How to stretch something that has shrunk after washing

09/22/201606/16/2017 Maria Ivanova 1 Comment

Have you ever had to deal with a situation where a T-shirt or dress shrunk and ended up being slightly out of size after washing? By violating well-known rules, we often find ourselves in situations that are unpleasant and bring discomfort - this also applies to washing.

By neglecting the instructions that the manufacturer creates for us and leaves on the tags, we end up with a damaged or shrunk item. Many modern housewives are wondering: what to do if the item shrinks after washing?

This problem has remained relevant for many years: what to do if your dress or T-shirt shrinks? How to bring shrunken curtains back to life? When asking such questions, look for the correct answers to them.

Why do things shrink after washing?

Most often, knitted items are more susceptible to shrinkage due to the shrinking properties of the threads. However, there are frequent cases of shrinkage of things made from other materials that, it would seem, cannot shrink.

Such phenomena can be caused by several factors:

clothes are made from low-quality material;
heavy contaminants were not pre-treated;
the label on the product was not read;
the washing mode was selected incorrectly;
spin speed too high;
the rules of drying and ironing were violated.

In this case, the fundamental reasons for shrinkage are incorrectly selected products for certain materials or unsuitable washing temperatures.

Wrong detergent selected

Some materials do not react well to regular powder. This is explained by the fact that the alkali contained in classic laundry detergents negatively affects the quality of the threads, as a result of which they lose their original shape.

Similar consequences can occur if you have not first studied the label on the product or are not familiar with the composition of the powder.

Incorrect washing temperature

Most delicate fabrics do not tolerate high temperatures or changes in temperature. For example, if you wash clothes in hot water and then rinse them in cold water, the item may shrink after washing.

Always read the information on the permitted processing temperature on the label and set your machine to the appropriate delicate wash program.

For what reasons does clothing shrink?

There are a sufficient number of reasons why your favorite underwear may shrink in size. Most often this happens in the following cases:

The spin mode is incorrectly selected during the washing process. For example, there are cases when a wool product should not be wrung out, but the owner has set an excessively high speed mode in the program,
The temperature of the water during the washing process also affects things. It is recommended not to deviate from the values indicated by the manufacturer on the label, otherwise the laundry will begin to shrink,
fabric structure. Silk can shrink significantly more than other natural or synthetic materials.

You should not get upset prematurely, because in any situation there is a way out. And we even know how to restore a shrunken item.

How to stretch a shrunken item

If your favorite wardrobe item shrinks after washing, it can still be saved. You can stretch clothes in several ways using available materials.

Water

The first and most accessible method you can use is stretching with water. For this:

Soak the item in cool water for 10-15 minutes, allowing the liquid to completely absorb into the threads.
Remove and, without twisting, squeeze with a towel.
Lay out a large towel on a horizontal surface and place the item on top.
During the drying period, stretch the material from time to time and replace the towel with new ones.

Do not use heat sources for drying during the procedure, otherwise all the work will be done in vain.

Iron

This procedure is not suitable for knitted items made from natural or synthetic threads.

Operating procedure:

Wet the item with cold water.
Let the water drain and place it on the ironing board.
Pull the material in the desired directions.
Set the iron to low or medium heat.
Iron the material with maximum effort while simultaneously stretching the fabric.
Turn the product inside out and repeat the procedure.

After ironing, lay the clothing on a towel or sheet, pull the fabric again and press down the edges with a weight. Leave the item to air dry.

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is not only an excellent antiseptic. The substance will help return shrunken clothes to their previous shape.

Mode of application:

Dissolve 50 ml of peroxide in 8-10 liters of cold water.
Soak the product for half an hour.
Carefully remove the item and wring it out with a towel.
Hang clothes on hangers to dry.

During the drying process, come up and stretch the item from time to time, giving it the correct shape.

Ammonia

Ammonia with vodka and turpentine will help make the material more elastic.

Dissolve 100 ml of ammonia, 40–50 ml of turpentine and the same amount of vodka in 10 liters of water. Soak the product in the solution for 60 minutes. After processing, try stretching the item.

Steam stretching

Please note that this method is not suitable for items made of 100% wool.

Operating procedure:

Soak the clothes in water and wait until all the threads are saturated with liquid.
Allow excess water to drain.
Squeeze just a little with gentle movements.
Lay the item out on a horizontal surface.
Set the iron to steam function.
Cover the material with gauze or cotton cloth.
Gently iron the surface while stretching the fabric.
Carry out this procedure until the item is completely dry.

An excellent replacement for an iron would be a special steam generator.

Cold stretch

This procedure will save your favorite item from shrinking. First, soak your clothes in soapy water and a detergent suitable for the type of material. Keep the item in the water for at least half an hour, then rinse and wring out with a towel. Roll up wet clothes and pack them in a bag. Place the bag in the freezer for 24 hours. After this time, remove the item and dry it as usual in the fresh air.

Milk

A milk-based solution is suitable for treating white cotton items.

Mix a little milk with cool water and soak the item in the solution for half an hour. Afterwards, rinse the item in clean water, wring it out, pat dry with a towel, and lay it out to dry on a horizontal surface.

Vinegar

Since vinegar is acidic, use it only diluted. Mix one part vinegar with two parts room temperature water. Soak in the liquid for 30 minutes and then stretch.

Soda and tartaric acid

Processing is carried out in 2 approaches.

At the first stage, dissolve soda in cool water at the rate of 10 g per liter of liquid. Soak the product for approximately 12 hours. After treatment, wash by hand using a suitable product.

At the second stage, prepare a solution of tartaric acid and water at the rate of 5 teaspoons of the substance per 1 liter of liquid. Soak the item in the solution for 2 hours. After this, let the water drain, squeeze lightly without twisting, and dry in a manner appropriate for the type of material.

Hair conditioner

Such products soften hair well, so they are also perfect as a “stretcher” for natural materials.

Procedure:

Wet clothing generously with cold water.
Apply hair conditioner to the damp surface of the product.
Leave the substance to act for 5 minutes.
Without rinsing off the product, stretch the item in the desired direction.
Rinse clothes thoroughly and hang to dry.

It is believed that in this way you can increase your clothes by 1.5 sizes.

You can enhance the effect of the substance with vinegar. To do this, dilute 50 ml of conditioner and 50 ml of vinegar essence in 5 liters of water. Soak the product in the prepared liquid for 10 minutes and try to stretch it.

Let's use the freezer

Freezing it can help restore your favorite dress. Water, transforming into ice, expands. In such a situation, the fabric fibers will also stretch. The freezer can help bring items back to size 0.5–1. You need to do this:

wet the item of clothing, wring it out so that the water does not drain from the fabric;
put the dress in a plastic bag;
place the “bag” in the freezer for a day;
remove the bag and let the items melt completely;
dry the product.

Fabric is too fragile after freezing, so you should handle it carefully. One careless movement can damage the integrity of the material. This is why it is so important to wait until the dress is completely thawed.

How to stretch things from different types of fabric

Before processing, in order not to aggravate the situation, be sure to study the properties of the fabric, since different types of materials behave differently under the same conditions.

Woolen

To increase the size of woolen items, use fabric softener, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar dissolved in water, or a mixture of ammonia with turpentine and vodka. Stretch the material in small areas until all surfaces have been treated.

If you can’t get your favorite woolen item back to the right size, use a labor-intensive but effective method. Open the item at the seams and stretch each part separately, and then sew again.

Knitted

Knitted clothing can be stretched in the following way. Progress:

Soak the item in warm water for 15 minutes.
Place the item in the washing machine drum and turn on the spin cycle.
After finishing the program, take out the item and stretch it with your hands.
Dry knitted clothing only vertically.
After drying, iron the product and evaluate the result.

If you lay the item flat or use a towel to dry, it will return to its original position.

Stretch

Stretch items can shrink even when washed in cold water. However, the material stretches again easily and quickly. To stretch a stretch item, just put it on yourself until it dries completely.

Viscose

Viscose is a delicate material, so if washed incorrectly it can shrink or stretch.

You can stretch viscose items in the following way:

Dissolve a little baby shampoo in a container of water.
Place the item in water and knead the material so that the fibers are saturated with soapy water.
Rinse in cold water.
Squeeze without twisting and stretch the product onto a towel.
Tightly wrap the towel with the product in the form of a roller.
Wring out the towel with your hands.
Unwind and stretch the item with your hands to the desired size.
Dry on a horizontal surface.

Subsequently, try to properly care for viscose. Wash the item on a delicate cycle without heating the water and drying.

Made from cotton

To stretch cotton clothes, treatment with water, steam, milk, vinegar or hydrogen peroxide is suitable. A combination of these methods will help increase the effectiveness of the procedure.

Prevention

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

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

You will find maximum useful information about washing clothes and various fabric products here.

How to stretch different types of clothing

The very method of stretching things depends on their purpose and on how the clothes need to be stretched: along or across.

Coat

Of course, coats cannot be washed at home, so these recommendations are more suitable for children's products. If you washed a child's coat and it shrunk after washing, you can stretch it in the following way.

Procedure:

Dissolve 50 ml of hydrogen peroxide in 10 liters of water.
Soak the coat for 1.5-2 hours.
While soaking, stretch the coat with your hands from time to time.
Remove the product from the container and let the water drain.
Without twisting, wring out the coat with a towel.
Lay a dry towel on a horizontal surface and place the item on it.
During the drying process, replace wet towels with new ones and stretch the fabric from time to time.

Peroxide allows the threads to become more elastic, so the item can be stretched.

Cap, hat and other headwear

Pre-soak the hat in water with hair conditioner. When the fibers are completely wet, remove the hat from the container and let the water drain. Prepare a 3 liter jar and turn it upside down. Pull the headdress over the container and leave until completely dry.

The conditioner will not only promote stretching, but will also soften the threads, which will eliminate any unpleasant sensations on the skin when wearing a hat.

Dress

The dress can be stretched immediately after soaking or washing. At the same time, if you need to stretch the fabric in width, put your hands inside up to your elbows parallel to the side seams, and pull them in opposite directions. If you need to increase the size of the dress lengthwise, stretch it at the hem and neckline.

Blazer

To stretch a jacket, use a simple but effective solution of ammonia, turpentine and vodka.

Processing scheme:

Soak the jacket in the solution for 1-1.5 hours.
Rinse in cold water.
Squeeze lightly without twisting.
Prepare a large terry towel or a sheet folded in 4 layers and place it on the table.
Place the jacket on top of the towel and baste the edges to it, stretching it a little at the same time.
Then lay the towel on a clean rug, stretch it and secure it with pins.
Wait until the product is completely dry.

During the procedure, be very careful that the pins do not get lost in the carpet.

Sweater

You can stretch a jacket or sweater lengthwise using weights. Hang the item on hangers after washing, and attach weights to the sleeves and edges. After drying, the jacket will become the desired size.

Shirt or blouse

You can stretch a shrunken shirt or blouse using any of the suggested methods. In addition, if the product has a tight cut, you can stretch it using a simple method. First, soak for a short time, let the water drain, and put it on yourself. Wear the shirt around the apartment until it is completely dry. This procedure will help you change the size of the product to the desired size. A steam generator will help stretch a loose blouse and shirt.

Trousers

If your trousers are too long, you can correct the situation in the following way:

Prepare a trouser hanger with clips, a basin of water, and a weight.
Wet your pants and hang them by your waistband.
Secure the edges of the trouser legs with a hanger clip, tucking the hem.
Hook the load onto the hook of the hanger.

Once dry, remove the weight from the legs and try on the pants. Their length should increase.

Swimsuit and underwear

If, after washing, your swimsuit or underwear has shrunk by a size or two, try increasing the size yourself without resorting to alterations or alterations.

If your swimming trunks, briefs or one-piece swimsuit have shrunk, wash them and stretch them wet on the back of a chair or ironing board. If this does not help, stretch the item on the ironing board and pin along the edges. Iron the product from the wrong side through a cotton cloth or gauze at low temperature.

Tights

If you need to stretch nylon tights, keep in mind that nylon is not afraid of very low temperatures, so freezing is definitely not suitable. Too high temperatures will also not help correct the situation, since the material will not stretch, but simply deform. It is worth noting that such tights rarely shrink after washing. They only have to be stretched if they were initially small. To do this, fold the tights in half and wrap them around your elbow several times. This will help increase the product by a maximum of half a size.

If you need to stretch children's tights, use the following method. Soak them in water with baby shampoo or hair conditioner. Remove the tights from the container and let the water drain. Then hang them up and place a small bottle of water in each pant leg. Wait for the tights to dry completely and evaluate the result.

Socks or mittens

To stretch small wardrobe items, such as socks or mittens, you will need discarded newspapers, a container with a spray bottle, cool water and vinegar.

Procedure:

Soak the mittens in water.
When the fibers are saturated with liquid, stretch them a little with your hands.
Remove the item from the container and wring it out without twisting it.
Mix vinegar and water in equal proportions and pour into a container with a spray bottle.
Spray the vinegar solution on wet mittens or socks.
Stuff the crumpled newspaper inside.
Pin open edges with clothespins.
Change newspapers when they get wet; the more often you do this, the faster things will dry.

Don't worry about your clothes smelling like vinegar, as the smell dissipates fairly quickly.

How to prevent wool items from shrinking

To make woolen items last as long as possible, it is easier to prevent shrinkage than to stretch the material later. To do this, woolen clothes need to be properly cared for.

Grooming rules:

always read labels on clothes;
dry things only on a flat surface;
after drying, you can hang the item on hangers, but only in a place where sunlight does not reach, which can also cause shrinkage;
do not keep clothes on hangers for a long time, otherwise bulges will appear on your shoulders;
For washing, use only cold water;
Do not wash your products with regular powder; if you do not have a special product for wool, it is better to use hair shampoo.

Going to 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.

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.

Caring for deformable items

After shrinking and subsequent stretching, the item requires more careful care than before.

Recommendations:

give preference to hand washing;
use only cold water;
choose a detergent suitable for the material;
during the procedure, do not rub things, but simply gently dip them in water;
do not twist the product, but simply blot it with a towel;
dry only in a horizontal position in natural conditions;
Try to iron things as little as possible, and if ironing is required, iron through gauze without the steam function.

Of course, it is better to prevent things from shrinking than to fix this problem later. To do this, simply follow the prescribed instructions for caring for delicate materials. If the product does shrink, you can return its size using mechanical influences and available means.

Professional advice

Regardless of whether the item is wool or silk, it can always be restored if you listen to the recommendations of experts.

Why do clothes shrink?

There are many reasons why your dress, T-shirt, shirt or even pants may shrink. The most common of them are presented below.

You are choosing the wrong spin cycle in your washing machine. For example, there are situations when a woolen jacket cannot be spun, and its owner sets the spin speed too high.
The temperature when washing will also affect your dress, pants and even curtains. Try not to deviate from the values recommended by the manufacturer.
The fabric itself. Remember that silk shrinks much more than any other type of natural or synthetic material.

If you choose the wrong washing temperature, the fabric may lose its structure as a result. In addition, the mechanical impact of the “washing machine” will have a detrimental effect on cotton and knitted clothing.

Do not despair ahead of time, because you can always find a way out of every situation, even the most deplorable one. Sit back comfortably and try to remember all the recommendations of professionals that can be useful to you in a situation when your T-shirt, dress, curtains and other things suddenly shrink.