Most people hate when their clothes shrink. Oftentimes when this happens it can ruin the look of the clothes and if you decide to wear it you have to pull it down to your waist over and over again especially if it’s a shirt or blouse. But don’t worry because in this article I will show you how to unshrink your clothes using some simple methods.
What causes clothes to shrink
Most clothes usually shrink when we wash them. Especially if we wash them in warm water. However, this does not mean that if you wash your clothes in cold water they won’t shrink. Most clothes are made out of different types of fabric and often times when that fabric comes in contact with water they usually relax and when this happens the yarns retract and shrink.
What you should know:
When un-shrinking your clothes you have to think about the different types of fabric you are dealing with. Some clothes that are made out of cotton will most likely be easier to un-shrink than clothes made out of wool. However, un-shrinking them still uses the same method it just depends on how long you do it.
STEP 1:
Pour lukewarm water into your sink or bucket. Pour in enough warm water to completely submerge the clothing you’re stretching. To relax the fabric’s fibers, make sure the water is at room temperature or slightly warmer.
The fabric fibers will shrink and become more difficult to stretch if you use cold water. Avoid using really hot water as well because it might cause garments to shrink and get damaged.
Clothing made of knit materials, such as cotton, wool, and cashmere, reacts better to this technique than other kinds of fabric. Tighter-woven materials like polyester, rayon, or silk could be more difficult to reshape.
Step 2:
Add conditioner or baby shampoo to the water. For every 1½ gal of water you use, add around 1 tbsp of baby shampoo or hair conditioner. Mix the shampoo or conditioner thoroughly into the water by stirring it in.
The fibers of clothing are relaxed without being harmed by soft shampoos and conditioners. Don’t risk using the product on an item of clothes you enjoy if you wouldn’t use it on your hair.
TIP:
Regular shampoo won’t help your garments shrink because it lacks the softening elements found in conditioner and baby shampoo.
STEP 3:
Submerge Your garment in water and allow it to soak for 35 minutes. To give the fabric time to soften, let your garments soak for the full 35 minutes. Begin restructuring the garment by gently tugging on it while it’s soaks in water. After 35 minutes, simply remove your clothing from the water to prevent further deterioration.
METHOD 1:
Unshrinking regular clothes
If you are confused by what I mean by “regular clothes” I’m mostly talking about clothes like T-shirts, blouses, underwear, etc.
To unshrink these clothes just do the following:
- Get a large container of warm tap water filled halfway up ( a large bucket )
- Add 3-4 tablespoons of conditioner (add more depending on the amount of water)
- Now place the clothes into the bucket of water.
- Use your hands and stretch the clothes by gently pulling on each end. Do this for 5 minutes. Yes it takes patience.
- Now let the clothes soak in the bucket of water for 45 minutes. After this, the fibers should be loose enough to make the shrinkage go away.
- Rinse the clothes with fresh warm water and hang them to dry. Do not dry in the dryer. Air dry instead to prevent shrinkage again.
METHOD 2:
Unshrinking clothes made out of animal fabric
Clothes made out of animal fibers such as wool require a slightly different process to get them to unshrink.
Instructions:
To unshrink clothes made out of animal fibers, just do the following:
- Get a bucket and fill it up with lukewarm water
- Add 1/2 cup of vinegar, 1 cup of borax, and 4 tablespoons of conditioner. If you don’t have conditioner you can use baby shampoo instead.
- Place the clothes inside the bucket and gently stretch them for around 1-2 minutes.
- After stretching them let them soak for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes stretch them with your hands again.
- Now rinse and let them air dry
QUICK SUMMARY:
- Soak clothes in a solution of 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of baby shampoo or hair conditioner and warm water for 25 minutes. This works great for to woven materials like wool and cotton.
2. To get rid of extra water, squeeze the clothing and roll it in a big towel.
3. To help the fabric keep its shape, gently stretch it by hand weighing it down.
4. Allow your clothing to return to its normal shape by letting it air dry. This can be done be pining it to a hanger with 2 clothes pins.
Conclusion
After following all these steps your clothes whether they are made out of cotton, wool, etc, should be able to fit you better now.
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