My item shrank after washing! What should I do?

It often happens in life that, just one time, we ignore the instructions, which are usually found on the labels of quality clothing, and after washing, we end up with shrunken or damaged items. This is certainly an unpleasant phenomenon, but the resulting problem can be resolved with the help of some household remedies.

Restoring clothing that has significantly changed its original shape is quite a difficult task. Moreover, you shouldn’t expect that after restoration, the clothes will look the same as before.

Clothes made of wool or other natural fibers shrink slightly after the first wash. However, in some cases, they can shrink to a tiny, almost doll-sized size. If an item shrinks after washing, it's safe to say it contains natural fibers. The higher the percentage of natural fibers, the more likely it is to shrink.

To eliminate this problem from your life, make it a rule to look at the care label on the inside of the garment. This will tell you how to properly care for the item and how to wash it.

If a wool item has shrunk

If your clothes have lost their original shape, you can try to restore them to their original appearance. Of course, restoring damaged wool items is not easy. Fortunately, in some cases, it is quite possible. Although wool threads don't stretch as well as many natural fiber fabrics, there are still some things you can do:

1. Wet the shrunken item in a basin of water, then gently wrap it in a towel for about 10 minutes to absorb some of the excess moisture. Never wring out an already deformed item. After this, hang the item to dry.
2. Another, rather unusual, but effective way to restore a shrunken garment is to put it on and wear it until it dries. A regular retail mannequin can also be used for this purpose. However, in this case, be sure to attach weights evenly to the bottom of the garment and the sleeves.
3. There's another way to stretch out shrunken clothing. To do this, prepare a solution of five liters of cool water, three tablespoons of ammonia, one tablespoon of vodka, and one tablespoon of turpentine. Then rinse the garment in this solution. After this procedure, the wool will become more elastic and allow itself to be stretched. Dry vertically.

To avoid shrinkage, avoid soaking, wringing, or hanging wool garments to dry vertically. These actions not only cause shrinkage but also severe deformation. After washing, be sure to follow all recommended drying instructions to ensure your wool garments last a long time.

Various fabrics

It is a little more realistic to restore items made of knitwear, viscose, or items made of combined natural and synthetic materials:

• Soak the garment in a basin of water for fifteen minutes to thoroughly soak it. Once the required time has passed and the fabric has soaked, place it in the washing machine. It's recommended to wash it using a cycle no warmer than 30 degrees Celsius with the "gentle wash" setting. Shrinked clothing will stretch slightly during the spin cycle. After washing, remove the shrunken garment and gently stretch it to the desired size. When drying, keep in mind that it should be kept vertical. In addition to the above, you'll need to stretch the shrunken garment from time to time. However, do this without excessive force, as the garment needs to retain its shape.
• If an item has shrunk after washing, you can also try to restore it using heat. To do this, lay the shrunk garment on a flat surface and place a damp cloth on top. Using an iron, press the surface of the shrunk garment while simultaneously stretching it. Steaming can also restore the shrunk garment. It's best to take it to a dry cleaner.
• Shrunken clothes can be revived by first rinsing them in a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water. Dissolve two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide in ten liters of water. While vigorously rinsing, gently stretch the garment in the desired areas. Then, leave the garment in the same solution for one and a half to two hours. After this time, remove it, gently wring out the excess, and lay it flat to dry.
• You can stretch out shrunken jeans, T-shirts, and sweaters made of cotton using regular table vinegar. To do this, pour 3% vinegar into a deep, wide container. A regular basin will do. Next, you'll need a sponge. We'll use it to wipe the fabric. Once we're done wiping, we'll wash the item in the washing machine. Don't forget to use the dryer function (if available). Drying time for vinegar-treated fabrics is approximately 30 minutes. Finally, rinse the item thoroughly but gently. It's a good idea to use a fabric softener to remove the strong vinegar smell.

   

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