In most scenarios, all you need is a container full of warm water with a capful of liquid detergent. Next, make sure to add in your clothes and stir them into the solution until they are completely soaked. Gently wring out the clothing to expel excess liquid and gently stretch the clothing back to its original size.
Van Amber also says you can try to unshrink things using a steamer or an ironing board but, unfortunately, it won't be permanent. “The amount that you stretch it will remain until you wash it again, when it will probably shrink back.” But she says you may have some luck with wool – as long as it hasn't been felted.
Conditioner relaxes the cotton fibers of the garment, allowing them to be stretched back to their original form. As a side effect, your unshrunk garment may also be softer than it originally was, but everything should return to normal after a few wash cycles.
In Conclusion. When it comes to unshrinking clothes, the problem is that DIYs can only work for certain fabrics. If you want to reverse shrinking or prevent your clothes from shrinking, sending your garments to a professional dry cleaner is the best way to do it.
Put 3 tablespoons of hair conditioner in a basin of warm water. Add the shirt and let it soak for about five minutes. Rinse and stretch the shirt out on a flat surface, like a countertop, until you reach the desired size. Use cans or jars to hold the garment in place, and allow it to air dry.
More Tips for Unshrinking Clothes & Garments
Instead of using a conditioner or baby shampoo, you can create a vinegar solution by mixing one part white vinegar with three parts lukewarm water. Soak the clothes in this solution for about 30 minutes before gently stretching and reshaping them.
Cold-water washing means clothing is less likely to shrink or fade and ruin clothes. Cold water can also reduce wrinkles, which saves energy costs (and time) associated with ironing.
Fill your sink with lukewarm water.
Add enough lukewarm water to submerge the garments you're stretching. Make sure the water is at or a little warmer than room temperature so it relaxes the fibers in the fabric. Avoid using cold water since it will make the fabric fibers shrink so they're harder to stretch.
Steps to Unshrinking Your Clothing
Fill your sink or tub with warm water. Add a tablespoon or two of conditioner, baby shampoo, or fabric softener. (You need enough of the conditioner to get the fibers of the material to relax.) Give it a little mix just to make sure that the conditioner is spread throughout the water.
Luckily, cotton typically only shrinks once. The fibers could continue tightening if you keep washing the item in hot water and tumble-drying it on high heat. But generally speaking, most of the contracting will happen on the first laundry cycle.
It's absolutely normal for clothes made from 100% cotton to shrink, especially if they haven't been pre-shrunk. Pre-shrunk cotton will generally only shrink 2-5%. Non pre-shrunk cotton, on the other hand, can shrink as much 20% if you're not careful. This is only true for 100% cotton, however.
Why does baby shampoo work? Because clothes shrink when their fibers contract strongly, either due to washing or drying at hot temperatures. Baby shampoo, like fabric softener, helps the fibers relax so you can shape the item to its original size.
Step 1. Wash your 100-percent cotton shirt or wool garment for one cycle on your washing machine's hottest temperature setting. The combination of moisture, heat and agitation can help stretched fabric fibers to shrink back to their original state.
Conclusion. Cotton shrinks because the fibres contract when exposed to water or heat. While cold water may shrink them slightly, avoiding high heat when washing and drying them can help to prevent significant shrinkage. If your clothes do shrink, then with a little effort you'll be able to unshrink them.
Does ironing unshrink clothes? Irons can do more than press crushed clothes — they can also be a big help when stretching out shrunken fabric. The weight and heat of the metal can pull and stretch the fibers and help restore them to their original state.
Clothes shrink in the closet. It's a proven fact.
Mix a capful of fabric softener with warm water in a spray bottle. Spray the front and back of the clothing evenly on a flat surface. Then gently stretch the garment back to its original size and hang it up to air dry.
According to Business Insider, it's likely that your laundry is getting too hot. Washing clothes in hot water (or drying them using hot air) shrinks the fabric. Although fibers of polymer are naturally short, they are stretched out when made into clothes.
Fill your sink with cold water and a teaspoon of mild detergent. Handwash the sweater and let it soak for up to two hours. Drain the sink and gently squeeze as much moisture as you can by pressing the fabric with your hands. Lay the sweater on a flat surface like a clean counter and begin slowly stretching the wool.
Hot water can cause bright colors to run and fade, and can shrink certain types of fabric. Hot water can also damage certain synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, and vinyl. The heat breaks down the fibers and can ruin the fabric.
Clothes are much more likely to shrink when exposed to hot water or high dryer settings. Washing clothes in cold water goes a long way toward preserving the “off-the-rack” size. Avoiding heavy duty cycles, fast spins and high-heat drying can also prevent shrinkage.
The garment could shrink!
If your clothing has Dry Clean Only labels, then you are much better off having it professionally dry cleaned than washed at home. Some may provide a bit of leeway, but in general, it's a good idea to follow the manufacturer's recommendations.