water. Soak the shrunken item in the resulting liquid for 12 hours. Wash with added washing powder. After this, another solution is used, consisting of 10 tbsp. l. vinegar diluted in 2 liters. water. Soak the item in it for 2 hours, and then rinse, wash and dry.
• An unpleasant situation where clothes have shrunk can be corrected by ordinary washing powder. To do this, you just need to hold the material in water with detergent dissolved in it for 30 minutes. After this, rinse the fabric and wrap it in plastic. And then put the bundle in the freezer of the refrigerator for exactly one day. Next, defrost the thing and lay it out horizontally.

Will they help with dry cleaning?

If an expensive item has shrunk and there are concerns that trying to stretch it on your own may lead to damage, it is better to seek help from professionals.

Many dry cleaners provide a service to resize shrunken clothes. To do this, they have special steam dummies and safe chemicals available.

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The cost of the work depends on its complexity. For example, you can help stretch a shrunken woolen sweater for 350-500 rubles, and a silk dress for 500-700 rubles. The price needs to be clarified in a specific establishment.

Before submitting an item for processing, you need to ask how long the item can be stretched and whether there is a guarantee that it will not be completely damaged. It is imperative to request a document confirming the fact of transfer of the product to third parties.

If an expensive dress has been subjected to shrinkage, and you were unable to cope with the problem on your own, you can use dry cleaning services.

Professionals have specialized compounds at their disposal that can stretch an item by 1-2 sizes without harming the fabric. Drying is carried out using steam installations to achieve maximum effect.

Before submitting an item for processing, you need to check with the craftsmen what results should be expected. You must pay for the service only upon its provision. The cost of such work varies greatly.

The minimum price is 600 rubles. For this money, the dry cleaner will not only stretch the dress, but also rid it of dirt and smooth out wrinkles.

Adviсe

A few tips from experienced housewives will help you quickly achieve the desired result - a T-shirt that has shrunk after washing by one or two sizes:

It is necessary to take measures to stretch items that have shrunk after washing as quickly as possible, without waiting for the fabric to dry completely.

Well-dried fabric loses its elasticity and will be much more difficult to stretch.

• To achieve maximum expansion of a knitted item, before starting the stretching process, the fabric is impregnated with hair conditioner.
• During the steaming process, the product is not completely dried. A slightly damp T-shirt is sent to dry on a rope, securing it with clothespins along the bottom edge.
• Do not stretch T-shirts with patterns, embroidery, or sequin or bead decorations. Deformation of the fabric breaks the contour of the design, after which the T-shirt completely loses its appearance.

How to prevent possible shrinkage in the future?

To prevent the product from shrinking again during the washing process, you must follow the following recommendations:

1. Do not wash it in boiling water.
2. Avoid temperature changes. Do not alternately rinse your dress in hot and cold water.
3. Use a suitable washing cycle. Delicate fabrics do not tolerate intensive machine processing, so they often change their shape.

Tumble drying at high speeds is prohibited. It always causes the fabric fibers to shrink. In addition to losing size, the dress may become deformed.

Rules for enlarging a T-shirt with vinegar

For cotton clothes, you can use vinegar. You need to dilute a solution of water and 9% vinegar in a ratio of three to one in a container, dip a sponge into it and carefully run the sponge over the T-shirt, periodically stretching the T-shirt in different directions. Then hang it to dry and continue to stretch it from time to time. After some time, wash in a suitable mode.

The disadvantage of this method is the strong vinegar smell. But it can be removed with fabric softener.

Stretching various shrunken tissues

Before choosing a method for stretching things, you need to decide what fabric they are made of. All materials react differently to high temperatures and chemicals. Basic recommendations:

1. 
   Wool.
   This delicate fiber does not tolerate rough handling. It's easy to overdo it when stretching, so you need to handle wool items with care. You can treat a shrunken dress or sweater with water, fabric softener, turpentine or a weak vinegar solution. You need to stretch the wool in small sections, systematically working through the entire surface.

2. Combined knitwear based on natural and synthetic fibers. All methods are suitable for stretching, except steaming. Particular attention should be paid to the mechanical effect on the fabric. To enhance the effect, you can use the washing machine by turning on the drying function. After its completion, the item is laid out on a flat surface and stretched by hand.
3. Jeans. This rough material is difficult to stretch, and shrinkage can be quite impressive. To cope with the problem, it is better to resort to the help of a steam generator. The product is pre-soaked with hair rinse.
4. Synthetics. The material does not tolerate contact with caustic chemicals and high temperatures. Therefore, it is stretched by first soaking it in cool water or vinegar solution.
5. Cotton and linen. Fabrics are prone to shrinkage, which often occurs due to washing in hot water. To stretch a thing, it can be soaked in any of the listed solutions, and then subjected to mechanical stress. It is recommended to stretch the product by hand, since high speed in the washing machine can aggravate the problem.

To understand which method is applicable for a particular item, you need to carefully study the label. It indicates the permissible washing and ironing temperatures.

The letter “A” circled means that dry cleaning is allowed with all known solvents according to the usual regime.

Why do things shrink

Often such a surprise comes from new things. Exposure to water and violation of washing rules cause a shrinkage effect, especially during the first wet treatment.

The reduction in the size of things is due to the structure of the fiber. Thus, cotton in its natural position has the appearance of a twisted spring. When making threads, the fibers are treated with chemicals to straighten and stretch the fiber. And she is able to maintain this state until the first opportunity. When the right conditions arise, the fiber can curl again. Most often this happens when the recommended rules of care are violated. In other words, when extreme conditions arise, the protective properties of chemical treatment are leveled and the fiber tends to its natural state.

The wool shrinks differently. The down of animals, which we call wool, has a scaly structure on the surface. These horny structures, like fish scales, cover the entire surface of the pile. If the hair begins to wrinkle and bend, the scales begin to bristle and cling to each other. This is similar to the rolling process. The size decreases due to the fact that the threads fluff up and then become fixed in a compressed state.

And if you pour boiling water on wool, the structural protein of the hair, keratin, undergoes denaturation (irreversible reduction), as a result of which the item shrinks very strongly and irrevocably.

Flax fiber has a spindle-shaped shape. It is smooth and strong, but can also shrink, especially when treated with hot water. The shrinkage of flax is not critical, and when ironed, the fiber returns to its original size.

The fabrics that manufacturers use to sew T-shirts have different compositions. They can be natural, mixed and synthetic.

Materials made from mixed fibers and synthetics are least susceptible to shrinkage. The following table shows the maximum shrinkage percentage of different types of fabrics.

Now, by imagining what knitwear fibers look like and why they change length, we can determine the appropriate washing conditions for such products and understand how we can return things to their original appearance.

Important Tips

To ensure that the dress is not damaged during the resizing process, you need to listen to the following tips:

1. 
   Before processing, read the information on the product label. It is located on the wrong side.

2. Do not soak colored or dark items in aggressive compounds, such as hydrogen peroxide. Such products can restore size, but often cause color loss.
3. If using the chosen method it was not possible to stretch the product, you can resort to another method. Different types of tissue react differently to substances.
4. When stretching a garment, special attention should be paid to the seams.
5. You need to stretch the product while drying. This is done until the moisture has completely evaporated. In this case, you need to ensure that both halves of the dress remain symmetrical.

When working with caustic substances, you must remember your own safety rules. You need to wear gloves on your hands and protect your respiratory system with a mask.

Prevention

To prevent things from shrinking in the future, you need to follow simple recommendations:

1. Pay attention to the information on the product label.
2. Wash items at a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees.
3. Buy cotton items 1.5 sizes larger, as they shrink the most.
4. Do not expose items to sunlight.
5. Use suitable detergents for washing and follow the spin speed recommendations.