Your Clothes Shrink in the Wash - Now What?
It inevitably happens to all of us, you toss your favorite shirt or pair of pants into the laundry, and they come out later shrunken down to a miniature size. It can be extremely frustrating when faced with this realization, but we promise there’s no need to panic; there are several laundry tips and tricks to help you “unshrink” your clothes and get them back to their original condition. Below, the experts at The Laundry Cafe share what to do and how to avoid the problem altogether.
Why Do Clothes Shrink?
To prevent your clothes from shrinking, you must first understand what makes them shrink. It largely depends on the material of the item in question. Natural fibers, like wool, are stretched during the manufacturing process, and when exposed to water, heat, and agitation during the laundry cycle, the fibers shrink back to their original state. Once this change in the threads has occurred, it can’t be reversed, reducing your favorite garment to a shrunken size. The best way to avoid this dilemma? Read and follow the care labels before laundering.
What to Do After Your Clothes Have Shrunk
If you want to save your shrunken clothes, you’re in the right place. Try the following method:
Fill a sink or large tub with lukewarm water and a capful of gentle laundry detergent.
Soak the shrunken garment for 30 minutes.
Remove the clothing from the tub of water and gently squeeze out the excess moisture. Don’t rinse.
Lay the clothing flat on a towel. Roll the towel with the clothing inside, squeezing gently to remove more water. The item should be damp rather than wet.
Unroll and lay the clothing on another dry, flat towel. As you lay the garment out, stretch it gently back to its pre-shrunk size.
Allow the clothing to air dry.
Wash again in a cold, gentle cycle, avoiding heat and agitation.
If the above-mentioned method fails to fix your shrunken clothes, try incorporating the following laundry tips into your routine.
Check care labels.
One of the easiest ways to prevent clothes from shrinking is to read the care labels before tossing them into the wash. Here you will find the product materials, like cotton or silk, and if clothes are already pre-shrunk. The care label will also have optimal water temperature, laundry cycle, and drying instructions.
Use cold water and the proper wash cycles.
Generally, most clothes do best in a cool, gentle cycle with low to no heat. Your clothes are much more likely to shrink when subject to hot temperatures and high agitation. For delicates, we recommend placing these items in a mesh laundry bag for added protection.
If you have to dry, use the tumble or air dry setting.
If you must dry your clothes in the dryer, opt for the tumble or air dry setting. These dry cycles minimize wear to the fabric fibers and reduce the chances of shrinkage.
Shrunk Clothes Help from The Laundry Cafe
At The Laundry Cafe, we’re a local laundromat here to help with an abundance of smart laundry tips to help you get through even the most unfortunate laundry disasters. Each of our five locations is staffed by helpful, attentive individuals who can assist you on laundry day. Stop by today and enjoy 24/7 availability, state-of-the-art washers and dryers, and a free dry cycle with every wash purchase.