How to restore a shrunken woolen item

Products made from natural wool take pride of place in any person’s wardrobe. Soft and surprisingly warm pants and skirts, jackets and sweaters do not wrinkle, get dirty little and, with proper care, can “reliably” last for more than ten years. Therefore, it becomes very annoying when a new woolen item sharply decreases in size after washing. You can restore a deformed product using ammonia, hair conditioner, hydrogen peroxide, or by mechanical stretching.

Causes of deformation of woolen products

After improper washing, the size of your favorite item may decrease by 2-3 orders of magnitude.
Wool fibers are of natural origin. Consisting of many cells, on the outside they are covered with tiny scales. The fibers themselves are quite wide and are in close contact with each other, so woolen clothes are warm. If the jumper is simply immersed in hot water, then nothing special will happen to the wool. However, when the fibers begin to rub against each other, as happens during machine washing, the scales “fluff” and are firmly connected to each other. As a result, the space between the fibers decreases, which leads to deformation of the product. Often the size of your favorite item can decrease by 2-3 orders of magnitude.

Manufacturers of modern washing machines have successfully solved this problem by providing a special mode for washing wool products, when the drum does not rotate, but only slightly rocks the clothes, preventing the fibers from sticking together.

There are several reasons for the deformation of wool fabric:

water temperature is too high;
incorrect selection of detergent;
The mode set in the washing machine is not suitable for processing woolen items.

It is not always possible to completely restore the original appearance and size of a shrunken product. The success of the operation depends on the composition of the material, since it is much easier to restore wool with the addition of synthetics than a pure wool item. Equally important is the length of time the clothes remain in the rotating drum and the temperature of the water.

How to restore a shrunken woolen item

You can restore a woolen item that has shrunk after washing using ammonia or hydrogen peroxide, as well as by mechanical stretching and repeated exposure to high temperatures.

Ammonia

For minor deformations, ammonia will help cope with the problem. To restore the elasticity of wool fibers, you need 2-3 tbsp. l. Combine ammonia with 5 liters of cool water and immerse the item in the resulting solution for 1 hour. Then the product should be rinsed and dried, laid out on a flat surface.

For greater processing efficiency, you can add 1 tbsp to the mixture of water and ammonia. l. turpentine and cologne.

Hydrogen peroxide

An indispensable assistant in restoring the shape and size of a woolen product that has shrunk after washing is hydrogen peroxide. You must proceed as follows:

pour 30 ml of peroxide into a container with 10 liters of cool water and mix thoroughly;
immerse the affected item in the prepared solution and rinse, gently stretching it with your hands;
leave the product in water for half an hour;
Remove the clothes from the solution, dip them in a terry towel and lay them out on a horizontal surface to dry.

Until the product is completely dry, you need to stretch it in length and width with your hands from time to time.

Wool conditioner

Soaking the deformed product in cool water with the addition of conditioner helps restore its normal appearance.
A special wool conditioner or hair balm will help restore the original appearance of woolen clothes that have become matted during improper washing. Add 25-30 ml of the selected product to cool water, stir and immerse the item in the soap solution. Both hair balm and conditioner improve the elasticity of wool fibers, making them smooth and preventing shrinkage. After a quarter of an hour, the product can be removed, lightly squeezed and sent to dry.

What to do if the item consists of different fabrics

To avoid having to deal with problems with items becoming deformed after washing, you must follow the basic washing rules. To know them, you need to leave a label on your clothing with the manufacturer’s recommendations. It contains useful information on what water temperature the product can be washed at, whether it is allowed to use an automatic machine or whether the item can only be washed by hand, whether it is permissible to wring it out and use bleaches and stain removers.

To prevent tissue shrinkage, experts recommend:

pay attention to the manufacturer’s recommendations on the label of shrunken clothing;
wash at a temperature of no more than 30 degrees;
Buy wool products one size larger, since after the first wash they will shrink anyway.

Most often, linen, cotton, silk, wool and some synthetic materials shrink when washed. To avoid fabric shrinkage, you need to know how to care for it. If it was not possible to prevent deformation, then you will need to choose the correct restoration method.

Cotton

You can restore the shape of cotton clothes using a regular vinegar solution:

Dilute 3 tablespoons of vinegar per 10 liters of water.
The product is dipped into the prepared solution for 10 minutes.
Next, they are machine washed on a delicate cycle and hung to dry on hangers.

Cotton clothing needs proper care:

it cannot be washed at water temperatures above 60 degrees;
stains are eliminated before loading into the machine;
new cotton items are washed in cold water and dried naturally;
Thin fabrics are washed in a machine in the delicate or hand wash mode.

Shrunken linen products are restored:

rinsing in cool water;
drying in fresh air without pre-squeezing;
ironing with slightly stretching movements.

Recommendations for washing linen:

clothes are washed only on a delicate cycle or by hand;
the water temperature should not exceed 40 degrees;
It is not recommended to squeeze things out with your hands.

Wool

The easiest way to return shrunken woolen clothes to their original shape is to use conditioners:

Dilute several caps of a properly selected product in a bowl of warm water.
Soak the item for 15 minutes.
Remove from the water and hang until it drains completely.
Place on a terry towel until completely dry.
Place on a dry towel and pin to it with pins or snaps for stretching.

To prevent woolen items from becoming deformed during the washing process, you need to:

wash things at a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees;
use gentle detergents without aggressive substances;
do not machine wash;
use special household chemicals for woolen clothes;
Take woolen coats to the dry cleaner.

Silk and synthetics

To prevent silk and synthetic items from shrinking during the washing process, you should:

do not use aggressive detergents;
wash in lukewarm water;
do not use rough mechanical force;
hand wash only;
rinse at least 2 times in cool water with the addition of a suitable fabric softener.

If a shrunken shirt or dress is made from different fabrics, you can stretch them as follows:

Soak the product in cool water for 15 minutes and then put it in the machine. Wash without powder on delicate cycle. The fibers of the fabric should stretch a little. Then you need to take the item out of the machine and hang it up to dry. Wet things are shaped by hand. Clothes should dry in the fresh air or in a well-ventilated area.
You can dilute 3 tablespoons of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide in 10 liters of water and soak the clothes for one hour. Next, the laundry is taken out of the basin and dried in the fresh air.

Of course, you can say that having the necessary knowledge, you are not at all afraid of any shrinkage. But why waste your time and energy trying to deal with shriveled things if you can prevent this from happening in the first place?

We invite you to familiarize yourself with Begonia Elatior care after purchase and in winter at home

Experts advise:

Always pay attention to the tags on clothes before washing them. By adhering to the recommendations described, you will not be able to fit into your favorite dress;
try to wash at a temperature of about 30 degrees - no higher. Take care of your things and they will last long in return;
It is better to buy woolen clothes a size larger, since after the first wash they will shrink in any case.

You shouldn’t go to extreme measures and then frantically look for a way out of the situation - it’s much easier to take care of your things right away. But if an unpleasant situation happens to you when the fabric shrinks after washing, don’t despair - now you know exactly what to do!

Mechanical and thermal recovery method

You can restore shrunken clothing by mechanically stretching it with your hands or by attaching it to a mannequin of a suitable size.

You need to start working by soaking the deformed product in warm water for 15-20 minutes.
After this time, the woolen item is removed from the container and laid out on a wire rack located above the bathtub or basin.
When the excess liquid has drained, the product is dried a little, wrapped in a terry towel, and then pulled onto the prepared mannequin.
While the sweater is drying, you need to periodically come up and pull the sleeves and fronts down.

To stretch a wool hat, just soak it in warm water, add a little shampoo or conditioner, and stretch it onto a 3-liter jar. The product will dry and acquire the desired size.

Sometimes the problem can be solved by steaming with an iron. The ironing board is covered with damp gauze. A woolen product is laid out on it, covered with another layer of wet fabric and steamed with an iron. When wet material is heated, a powerful stream of steam is formed, which passes through the wool, slightly pushing the fibers apart.

Wardrobe items

Any wardrobe items can sit down after washing: dresses, shirts, trousers, T-shirts, T-shirts and even your favorite sneakers. The way out of the situation depends on the materials from which the clothes are made.

Not only woolen coats can fit, but also those made from any natural or synthetic fibers. You can return to the original form as follows:

Rinse the coat in cool water and squeeze lightly with your hands.
Prepare a flat surface (preferably a table) covered with a terry towel or sheet.
Place a damp coat on top and cover it with a second towel.
As soon as the product begins to dry, you will need to periodically stretch its edges.

You can also stretch the coat using an iron:

A cotton cloth is placed on the wet coat and the product is ironed.
During ironing, its edges are pulled to the sides.
To soften the fibers and improve stretching, it is recommended to use steaming.

To return the dress to its original shape, it must be revived with cold water and an iron. First, soak it in cold water for a quarter of an hour, then wait until the water stops flowing and place it on a table or clean floor. After drying, iron the dress with a hot iron through gauze or thin fabric, while simultaneously pulling out its edges with your hands.

A universal method for stretching a T-shirt or tank top that has shrunk after washing, regardless of the fabric:

The T-shirt is soaked for 10 minutes in water no hotter than 40 degrees, lightly wrung out and shaken.
If there are stickers, inscriptions and pictures on the T-shirt, then you should handle it carefully so that the design is not damaged or faded.
A damp T-shirt is laid out on an ironing board, gauze folded in several layers is placed on top, and the clothes are steamed with an iron from a distance of 10-15 centimeters. In this case, the T-shirt should be pulled with your hands in different directions.
Places with inscriptions and stickers should not be steamed, let alone stretched.
While steaming a T-shirt, do not dry it completely. It is better to hang it in the fresh air with the neck down. In this case, you will need to once again carefully pull the material with your hands in the right directions.

To stretch a T-shirt one size, you need to:

Soak it in cold water with a little shampoo.
Squeeze lightly with your hands and place on an ironing board.
Stretch and secure with pins.
Wait until it dries like this.

Recommendations:

Soak the shirt in cold water for half an hour. Remove it from the water and lay it out on a towel without wrung out. So it should dry by periodically changing the towel to a dry one. In this case, the shirt must be stretched in different directions with your hands from time to time. This is a universal method suitable for all types of fabrics.
Cotton shirts are stretched by soaking in cool water for 10 minutes and placing on the body or mannequin until completely dry. This will allow the shirt to fully stretch to fit your body and regain its lost shape.
White shirts are soaked in milk for half an hour, then rinsed in cool water and laid out to dry horizontally on a terry sheet or towel.

Methods for restoring clothing directly depend on the type of fabric:

You can return a cotton blouse to its original shape using vinegar. To do this, add 45 ml of 3% vinegar to 10 liters of water, and the product is lowered into a basin with the mixture for 10 minutes. After this, the blouse is machine washed on a delicate cycle. Next, it is hung in the fresh air and, during the drying process, it is periodically stretched with its hands in different directions;
a denim blouse is restored by ironing and steaming;
viscose is soaked in cold water for several minutes and hung over the bath until the moisture is completely drained. After this, the blouse is dried in a horizontal position in a well-ventilated area. From time to time it is necessary to stretch it with your hands in different directions.

How to properly wash and dry woolen clothes

When planning to wash any item made of wool, you need to familiarize yourself with the care requirements.
Any item made from 100% wool shrinks slightly when washed. This must be taken into account when buying clothes and choose models one size larger. There is another solution to the problem - choosing a product with the addition of synthetic fibers. To preserve all the properties of a pure wool product and at the same time reduce shrinkage, 10-15% polyester or acrylic is added to the material composition.

When washing woolen clothes, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

Carefully study the manufacturer's information about the composition and care instructions, which is located on the label inside the product or on the yarn packaging.
Before washing clothes with buttons, it is better to cover the buttonholes. In this case, they will not stretch and no corrections will be required.
On the washing machine, select the “wool” mode, which provides a water temperature of no more than 30 ° C and turns off the rotation of the drum. If such a mode is not available, you can wash a woolen item in the “delicate” mode, having first turned off the spin cycle.
Wool cannot withstand an alkaline environment. If you wash clothes made of this material with laundry soap, they will become hard and lose their appearance. To wash woolen products, special gels and powders should be used.
Items made of wool should not be twisted, as this action can destroy the structure of the fibers. It is better to lay the sweater on a wire rack and wait until the water drains spontaneously. Remaining liquid can be removed with a terry towel.
Dry woolen items by laying them out on a flat horizontal surface. To prevent the product from shrinking in size when it dries, you can attach the edges with pins. Neither hangers nor radiators should be used for drying.

White woolen items acquire a yellowish tint over time. To return the material to its original whiteness, place half a lemon in a bowl of water and soak the product for 2 hours.

Precautionary measures

According to all of the above, it is easier to prevent woolen items from shrinking than to save them later. To do this, things need proper care from the very beginning, namely:

— you need to carefully study the label, which contains information about caring for the item;
- drying wool products should occur in a horizontal position;
— drying should occur naturally, without the use of heating devices;
- you can hang a woolen item on a hanger only after it has completely dried;
— instead of wool gel, you can use hair shampoo when washing;
— ironing of woolen items can only be done under cotton cloth or gauze;
- woolen items are stored in a closet protected from moths.

How to iron wool clothes

Woolen items knitted with your own hands usually do not require ironing. It is also not recommended to iron products with a large convex pattern, since under the influence of high temperature and pressure exerted by the sole of the iron on the yarn, the pattern will shrink and lose volume.

However, sometimes it is not possible to do without ironing. In such cases, you must remember that woolen products are ironed only from the inside out and through additional fabric. The iron should be set to the “wool” mode.

You can ruin your favorite woolen item in a few minutes, but it will take more than one hour to restore it. Therefore, when planning to wash a wool sweater, it is better to study the composition of the material in advance and familiarize yourself with the care requirements.

Steam or ironing

The most popular way to save a wardrobe item is to steam it with a warm iron or hold it over boiling water. In this case, you should carefully stretch the desired places until you get the desired shape or size. You can also use the trouser ironing method and iron the item through wet gauze.

It is necessary to take into account that the method will be effective only for things without relief that have a mixed composition.

Wool without impurities cannot be stretched in this way; moreover, the fabric can shrink even more and completely deteriorate.