How to Prevent Clothes from Shrinking
How to Prevent Clothes from Shrinking - Prevent unintended garment shrinkage by using these smart laundering tips.
It's the worst bathroom moment ever: You open the dryer to remove a load of clean clothes, only to discover that your best friend's cardigan or your favorite t-shirt are contracting to the measure of a doll's dress.
Fortunately, avoiding contractions is pretty easy. There are three main factors that cause clothes to shrink—heat, tension, and improper use of laundry products—and once you're aware of them, you can make smarter, more informed choices when doing laundry.
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This guide provides the information you need to avoid shrinking your clothes, an explanation of why shrinkage occurs in the first place, and a list of what types of fabrics are prone to shrinkage.
What Causes Clothes to Shrink
Understanding the causes of clothing shrinkage can help you make better laundry choices. The most common cause of shrinkage is exposure to heat, in the form of washing clothes in hot or very hot water or placing a shrink-prone item in the dryer, where high, medium or even low heat can cause shrinkage.
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In addition to exposure to hot water and overdrying, shrinkage can occur in garments that are overheated in the wash cycle. Vigorous washing can stiffen the fibers, causing the garment to shrink.
Improper washing that leads to shrinkage occurs in garments made from certain materials. Viscose will shrink when washed in water regardless of temperature. Wool clothing may shrink if washed in non-pH-neutral detergents or with oxygen or chlorine bleach.
A garment care tag tells you all the information you need to prevent shrinkage, so check it before washing the item. In addition to water temperature and drying recommendation guidelines, the care tag lists a garment's fabric content. Natural fibers such as cotton, linen, wool and silk are more shrink-prone than synthetic fabrics.
How to Anticipate Dress from Contracting in the Wash
To prevent shrinkage when washing clothes, start by consulting the garment's care tag for its fabric content and specific washing instructions.
The shrinkage brought on by heat exposure can be avoided by washing clothing in cold water. Selecting a delicate, slow, or hand wash setting prevents shrinkage due to movement. Choosing detergents made for delicate fabrics such as silk or wool and avoiding harsh laundry boosters such as chlorine or oxygen bleach prevents shrinkage due to improper use of the product.
Hand washing is a great method for cleaning delicate, materials that tend to shrink. Washing clothes by hand can cause shrinkage due to too much handling or too much tension, especially for functional fabrics, such as wool.
How to Halt Dress in the Dryer from Contracting
High heat from the dryer, tension from the tumble function of the dryer, and contact with other clothing can cause the fibers to contract, causing the item to shrink or distort. To dodge harm in the dryer, utilize a moo warm or air-dry setting. Place the garment in a mesh laundry bag, which adds a layer of protection from movement and friction caused by the presence of other garments.
TIP: The best defense against shrinkage in the dryer is to air-dry clothing that is prone to shrinking rather than using a machine to dry it.
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In addition to using a low- or no-heat dryer setting and placing the garment in a protective mesh bag, removing the garment from the dryer before the item is completely dry avoids shrinkage due to overdrying. Overdrying occurs when a completely dry item of clothing is left in the dryer, exposing the fabric to unnecessary heat.
Tips to Prevent Shrinking and Maintain a Garment's Shape
To eliminate uncertainty when washing, drying, and storing clothing that is prone to shrinking, follow these easy instructions:
- Care tag advice. A garment care tag provides important laundering information and the garment's fabric content so you can choose the correct washing, drying and detergent options.
- Avoid hot water. Washing clothes in warm or even hot water can cause shrinkage. When in doubt, wash clothes in cold water.
- Pay attention to the washer settings. Movement is another common culprit in contractions. Choose the softest cycle on your washing machine for cleaning fabrics that are prone to shrinking.
- Use protection. Aggravation can also occur when clothes come in contact with other items in the wash. Place shrink-prone clothing in a mesh washing bag to protect it from other items and wash it with other delicate or light items. Avoid placing shrink-prone clothing in the same load as heavy, bulky items such as jeans, hoodies or towels.
- Avoid high-heat drying. Like hot water, exposure to high heat in the dryer can cause shrinkage. Use a low- or no-heat setting to dry your garments.
- Do not over dry. Even on a low-heat setting, overdrying — which occurs when a garment is left in the dryer after it's already completely dry — can cause shrinkage. Dry the garment using a short cycle, and remove the garment from the dryer when it is still slightly damp, allowing it to dry away from the machine's heat.
- Better yet, air dry. The best way to avoid an item of clothing shrinking in the dryer is to avoid using the dryer altogether. Opt for air drying the garment instead.
- Store in a dry cool place. Clothing may shrink due to improper storage. Avoid storing shrink-prone clothing where it is exposed to moisture, high heat or direct sunlight.
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