What to do if the item shrinks after washing, how to restore the size?

Clothing made from wool fibers is particularly sensitive to care and needs to be handled with care. If the washing rules are violated, the item will become deformed. She may sit down or fall over, losing her attractive appearance. To correct the situation and return clothes to their original shape, time-tested folk recipes are used. They are easy to do yourself.

Why things can shrink

An item may lose its original size for several reasons:

The user has selected the wrong wash temperature. The fiber structure of the fabric may change if the temperature is set far from the recommended values. The rotating drum also makes its contribution and aggravates the situation.
The user selected the spin incorrectly. It is necessary to select the optimal values for the speed and nature of the spin cycle so as not to spoil the item. For some products, using a spin cycle is completely prohibited: if you don’t know this, you can inadvertently damage your clothes.

If an item shrinks after washing despite the fact that you followed all the recommendations, most likely it is because it is made of natural fabric. They shrink much more than synthetics, so it is recommended to wash these clothes by hand.

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.

Reasons for shrinkage

Wool thread is similar in structure to human hair and requires careful handling.

The reason that a woolen item has stretched may be the following care errors:

Wrong means. The components of powders and detergents destroy the organic structure of the threads and make them rigid. You need to wash wool items with special gels, separately from other clothes.
Incorrect temperature. Hot water is also bad for wool fibers. It should be washed at a temperature of no more than 30°C. If the machine has a separate “Wool” mode, then the automation itself will select the desired temperature.
Poor quality yarn. There is a high probability that a sweater made from cheap yarn will stretch and lose shape faster than a higher quality item. But the cost of the product will not protect it from deformation; even expensive products shrink if not properly cared for.

If this has happened, the situation needs to be corrected. Proven “grandmother’s” methods will help with this.

Methods for restoring woolen items

Correcting the situation and returning the fabric to its original form is actually not as difficult as it might seem at first glance.

Clothes and shoes that have shrunk after improper washing can be restored using basic techniques.

Depending on how advanced your case is, you can try several rescue options, or you can use just one, and it will be a winner.

A shrunken dress or other wardrobe items can be stretched in eight ways.

When a wool T-shirt or shirt shrinks, it is wise to soak it in cold water after washing. It will take some time - about 15 minutes - for the thing to adapt. After this, remove it from the container, do not twist it - just shake it - and lay the item on a flat surface. Don't miss the moment! The dress can be stretched with your hands even before it begins to dry, thereby giving it the shape that you need. The silk can also be adjusted periodically to prevent it from returning to a shrunken position.
There is another option, which involves soaking in water, but in this case the woolen T-shirt will not fold out - you will need to put it on yourself when wet. If you want to stretch an item and can still afford to wear it wet until it dries, use this tip.
Silk and wool are quite finicky fabrics that can cause difficulties. In this case, you can use a folk remedy: add a few tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide to the water and place the item there for two hours. After this, curtains or clothes are not wrung out, but simply laid out on a towel.
A T-shirt made from combined fabrics or synthetics can also be easily restored. Here you can soak your clothes in cold water and then put them in the washing machine - choose a delicate wash and cold water. It will be possible to stretch the thing in this way if you do not add powder.
Cotton curtains will stretch if you prepare a vinegar solution for this procedure. Using this method, you will achieve the desired results. It's simple: soak a clean rag in vinegar and gently rub the fabric with it. When finished, hang the curtains by hanging them on one side to allow them to stretch.
Silk can be stretched using folk remedies. It’s still the same vinegar, but we change the technology: take 3 tablespoons of vinegar per 10 liters of water, mix and immerse things in it for about 20 minutes. Next, we take out the clothes: if they are curtains or outerwear, you can wring them out lightly, but while they are drying, do not forget to regularly adjust and shape the fabric that you need.
There is also an absolutely opposite option, when curtains or silk can be affected not by low temperature, but by high temperature. Of course, most people believe that heat is the main problem that causes our clothes to shrink, but if you do it right, you are guaranteed a positive result. What to do? We first soak the silk in cold water, and then iron it with a hot iron and stretch it as needed.
If your clothes cannot be ironed for some reason, use steam. Carry out all the steps with the precision described above, but do not iron the items, but treat them with steam.

Advice! Having carefully studied all the technologies that can be used to stretch items that have shrunk after washing, do not forget about preventive measures.

There are situations when it is better to prevent a problem than to deal with its consequences for a long time and painfully.

Warped wool can be salvaged in several ways, but care must be taken when stretching the fabric or it may tear.

To return a woolen item to its previous size after washing, as if it had never shrunk, you can use a simple method: soak the item and put it on yourself. The method only works with minor deformation. To stretch the sweater along the sleeves, you can tie small weights so that they pull the material down.

To revive an item with an iron, you need to place the item on an ironing board and place a towel. Wet gauze is placed on top, and as ironing proceeds, it is periodically moistened with a spray bottle. The product is ironed and straightened by hand.

Hydrogen peroxide is a universal remedy that is suitable for removing stains of various origins and stretching woolen items. Take 1 tbsp. l. peroxide per 5 liters of clean water, then the product is washed in the solution. In this case, you need to slightly stretch the clothes, paying special attention to the seams.

After an hour, you need to carefully wring it out and put it on a table or floor to dry, placing a terry towel on it. As the item dries, it should be stretched so that it takes its previous shape.

You can restore a woolen item that has shrunk after washing using either peroxide or ammonia. Moreover, these ingredients are often used in combination with each other to achieve better results. Instead of ammonia, cologne and turpentine are also used, but these methods have a noticeable drawback - the smell.

To prepare the solution, pour 3 liters of water into a basin, add a couple of drops of wool washing gel and a pinch of powder. The components are mixed, then 2 tsp are added to them. ammonia and 1 tsp. medical. The item should be placed in a basin for 12 hours, then rinsed in clean water and stretched. The product is placed on a terry towel to dry.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the icons on the Bosch washing machine: what are the symbols on the control panel? Why do we need additional rinsing and other modes?

Ammonia and hydrogen peroxide fluff the fibers, making the wool soft and tender. Deformation also disappears - the sweater or cardigan takes on its previous shape.

Steam stretching

This procedure is similar to ironing a product, but the main effect is on steam. Particular attention should be paid to the seams, since the item must be stretched evenly to avoid distortions.

Steam stretching is suitable for increasing a product by one size. The method is mainly used for mixed materials - synthetics and wool.

Dry cleaners use professional steamers with high power. If a wool sweater shrinks after washing, a sales consultant in the household chemicals department will tell you how to return it to its original size. He will tell you which means to choose and who to contact with this problem.

If a woolen item shrinks after washing, you need to prepare a soap solution: place a measuring cap of wool gel in a bowl of water. The item is soaked for half an hour, then rinsed and gently wrung out so that excess moisture drains out. Next, the clothes need to be put in a bag and placed in the freezer for a day. After this, the product is removed and dried.

Milk

A shrunken white sweater is soaked in milk for half an hour, then rinsed in clean water. In this case, the temperature should not be higher than 30 °C.

For 2 liters of cool water you need to take 20 g of soda, stir the ingredient and put clothes in the solution for 12 hours. After the time has passed, the product should be washed using gel for wool fabrics.

The second stage of resizing is preparing a solution of 2 liters of water and 10 small spoons of tartaric acid. The item is soaked in it for 2 hours, then rinsed and dried. To prevent it from becoming deformed again, you need to properly dry the product after processing.

Shampoos and conditioners for strengthening hair make the coat soft and delicate, help fluff up the villi and smooth out the threads. Thanks to this, they can be used to restore the shape of woolen products.

First, you need to rinse the item in cool water, then put it in a basin and apply hair conditioner to the sweater. After 5 minutes, you need to stretch the product horizontally with your hands, then rinse in clean water and dry. The advantage of the method is that after processing the item acquires a pleasant aroma and becomes pleasant to the touch.

Shrinkage of woolen items means lack of proper care. Due to inappropriate washing conditions, household chemicals and high water temperatures, the product loses its former softness, becomes hard, and also decreases in size. To prevent this from happening, you need to read the information on the item's label.

Clothes that have shrunk after improper washing can be restored, although manufacturers reject this possibility. People have many ways to fix problems with woolen products. Regardless of the degree of neglect, you need to try several options or use one that gives a good result.

The following factors influence the effectiveness of washing:

Fabric structure. If the product consists of wool with impurities or a substitute (viscose), the fabric can be restored. For clothes without synthetic additives, recovery is almost impossible.
Degree of shrinkage. If a sweater has shrunk by several sizes, it is really possible to return it to its previous condition, but if it has shrunk to a child’s size, it is impossible.
Stretching method. Try all options, starting with less aggressive ones, gradually increasing the impact. It is impossible to predict which method will work.

When using techniques, take into account the composition and specifics of the shrunken items; pants and a hat are pulled out in different ways. There are two methods:

Physical impact is a manual method of stretching using an iron or other objects.
Chemical exposure - the item is soaked with the addition of special agents that help stretch the fabric to the desired size.

Dry cleaning

If after washing an item that is dear to you shrinks, you are afraid of ruining everything by doing it yourself, the best option is to take it to the dry cleaner, where professionals will correct the deplorable condition. You can give natural wool products without impurities, otherwise the result is difficult to predict. The method is expensive, but effective.

You can stretch a shrunken wool sweater using an iron in the steam mode. Cover the ironing board with a clean sheet, lay out the sweater, cover with gauze and start steaming. Pull out the sleeves and hem with your free hand. These steps will help give the desired shape and length to the product.

Put it on yourself

Bringing coats back to life

Washing outerwear always causes a lot of trouble, and cleaning a woolen coat is doubly problematic. High temperature or too intense spinning and the item is damaged.

You can correct the situation if you use an iron with a steam function. How to do it:

Lay a blanket on an ironing board or large table, depending on the size of the product.
Place a cotton cloth or diaper on top of the blanket.
Moisten the coat with a spray bottle. If you restore it immediately after stripping, then you need to let it dry a little.
Cover the product with a thin cotton cloth on top.
Iron the coat and at the same time stretch it in the desired direction.
Try to use more steam.

It is important to follow safety precautions during operation to avoid burns.

How to restore a shrunken woolen item

Wool is a natural material that requires special care. The preservation of the shape of clothing depends on the water temperature set during machine washing. Under the influence of low or high degrees, a thing can shrink or stretch several sizes, sometimes up to a child's size.

In addition to the temperature regime, the result is affected by the spin cycle. Most of these products cannot withstand twisting at maximum speed, losing their shape. An incorrectly selected detergent containing aggressive components spoils the structure of the fabric, resulting in shrunken items. You need to choose liquid powders.

They have a gentle effect and carefully cleanse the fabric of dirt. Hanging clothes on the dryer in a vertical position causes them to warp and stretch. Regardless of what material the clothing is made of (wool, cotton or silk), you can restore your favorite sweater, scarf and dress to its original appearance by having the components available on hand.

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.

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 can you do with shrunk socks and mittens?

Such a misfortune is doubly unpleasant if it happens in severe winter, and socks or mittens that have become smaller after washing are the only ones. To help the grief, you will need:

vinegar;
spray;
many newspapers;
any strong clips or clothespins.

Instructions:

Soak things in water (you can add hair balm).
Stretch them a little with your hands.
Remove and squeeze without twisting.
Spray wet items with vinegar from a spray bottle.
Place more crumpled newspapers inside and secure the edges of the cuffs with clothespins to prevent the newspapers from falling out. You will have to change the paper sometimes, and the more often you can do this, the faster everything will dry. The smell of vinegar disappears quite quickly.

Woolen items are useful to wear for people suffering from rheumatism, osteochondrosis, orthopedic diseases and circulatory disorders.

Vinegar and crumpled newspapers will help restore the shape and size of mittens or socks made of wool.

How to iron wool clothes

Main reasons:

non-compliance with temperature conditions. Each material is washed at a certain water temperature. If you neglect this rule, then the trousers, shirt or other item will decrease in size due to deformation of the fabric fibers;
setting high spin speeds when washing in an automatic machine. Extensive manual squeezing can also ruin delicate fabrics;
features of types of fabrics and their fibers;
drying on heating devices or in an automatic machine.

Any fabric can stretch or shrink when washed. The degree of its deformation directly depends on the amount of natural fibers in the composition. As a rule, natural fabrics shrink during the first wash if washed in too hot water.

Such materials include: 100% cotton, wool, linen and even synthetic materials with the addition of natural fibers. Products made from calico, cambric, chintz, poplin and teak are less susceptible to shrinkage. But if you strictly follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on the label, you can avoid problems.

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.

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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.

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.

A wool sweater can shrink due to an incorrect washing machine program; also, unsuitable powders or too hot water have a negative effect on the fibers.

To prevent things from shrinking, you should remember a few rules:

Difficult stains should be treated separately before washing. To do this, you can use folk remedies or special chemicals.
Hot water is contraindicated for washing woolen products - it should not exceed 30–40 °C.
It is recommended to wash clothes by hand or set the machine to a special “wool” mode.
You should pay attention to drying things: they should not be wrung out or twisted. It is necessary to place them on a horizontal surface, but away from heat sources. You should also not dry woolen clothes on radiators, under the sun or with a hair dryer.
Special liquid chemicals are used to wash wool.

If the item is quite expensive, it is recommended to have it dry cleaned. Professionals will help remove individual stains on the product and prevent it from shrinking.

Woolen items do not tolerate the use of ordinary powder, as it contains alkali, which destroys the fibers, and because of this the product is deformed and loses its former softness.

During washing, it is necessary to use cold water, so it is recommended to use special chemicals for delicate fabrics. Regular powder cannot work effectively at low temperatures, and it is not washed out of the fibers.

Wool is a delicate fabric, so it is necessary to monitor the water temperature during automatic washing. Ideally it should not exceed 30°C, as hot water increases the risk of shrinkage.

What means will ruin the thing?

When washing shrunken woolen items, do not forget to use the right products that clean and do not cause damage to the structure of the fabric. Recommendations will help:

Do not wash with powders that contain alkali. When choosing a product, carefully study the label, especially the composition;
choose liquid powders with added conditioner. It will help to give elasticity and softness to the threads during washing, and is easy to rinse. If it is not possible to select a liquid product, use a bulk product, but be sure to select one marked for woolen products;
If you wash in a washing machine, use the delicate cycle. If there is no such function, set the temperature to 30 degrees and spin to low speed;
hand washing is the best option, in which the process is completely controlled. You can add conditioners to the water or use laundry soap;

By following simple rules and recommendations during washing, the risk of shrinkage of shrunken woolen items is minimized. Otherwise, there are effective ways to stretch your favorite item.

The article has been verified by the editors

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?

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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!

How to stretch a shrunken item

Before you begin the stretching process, you need to decide whether the type of fabric is suitable for the chosen method or not.

Soak the shrunken item in cold water for a quarter of an hour. Then, without squeezing, lay it out on a terry towel or something similar. Gently stretch the fabric with your hands in the desired directions, and then wait until it dries.
You can return your favorite dress or jacket to its original shape by washing it in an automatic machine on a gentle cycle. The main thing is to set the minimum temperature and turn off the spin. No detergent is added; the product is washed in lukewarm, clean water. After this, the clothes are taken out of the drum and hung on hangers. Until it dries completely, manually pull it in the desired directions from time to time.

To do this, you need an iron with a steam function. Clothes are pre-soaked in cold water and laid out horizontally. During drying, it must be periodically ironed and steamed with an iron. You should not put pressure on the product during ironing. After this, your favorite dress or jacket is left to dry completely naturally.

Chemical stretch

Dilute 6 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide into 10 liters of cold water. The shrunken item is soaked in a basin for an hour, and then machine washed on a delicate cycle.
For 5 liters of cool water add 1 tbsp. spoon of vodka, 3 tbsp. spoons of ammonia and 1 tbsp. spoon of turpentine. The shrunken product is rinsed well in the prepared solution and hung on hangers until it dries completely naturally.
Dissolve 10 grams of soda in 1 liter of water. The item is soaked in the resulting solution for 12 hours. Then it is washed in lukewarm water with powder. After this, prepare a solution of 10 tablespoons of vinegar and 2 liters of water, and soak the product for another 2 hours. Next, the clothes are thoroughly rinsed in cold water and dried.
3% vinegar is dissolved in cool water, this product is applied to shrunken clothes using a sponge. In this case, the dress or jacket must be stretched with your hands. The treated clothes are hung on hangers to dry. To ensure that the fabric fibers are fully straightened, it is recommended to use hair conditioner after the vinegar bath. After this, the product should be thoroughly rinsed in cool water to eliminate the unpleasant odor of acetic acid, and hand washed in slightly warm water with a small amount of conditioner.
Regular washing powder can also solve problems with shrunken clothes. To do this, dissolve a small amount of powder in warm water and soak the product for half an hour. Next, the outfit is rinsed and wrapped in polyethylene. After this, the item is sent to the freezer for a day. To defrost the outfit, it must be laid out in a horizontal position.

How to stretch out pants

If shrinkage occurs along the length, then it is not difficult to correct the situation.

To stretch the trousers, you need to hang a weight on them. The easiest way to do this is to use two trouser hangers with clips.
Squeeze it lightly so that it does not drip and hang it on the rope by the upper part (where the belt is).
Soak the item for 15 minutes in cold water.
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To increase the length of shrunken trousers, securely fasten the upper part of the product to a rope, and hang a weight from the bottom
Tuck the hem of each pant leg into the clip, and attach something for weight to the hook hanging from the bottom. Leave until completely dry.

If the fabric of woolen trousers becomes shiny during wear, steam the area with an iron through gauze, and then clean with a stiff brush and salt.

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.

Caring for restored items

To ensure that things that have managed to return to shape do not shrink, they are carefully looked after. Improper washing or drying will deform the fibers again. Therefore, the following rules are observed:

Wash such items only with your hands, using light, squeezing movements. Do not machine wash.
For washing, use liquid or gel products labeled for woolen items.
Moisture is removed by lightly squeezing the fabric. You cannot twist or wring out such clothes.
Dry only in a horizontal position on a thick terry towel.
Do not use additional devices to speed up drying.
Iron with a low-heated iron using an ironing iron.

It is recommended to follow these rules for all items with wool fibers. But it is especially important to adhere to them if the item has previously been deformed.

To prevent possible shrinkage of a new woolen item, before the first wash, you need to read the information and tips on how to properly care for the product. They are usually indicated on a label sewn into the side seam.