There are a number of reasons why your clothes are shrinking in the wash. Here are some of the most common culprits:
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Reason Your Clothes Shrinking
-Type of fabric you’re using. Cotton, linen, and wool tend to shrink more than other materials. If you’re using a cotton blend or any type of fabric that shrinks when washed at high temperatures, then be sure to check the care label—even if it says “dry-clean only,” many fabrics can be washed at home in cold water and hung dry (and then ironed) instead of going through the dry-cleaning process.
-Wrinkles. Wrinkling your clothes before washing them is one of the easiest and most effective ways to shrink them, because when you iron or steam your wrinkled clothes, the fibers of the fabric get pulled together tightly and then relax after being washed. This causes the fibers to pull away from each other, which results in a smaller garment size.
-The wrong water temperature. If you’re using warm or hot water to wash your clothes, they’ll shrink more than if you use cold water—the hotter the water, the more likely they will shrink! -Using too much detergent. Using too much detergent will cause your clothes to shrink because it contains chemicals that can break down fabrics over time, resulting in smaller garments over time.
-Using too little detergent. Using too little detergent won’t clean your clothes properly, resulting in dirt build-up on them over time, which could cause them to shrink as well!
–The dryer has a lot of heat and compression. The heat causes moisture in the fabric to evaporate, and that loss can cause fibers to shrink. During the spin cycle, when clothes rub against each other, they get stretched out—but then when they’re removed from the dryer and sit still for a few hours (or longer), they contract again.
-Detergent. When you wash your clothes, the detergent breaks down the fibers in the fabric and causes them to become smaller. This means that when you dry your clothes, they’ll shrink up again. The more often you wash your clothes, the more they’ll shrink.
-The time they’ve been sitting around before being washed. Storing clothes in plastic bags or wrapping them tightly in plastic wrap can actually damage their fibers over time, causing them to become weaker and more likely to shrink when washed.
-Using the wrong chemical. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). It is an ingredient that is used to make your clothes feel smoother and softer. SLS is also an inexpensive detergent additive.
The problem with SLS is that it can be harsh on your skin, causing irritation and dryness. Your skin needs moisturizing to stay healthy and soft, so replacing SLS-containing products with natural alternatives is a good idea for both your body and your wallet.
How to Unshrink Clothes
The most effective way is to use a steam iron on the garment while it’s still wet. This method will work best on cotton and linen fabrics, but it may cause other fabrics to shrink even more. If you’re using this method, test an inconspicuous part of the garment before trying it on your favorite pair of jeans or shirt!
Alternatively, you can try soaking the garment in cold water for about 20 minutes before washing it again in warm water. This is much easier than using a steam iron because you don’t have to worry about burning yourself or ruining your clothes by pressing too hard on them during the process.
