Have you ever bought a new sweater or pair of jeans only to find they are just a little too big? Or maybe you’ve lost some weight and your old clothes are now too loose.
Don’t despair – it’s easy to shrink your clothing at home and make it fit just right again.
With some simple tricks, you can safely and effectively shrink cotton, wool, polyester, and other fabrics.
Why Shrink Clothes?
Shrinking clothes allows you to customize the fit and get more wear from items you already own.
It’s an eco-friendly alternative to throwing away ill-fitting garments or buying new ones.
Properly shrinking clothes can help you:
– Make loose-fitting clothes smaller for a better fit
– Tighten stretched out clothing that has become baggy
– Adjust the length of sleeves, pants, and dresses
– Fit into old clothes after losing weight
– Make hand-me-downs or thrift store finds fit better
How to Shrink Fabrics
The best method for shrinking clothes depends on the fabric.
Here’s how to shrink the most common clothing materials:
Cotton
Cotton shrinks quickly when washed with hot water and dried with high heat.
To shrink cotton:
– Wash the garment in hot water, around 105°F to 135°F if your machine has a temperature setting.
Use a full wash cycle.
– Dry on the highest heat until completely dry.
Avoid air drying.
– Repeat the hot wash and high heat drying cycle to achieve desired shrinkage.
This works well for shrinking cotton t-shirts, jeans, dresses, jackets and more.
Wool
Wool garments shrink when agitated and exposed to heat.
To shrink wool:
– Fill a sink or basin with very hot water, around 130°F to 140°F.
Avoid boiling water which can damage wool.
– Immerse the wool garment and allow it to soak for 2 to 3 minutes, moving it around.
– Gently squeeze water out and lay flat on a towel to air dry.
Do not wring or twist.
– Repeat the hot soak if needed to shrink more.
This method works for wool sweaters, coats and other knitwear.
Polyester
Pure polyester does not shrink easily.
To get polyester clothes like athletic wear to shrink:
– Wash in hot water with heavy laundry detergent or borax
– Dry on the highest heat setting until bone dry
– Wash and dry a second time if needed
Blends like poly-cotton may shrink a little with hot water and drying.
Stretchy polyester workout clothes will shrink best.
Shrinking Tips
– Check clothing tags – some say “do not tumble dry” or have other care instructions.
– Stick to 100% cotton, wool and polyester – blends may not shrink as much.
– Wash items separately – don’t mix with other laundry.
– Shrink new clothes before wearing to avoid later surprises.
– Go slowly – you can always shrink more but can’t reverse it.
– Use a mesh bag for delicates to prevent damage.
– Preheat your dryer before drying.
– Remove embellishments like buttons, zippers and hooks first.
– Avoid the dry cleaners – chemicals may prevent shrinkage.
Shrink Clothes Safely
With heat and water, take precautions to avoid ruining your garments:
– Never use temperatures above 140°F which can damage fabrics.
– Check clothing frequently so it doesn’t over shrink.
– Lay flat or hang to dry; avoid twisting or wringing.
– Use mild detergent and wash cycles for delicates.
– Don’t bleach or iron until you get the desired shrinkage.
Fit Into Your Wardrobe Again
Now you know how to shrink common clothing materials quickly and safely at home.
With a few simple steps, you can customize the size of your garments and get more use out of your wardrobe.
So rescue those loose fitting favorites or make old favorites wearable again.
Just be sure to test shrink on discreet area first and launder carefully.
You can save money and eliminate waste by shrinking your clothes to the perfect size with the proper techniques.