Can You Stretch Clothes That Have Shrunk?
Sometimes after a wash cycle our favorite pieces of clothing come out a bit smaller than they once were. This can cause frustration and despair, as we may feel like there’s no hope to save our beloved outfits. However, there are several methods that you can use to stretch out shrunken clothes and return them to their original size.
Tried and True Methods
- Wet Method: Get the fabric wet once more, either by soaking or by placing a damp cloth over it. Next, lay the item on a flat surface and pull it firmly in opposite directions to stretch it out. Hanging the item while wet can also help.
- Heat Method: Use an iron and steam/hot water to help expand the clothing’s natural fibers. Turn the fabric inside out and use the iron’s steam setting to lightly mist the item. Then, use your hands to pull the material in different directions and voila!
- Vacuum Method: This is the most unusual method, but it actually works. Lay your clothing item on the floor, then place a plate or book over it. Using a vacuum hose, create a vacuum on top of the plate to suck out the air from the clothing which helps it stretch out.
Prevent Shrinking
It’s important to remember that prevention is better than a cure, so it’s essential to take care of your clothing the right way. To prevent clothing from shrinking, do the following:
- Read the care instruction of the items to avoid mistakenly shrinking them.
- Wash items in cold water and air dry them.
- Pay attention to the cycle length of the wash.
- Don’t use regular fabric softener on fabrics that are prone to shrinkage.
By following these tips, you can help ensure that your clothes don’t shrink. If they do, you can use the methods above to help them get back to their original size.