How to reduce the size of a cotton sweater. How to “shrink” things from different fabrics

Quite often there are situations when, during wear, an item becomes large. This happens for various reasons, due to improper care or weight loss. It's a shame if your favorite dress or trousers start to hang. But don’t despair, because the problem can be solved by washing. Do you want to know how to wash something so that it shrinks? Read on.

Why do fabrics stretch?

The threads are slightly twisted during the production process. During wear, under the influence of moisture, temperature changes and mechanical influence, they begin to stretch. As a result, the thing loses its original shape. Changes may occur disproportionately. Products made from cotton material most often increase in width. This happens due to the fact that the fabric is cut along the grain, and the weft threads stretch faster. The weft thread is intentionally twisted weaker so that the transverse strip can pass freely through the lobe strip, and the weft fills the space between them more tightly. This makes the material more voluminous and fluffy.

Knitted items can stretch both in width and length. This happens for several reasons:

Intense mechanical impact during wear.
Natural increase in body temperature.
Getting wet.
Failure to comply with the rules of use, washing and drying of the product.

Things made from natural fabrics fit much better than those made from synthetics. Linen, viscose and cotton are greatly reduced in size. But this does not mean that artificial materials are not subject to shrinkage. It is possible to return the item to its original shape or reduce it; to do this, it is necessary to purposefully use temperature changes of water and steam. So, how to wash something so that it shrinks?

In order to make a product smaller, it is not necessary to alter it. There are simpler and less expensive options that can help you reduce one or even two sizes, for example, washing. Once you learn how to wash an item to make it fit, you will no longer have to get rid of loose clothes or refuse to buy something if a size is out of stock. But it should be remembered that not any fabric can shrink. Wool, denim, cotton and silk items become smaller when washed. In addition, it is impossible to predict exactly how a particular item will behave; along with its size, it may also lose color. Therefore, you should use the methods listed below carefully.

Basic shrinkage methods

There are several ways to deliberately reduce size. The choice should be made depending on the type of material and the desired result:

Using hot steam (iron).
Soaking and washing products in high temperature water followed by hot drying.
Contrasting. First, the item is kept and washed at a very high temperature, then sent into ice water and dried with hot steam.
Boiling.
Dry at high temperatures or in the sun.

Depending on the result that needs to be achieved, people use one or another method. But remember that it is impossible to predict the outcome with accuracy. Therefore, in some cases it is recommended to use gradual exposure. If the product has already been subjected to deliberate shrinkage, then it will not be possible to do this again.

Cotton items

Don't know how to wash cotton to make it shrink? It is important to know that cotton material shrinks even when exposed to low temperatures (40 degrees), so you should evaluate a product made from it only after the first wash.

If after this the need to remove a couple of centimeters remains, then throw the product into the washing machine and set a program with a temperature above 40 degrees. For colored linen, use a special detergent to prevent it from fading.

A very common question is how to wash a cotton item so that it shrinks. To shrink a size or even two, you need to immerse the product in boiling water for 15-20 minutes. The longer the exposure, the more it will shrink. After the time has passed, you need to carefully remove the item, place it in a bowl with cool liquid and rinse. Dry outdoors.

There is another way to reduce cotton - exposure to hot air (drying). For this purpose, you can use a dryer or a heating device.

Linen

Linen fabric also has a tendency to shrink under certain conditions. thing to make her sit down? Only hand washing, not machine washing, is allowed, and at a water temperature of 90 degrees. After this, rinse the item thoroughly several times and leave to dry.

Woolen items

Wool belongs to the category of natural materials, so reducing it will not be difficult. So, how to wash woolen items so that they shrink? First, you will need to soak the products for half an hour in a container of hot water and manually remove any dirt, if any. When washing wool, it is worth considering that using a machine and violating the temperature regime can shrink the item to such an extent that only a child can wear it.

It is recommended to rinse wool clothes in cold or even ice water so that the fibers “settle down” under the influence of a sharp change in temperature. To prevent the item from losing its original appearance, it must not be twisted. At the end of washing, carefully squeeze out excess water and lay the product on a flat surface until completely dry. To speed up this process, you can place it near a hot radiator or on a heated towel rail. A towel must be placed under the item.

You not only need to know how to wash a knitted item so that it shrinks, but also remember the characteristics of wool. If you hang a sweater on a rope or hanger, it will be irrevocably damaged. The product will lose its shape and stretch.

Synthetic shrinkage

Don't know how to wash something so that it shrinks? Man-made materials are difficult to shrink or stretch by washing or drying. To remove a few centimeters from things made of nylon or polyester, you can try washing them in cool water and putting them in the dryer to dry. Spandex, acrylic and lycra are classified as particularly durable fabrics, so they do not shrink. You can change the size of products made from them only by contacting the studio.

Jeans products

Denim items are always very popular; only the style of the product, the quality of the fabric and shape changes. Only a denim item made from natural denim can remove a few centimeters by washing. If synthetic fibers are present, shrinkage is almost impossible.

Classic jeans can be washed down by contrasting. First, the item is placed in practically boiling water for 20-30 minutes, and then rinsed in ice water. When washing in a machine, set the program to 60-90 degrees and spin at maximum speed.

Delicate materials

It is better not to experiment with things made from thin fabrics that require careful handling, as their fibers are too delicate and easily destroyed. For example, a silk blouse should be washed only in warm water and dried naturally. This may reduce the size. But machine drying and washing of such products is strictly prohibited.

Leather

The need to shrink a leather item is extremely rare. But if this happens, then most often we are talking about jackets. In principle, the leather itself cannot be washed, which is why the shrinkage process will be very unusual. The surface of the product must be treated with a waterproof compound, then soak it in a container with warm water for half an hour. The jacket is drying in the fresh air. All actions are performed with the utmost care so that the appearance of the clothes is not spoiled.

How to wash a knitted item so that it shrinks

A washing machine will help reduce the volume of a knitted T-shirt. Wash the item on the program with the highest temperature and high spin speed.

There is another method that does not involve washing. Dip the blouse in boiling water for five minutes - and you're done! If you increase the soaking time to 15 minutes, the item will become one and a half to two sizes smaller.

Reminder on shrinkage of materials

To get the desired result, you must follow some rules:

First, use gentle methods: steaming with hot air, washing at high temperatures, etc. It is worth moving to radical methods only in extreme cases.
When using a washing machine, it is impossible to control the process; the item may shrink too much. Therefore, it is recommended to do everything manually.
Hot water washes out the dye and the item will become duller.
If the product has become too small, you can try to correct the situation. To do this, it is thoroughly moistened, slightly dried, and then put on while wet and walked around. At the same time, you should be active - squat and move. The item will stretch a little.

The shrinkage process is natural and controlled by soaking and further drying. Knowing all the subtleties, you can easily correct small mistakes with the size.

Are there special means for shrinking fabric?

The question of getting her to sit down, and, most importantly, with what, comes up quite often. Unfortunately or fortunately, you won’t find compositions for shrinking fabrics on sale. This is due to the fact that a thing that has shrunk is considered a cause for grief rather than joy. Therefore, it is logical that no industrial products are produced for this purpose.

If you have lost weight, it is better to alter the product or put it in the far corner of the closet, who knows, maybe you will need it again.

Things tend to stretch. This is especially true for products made from natural fabric. Such a nuisance can happen to anyone, so it is necessary to stock up on knowledge on how to return the product to its previous shape and size.

Therefore, a completely logical question arises - how to make the thing sit.

It will be possible to reduce clothes by a couple of sizes. This does not require any special skills.

Cotton

Compared to other fabrics, the problem of how to wash cotton so that it shrinks is not particularly difficult. T-shirts made from this material stretch even faster than a wool sweater. But there is always the opportunity to return the product to its original shape.

How to wash cotton so that it shrinks?

There are two ways to reduce shrinkage:

First: a cotton jacket is placed in a washing machine, powder is added to the detergent container and a cycle is started with the temperature set to 60 degrees. Dry in a machine or on a clothesline, then iron and try on. This is the whole trick. Things will shrink after this procedure.
Second: first you need to wash the cotton cardigan in the machine, then soak it in water (it should be boiling water) and wait until it cools down. After that, the item is transferred to a container with ice liquid, you can add ice cubes, squeeze it out and hang it on a clothesline to dry.
Reduce clothing size. After washing and drying, the iron is turned on to maximum temperature and the supply of hot steam is activated. Just don’t keep the device in one place for a long time, as you could ruin your favorite blouse.

The result is assessed based on a completely dried and ironed product. If you didn’t succeed in reducing the item the first time, you shouldn’t try it a second time.

Wool

Woolen items also stretch quickly, so they look ugly if they lose their shape. You can return it to its previous appearance if you wash it at a different temperature so that the product shrinks. Hat and sweater especially quickly lose their shape.

How to wash a knitted item so that it shrinks:

The hat or jacket is immersed in water heated to 60 degrees. They wait for it to cool down and transfer the wool clothes into a basin with cold liquid.
In winter, a knitted jumper is hung on the radiator. The main thing is to give the product a compact shape.

Such methods are more suitable for reducing the size of woolen items.

Products made from this material are not better. The result may be the opposite of what you expected.

But if a person has lost weight and is faced with the choice of spoiling it or throwing it away, then you can try it.

What kind of water should I use to make the item shrink after washing?

Woolen clothes shrink well if they are processed in an automatic device. Products not intended for such processing, when entering the machine, shrink several sizes.

Clothes made from this material are processed at temperatures above 60 degrees. Afterwards, the washed items are rinsed in cold water and laid out on a flat surface, giving the correct shape.

Synthetics

Synthetic materials include nylon, polyester, acrylic. Typically, products made from such fabric are dry cleaned. The staff at this establishment will do their best to make clothing sizes slightly smaller.

But if you don’t have the time or money to take the product to a workshop or dry cleaner, try planting it yourself using simple methods.

How to wash things so that they shrink?

Correct methods for reducing synthetic products by 1–1.5 sizes:

Soak the clothes in ice water for about 5 hours. Just be sure to wash and dry as usual before doing this. After soaking in ice water, the pants or jacket are blotted with a towel to remove excess moisture. Lay out on a flat horizontal surface, and after drying, try on.
In the warm season, synthetic items are dried outside in direct sunlight. And in winter - on the battery.

Spandex, acrylic and polyester are not made smaller at home. But how can you make the product shrink a little?

Items made from such fabrics are sent to an atelier, where experienced craftswomen work on them and alter them to the required size. At home, they will not shrink, but will only deteriorate if the temperature is set incorrectly.

Viscose

Viscose is an artificial fabric, but not synthetic. It can be called a natural synthetic fiber.

It is very difficult to reduce the size of products made from such material. As a rule, this fiber is combined with other fabrics, so to make an item 1 size smaller you should wash it in a certain way.

The choice of method depends on the exact composition of the fabric. Through experimentation, manufacturers have learned to make fabric that resembles the structure of wool, cotton and linen.

How to wash viscose so that it shrinks?

When cotton is added, it is washed at a high temperature, then wrung out and dipped in hot water with softener added.
Wool requires a sharp change in temperature. First soak in hot water, then in cold.

Also, women often face the question of how to wash viscose so that it does not shrink. After all, such material shrinks a lot if not washed correctly.

To do this, immediately after removing all the dirt, when the item is still wet, put it on your naked body and walk around in it until it dries completely. The product will take the shape of a person.

To prevent things from shrinking, you need to wash them at the right temperature. Usually she. You can also steam iron the product after drying.

Knitwear

You can also wash a knitted item yourself so that it shrinks a little. Such products require careful use.

Therefore, it is not surprising that many people ask this question - what to do to make the blouse fit.

To restore her attractiveness, follow these steps:

Place the product in a bowl of hot water. The temperature should exceed the norm on the tag by 10 degrees.
Place the blouse in the container for 20 minutes.
Take it out of the basin without twisting it, place it on a towel and blot it.

Dry knitted items on a flat surface, not on a clothesline. You can use a hairdryer, it will also reduce the size of your clothes.

Steaming also affects the shrinkage of knitted products; it must be carried out barely touching the material.

Jeans

Denim items are also prone to stretching. Therefore, after several days of wear, they begin to slide off the hips, which causes discomfort, and unattractive folds form.

How to wash something made from such fabric so that it shrinks?

To do this, you need to wash the item at maximum temperature and spin it at maximum speed. Then the jeans are laid out on radiators or another heating device and.

The second method to reduce the size of denim trousers:

First, the product is immersed in a basin of water, the temperature of which is 20–30 degrees.
After 30 minutes, the jeans are twisted a little and placed in a container with hot liquid.
After another half hour, the product is again immersed in a basin of water at room temperature.
Then squeeze out the excess moisture, either by hand or by putting it in the washing machine.
Place on a hot radiator or other heating device.

After such procedures, your jeans will not only be clean and fresh, but will also shrink by 1-2 sizes.

When you downsize your pants, not only will they become smaller around the hips and waist, but the length may also suffer. The jeans shrink evenly over the entire area. This factor should be taken into account.

Silk

Silk is a delicate fabric, and it is very difficult to remove dirt from it, but then what about the shrinkage of the blouse?

Such products cannot be washed in a machine; only hand washing is acceptable, since the item may lose its presentable appearance.

You can make a silk blouse smaller in this way:

Pour warm water into a basin and immerse the product in it.
After 2-3 hours, take the item out without twisting it.
Send the blouse to dry under ultraviolet rays, that is, in the sun. Hanging on a clothesline is not recommended. To reduce its size, lay it out on a flat surface on a clean cloth and change it if necessary.

There are new models of washing machines that have a silk function. But this will not help in any way in landing the thing. Only hand washing and proper drying will help correct the situation.

Shrinking clothes is a good option that solves the problem of stretched items. This is also an ideal solution for those who have lost a lot of weight, but their old clothes are still new and they don’t want to give them away to someone else or spend them on a tailor shop.

Feel free to use the tips and give things the right sizes.

Cotton. Products made from this natural material are very popular in the warm season. Pleasant to the body, they allow air to pass through well and do not float. At the same time, with a sharp change in temperature (in the event of an unexpected cold snap), this material itself warms very well.

For all its advantages, cotton fabric has some disadvantages. For example, cotton wrinkles often, tends to shrink, and white items turn yellow in the light. And, it should be noted, not every housewife, having learned that this or that dress is made of natural cotton, will agree to buy it. Some people think that it is very difficult to take care of such things, since you can get very tired: as soon as they wrinkle, when you wash them, they shrink.

It is especially disappointing when, for example, a custom-made sundress made of thin cotton after washing significantly decreases in size. So much so that after putting it on, it’s scary to even bend over or squat. As a result, a beautiful thing is either thrown away or given to a smaller friend. And all because I did something wrong when washing...

In principle, washing cotton is not that difficult. If everything is done as it should, cotton products may shrink, but not much, within acceptable limits. But if you do it incorrectly (look, wash it), cotton items are indeed quite capable of significantly decreasing in size. To ensure that things do not deteriorate irrevocably, experts recommend adhering to certain rules.

Preparing for washing

Before washing, turn the cotton item inside out and fasten it (of course, if there are buttons or a lock).

If the item is heavily soiled, it is advisable to soak it for twenty-four hours (because it is strictly not recommended to wash items made of fine cotton at temperatures exceeding forty degrees).

Some housewives in such a situation prefer to act the old fashioned way. For example, a special solution is prepared. Four tablespoons of washing powder and the same amount of turpentine are dissolved in ten liters of warm water. Or (if it is not possible to soak for a day), place the laundry in warm water (ten liters) with one tablespoon of ammonia and a couple of tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide for twenty minutes. After this, it is usually quite enough to simply rinse the clothes in warm water. After such a wash there will definitely be no shrinkage!

However, it should be noted that this method of soaking is a little risky - the product can easily become discolored. Therefore, it is first advisable to check the effect of such solutions on a given tissue.

If someone doesn’t want to take risks, you can do it much simpler - before washing, soak your clothes in powder, designed specifically to eliminate severe stains (fortunately, these days it’s much easier to buy them in a store than the same turpentine).

As for clothes made of thin cotton fabric, the best option is a powder containing enzymes - special bioadditives to the powder that are responsible for removing dirt and stains. True, you can’t soak them for a long time. May have problems.

Washing cotton by hand

If you are going to wash by hand, you need to dissolve washing powder in warm water (ideally intended for products made from natural fabrics). It is advisable that the item should spend no more than a quarter of an hour in water, and old underwear - even less. Otherwise, severe shrinkage is guaranteed.

After this, the clothes must be washed and rinsed in clean running water. Wring out the product (not too much, otherwise it will become very wrinkled) and hang to dry.

How to wash cotton in a washing machine

You need to wash cotton items in a washing machine after selecting the recommended washing cycle. For example, white items made of thick cotton fabric can be washed at ninety degrees. The material will become clean and will not shrink.
If you need to wash thin fabric, the temperature should be a maximum of forty degrees (although, if necessary, colored linen can withstand sixty).

The main thing is that the mode set for the machine is intended for washing cotton products. Otherwise, the question is: “Does cotton shrink after washing?” will become extremely relevant.

How to “plant” a product?

Basically, there are all sorts of situations in life. For example, it may be necessary to reduce a particular product. So, as a result of sudden weight loss, you may suddenly find that there is a need to buy new, more fitting things. Besides, it's time to go through your wardrobe. And suddenly it turns out that you don’t want to throw away your favorite clothes just because they have become too big.

Knowledgeable people here advise not to rush. Especially when it comes to cotton clothes and at home there is an ordinary washing machine, also with a dryer.

After all, “planting” cotton products is not a problem. Therefore, you can safely load a cotton dress into the machine. Set the temperature to sixty degrees. The only thing, It is advisable to add a little washing powder, which helps preserve the color(so that the product does not fade). And go ahead! After washing, use the normal spin cycle, and then, if possible, turn on machine drying. The higher the temperature, the more it will shrink. The only thing is not known to what extent. But most likely the dress will be just right!

Striving for perfection, many ladies part with a few “extra” kilograms without regret. However, in such cases, the joy is often mixed with a slight feeling of annoyance due to the fact that the elegant dress has become baggy on the figure, and the new jeans turned out to be a whole size too big. For those who find themselves in a similar situation, information about what to do to make the thing shrink will be very useful.

To successfully cope with the task, you will need a modern washing machine and information about the composition of the fabric from which the thing dear to your heart is sewn.

Cotton outfits

The easiest task is to make clothes made of cotton fabric shrink in size. We suggest you do this in any of the following three ways:

To make your cotton jacket shrink, you just need to wash it at 60 degrees in a washing machine. Be careful when choosing a detergent - it will be a shame if, in addition to the new size, the clothes take on a faded appearance. The spin should be set to a standard number of revolutions, and for housewives who have a drying function in the machine, we recommend that you also dry the item at a high temperature.
If your clothes have stretched, a method based on the use of contrasting temperatures will help return them to their previous sizes. First you need to wash or simply soak the outfit in hot water. When the water has cooled to the point where you can remove the item without the risk of burning your hands, wring it out lightly and place it in a bowl of ice water. After 10-15 minutes, gently wring out the product and lay it out, without stretching, on a horizontal surface covered with a thick towel or cloth.
You can reduce the size of new cotton clothes using steam and a hot iron. To do this, you need to carefully smooth the item, dousing it with steam at the highest possible temperature.

Wool products

Getting something made from wool to shrink is also quite simple. First, you should wash the product by hand or soak it for half an hour in hot water. In this case, it is better not to use a machine, since during machine washing woolen clothes may shrink to a size suitable for a small child. Use cold water to rinse, then lay the item to dry on a horizontal surface without squeezing.

If it's winter, you can make a wool sweater smaller by getting it wet and sending it to dry on a hot radiator. In summer, you can use a heated towel rail in the bathroom for this. Be sure to cover the surface of the pipes with a clean towel first to prevent yellow stains from remaining on light-colored wool.

Denim

Unfortunately, downsizing jeans is not always possible. Stretch trousers or clothes marked “shrink to fit” do not shrink, but classic denim items only need to be washed in hot water to shrink the fabric.

If you wash by hand, try alternating the water temperature while rinsing, alternating between boiling water and cold water. The washing machine should be set to 60-90 degrees and spin at maximum speed. Dry your jeans if you want to make them smaller by machine drying or placing the product on a hot radiator.

Important: such processing can make your trousers not only smaller, but also shorter in length!

Silk blouses

To shrink a delicate silk item, hand wash it in warm water and then hang it to dry naturally. Machine wash and dry is not suitable for this delicate fabric.

Nylon and polyester

To reduce the size of clothing made from these materials, regular washing or soaking in cold water is sufficient, but it is better to dry the product in a washing machine. If you don't have a machine dryer, hang your clothes next to the radiator or place them outdoors.

Lycra, acrylic and spandex

But outfits made from these materials cannot be reduced by any “household tricks.” The only solution for the owners of such products is to take them to the studio.

Clothes made from natural fabrics quickly stretch with regular wear, losing their original appearance and clear shape. Before you go to the studio for corrections or throw away your favorite product, you should familiarize yourself with the recommendations on how to wash the item so that it shrinks. This technique has proven itself to be a quick and effective way to solve the problem.

If you do everything correctly, you can count on a positive result after the first approach. Simple manipulations can restore a favorite sweater that has become oversized, a sweater that is sagging in certain areas, a hat that has lost its elasticity, and even a delicate silk blouse.

It is worth considering that if a problem occurs with synthetic fabric, it can only be restored if there are natural fibers in the fabric. However, only mixed synthetics are capable of stretching and losing their shape.

How to make something made of wool shrink?

When restoring woolen items, you need to read the washing instructions and do the opposite. You just need to act carefully, without going to extremes.

To minimize the risk of product damage, it is recommended to work according to the following scheme:

First, soak the affected sweater or hat in hot water. The duration of the stage should not be more than half an hour. The fluid temperature is set approximately 20 degrees higher than what is indicated on the label.
After the specified time, rinse the woolen item using very cold water, you can even add a few pieces of ice to the liquid. A properly organized temperature difference can do a significant part of the work.
Wrap the washed wool in a dry and warm terry towel. Remove excess moisture with blotting movements. Twisting woolen items is highly discouraged, especially a sweater, dress or jacket.
Next, the clothes are dried. We lay hygroscopic fabric on a dense horizontal surface without visible relief. Lay a sweater or other item on top. It is advisable to direct flows of artificial heat onto the wool, then the shrinkage will be more dense. During drying, you need to give the item the desired shape with your hands, regularly adjusting the material so that it does not stretch.

Tip: It is better to pull a woolen hat onto an inverted salad bowl or vase with a rounded smooth bottom of a suitable size.

Washing in a machine also causes strong shrinkage, but it is very difficult to control the process. As a last resort, a stretched sweater can be washed in a special mode for wool or hand washed, but the result can be unpredictable.

How to “plant” cotton at home?

Practice shows that a cotton T-shirt stretches even faster than a wool sweater. But even in this case, it is possible to adjust the shape of the thing. It is worth considering that when working with cotton, restoration is only possible if the clothing was sewn correctly. If the threads are located and directed incorrectly, then nothing will be done.

Cotton products give maximum shrinkage in the following cases:

Machine wash using very hot water and maximum spin.
The product can simply be dipped in boiling water. True, even a short stay of a colored product in such hot water can provoke it to shed. But just five minutes of treatment will reduce the item by size, a quarter of an hour in boiling water and the clothes will become 1.5-2 sizes smaller.
If you don’t want to risk the color of the item, then it is better to wash it in the traditional way, and then put it in an electric dryer.

We evaluate the result based on the completely dried product. If you can't do anything the first time, you shouldn't even try again. The positive effect most likely will no longer occur, but the item will ultimately be damaged. In this case, you will have to contact the studio or update your wardrobe.

Effective methods of treating denim, silk and synthetics

Work with denim is carried out only if it contains cotton. In this case, all responsibility for the result again lies with hot water. We soak the product in a liquid whose temperature should not exceed 60ºC, otherwise the color of the material will begin to wash out. After the water has cooled, wash the items as usual, trying to rub as little as possible. Then we wring out the trousers using a terry towel and lay them out to dry. In this case, parts of the product should not be pulled back. We dry jeans in a vertical position only if we need to maintain their length by reducing the volume.

To reduce the size of a silk product, it is enough to hold it in warm water, the temperature of which will be within the maximum permissible limits. After which the item dries naturally.

Polyester and nylon will shrink noticeably if you simply wash them in cold water. It is better to dry them in a washing machine at high speed. Otherwise, the product will have to be dried directly on the radiator.

Acrylic, spandex and lycra products cannot be reduced by chemical or physical influences. Their size can only be changed by altering the item. But if such materials have already stretched, then it will be very difficult to restore the original shape of the product.