Clothes can shrink due to agitation and high temperatures in the washing and drying cycles. Washing fabrics such as cotton, linen, or wool too vigorously can cause the fibers to tighten together and yield a shrunken garment. Hot water washing cycles and high-heat dryer settings can also damage the fabric and cause shrinkage. Fabrics that are naturally curly, such as wool or cotton, are more likely to experience relaxation shrinkage. Here are some tips to prevent clothes from shrinking:
- Check the fabric labels on your clothing.
- Wash your clothes in cold water.
- Dry on low heat settings or air dry.
- Avoid overdrying and exposing your clothes to long cycles of high heat.
- For some fabrics, you can reverse shrinkage by soaking garments in lukewarm water, adding a couple of tablespoons of hair conditioner, stretching, and air drying.
Fabrics that have a high chance of shrinking in the dryer include cotton, wool, lace, leather, suede, and linen. Cotton shrinks because of the tension that is applied to its yarn and fabrics during the construction of the clothing. The tension is released by heat from the washer, dryer, steam, and even sunlight, which causes the fabric to be reduced to its natural size. To avoid shrinkage, wash clothes made of natural fibers by hand or use cold water and the delicate cycle of your washing machine. Ideally, clothes made of natural fibers should never see the inside of your dryer. Instead, invest in a couple of folding tables, so you can lay your clothes flat and let them dry on their own. Cotton clothing can be dried on hangers.
