Everyone knows that denim is prone to shrinkage. Pants can easily shrink a couple of sizes if washed improperly. To prevent this, it's important to follow some care tips. Let's look at what to do if your jeans have shrunk after washing, whether they can be stretched, and how to prevent them from becoming misshapen.
Let's take a swim in our jeans
What should you do if you notice your favorite jeans have shrunk a size? Is shedding a few pounds really the only solution? There are several methods for restoring your denim to its former shape. The most popular method is to pull up your trousers and dive into a bath of soapy water.
The algorithm of actions will be as follows:
fill the bath with warm water (35-40°C);
pour in enough liquid soap to form a foamy “head” after stirring;
soak your jeans in soapy water for about half an hour;
as more space appears in the legs, stretch the fabric with your hands;
drain the water from the bath, stand up;
Bend left and right, forward and backward several times. Don't squat in pants, otherwise the material will stretch at the knees.
After the procedure, remove the jeans and dry them. You can hang them on the balcony, on a drying rack, or near a radiator. Once the excess moisture evaporates, you'll find your favorite pants fit perfectly again.
Jeans enlarger
A universal waistband extender can help save shrunken pants. You can find one in hardware stores or online. To restore your jeans to their original shape this way:
wet the product thoroughly in the belt, waist and hip area;
Fasten all fasteners in advance and place the device inside the waistband of your trousers;
Before stretching, measure the circumference of your hips and waist (this will increase the circumference of your jeans to the required centimeters);
stretch the device until it reaches the specified mark;
Dry your pants without removing the expander from the waistband.
You can remedy the situation if you don't want to get into the bathtub in your jeans. If you can't find a universal stretcher, you can stretch your jeans by steaming them.
We use hot steam
You can restore shrunken jeans to their original size using a steam generator or iron with a steam function. Steam the waistband and hip area for 3-5 minutes.
After steaming, pull the jeans onto your body while they're still warm. To reinforce the stretching process, you'll need to wear them for a couple of hours.
A stationary steam generator will be more effective than an iron; it will soften the fibers of denim faster due to a more powerful burst of steam.
After strong steam treatment, the denim will quickly become pliable and stretching will not be difficult.
Spot hydration
You can try restoring the garment at home using a measuring tape and a spray bottle filled with hot water. Lay the jeans flat and thoroughly spray the areas of the fabric that need stretching. Thoroughly moisten the pants both inside and out.
Next, stretch the fabric by hand. As you work, be sure to take measurements with a tape measure to track your progress. Repeat this process until the pants return to their original size. Afterward, simply dry them as usual.
Localized increase in jeans
If your pants have become too tight around the stomach, hips, or thighs, you can restore their original shape by stretching the vertical seams. In this case, you'll also need to gently tug on the material. The procedure is as follows:
grab the trouser leg where the inner seam runs;
Gently stretch the fabric vertically along the seam.
The vertical seam stretching method is not suitable for jeans with slits or holes.
Before pulling the pants, it's recommended to spray the upper portion of the pants with a spray bottle. It's important that the denim is well-moistened, otherwise the procedure won't produce the desired results.
After working the legs lengthwise, step on one of the front pockets with your foot, grab the part where the other pocket is with your hands, and tug the garment several times, trying to widen it. Now you can try on the pants; they should "add" a couple of centimeters.
Do not allow shrinkage
To avoid any questions about how to save your denim, follow basic washing guidelines. Although denim seems like a fairly dense and durable fabric, there are some nuances to caring for it. When washing this type of item, follow these guidelines:
set the delicate or manual mode on automatic machines;
avoid using powders that contain bleach or other aggressive ingredients;
Before placing them in the drum, turn the trousers inside out, fasten the fly and all buttons;
monitor the water temperature, it should not exceed 50°C;
Avoid intensive spinning; the maximum permissible speed is 800 rpm.
Don't dry your pants in the washing machine; it's better to do it the old-fashioned way – on a clothesline. Iron denim on the reverse side to preserve the structure and elasticity of the fibers. Frequent washing damages jeans and causes them to wear out faster. Therefore, it is advisable to wash them rarely, by hand, using gentle cleaning products.
So, if your jeans have shrunk after washing, don't rush to give up on them. There are several ways to restore the shape of your favorite pants. The key is to avoid overstretching them to avoid damaging the fabric.
Everyone knows that denim is prone to shrinkage. Pants can easily shrink a couple of sizes if washed improperly. To prevent this, it's important to follow some care tips. Let's look at what to do if your jeans have shrunk after washing, whether they can be stretched, and how to prevent them from becoming misshapen.
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