What should I do if my dress has shrunk after washing?

What to do if your dress has shrunk after washing If you take your dress out of the washing machine and discover it's shrunk a couple of sizes, it means you didn't follow the basic care instructions. Don't get upset and throw it away. You can try restoring its original shape using some home remedies. What should you do if your dress has shrunk after washing, and how can you restore it to its original size? Let's explore some ways to save your favorite wardrobe item.

Why did this happen?

The most inquisitive housewives will be interested to know why shrinkage occurs. A dress may shrink several sizes for the following reasons:

wash in very hot water;
a sharp change in temperature during the cycle;
too fast spinning in the washing machine or strong twisting by hand;
Incorrect drying of items. Clothes often shrink when dried on radiators, near heaters, or in a drying chamber.

A dress made from delicate fabric is most susceptible to shrinkage. Wool, silk, linen, and cotton items can cause shrinkage, even if the recommended washing temperature is exceeded by several degrees.

There are plenty of folk remedies for restoring the "full-size" appearance of an item. You can remedy the situation by using vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and in some cases, a steamer. Sometimes, a freezer can be a lifesaver. too much spin was used

Arm yourself with hydrogen peroxide and turpentine

What should you do first? You can start by trying to restore the dress with regular hydrogen peroxide. This solution, available from a pharmacy, can stretch the garment without damaging it. Here's the process:

dissolve 1 tablespoon of peroxide in five liters of water;
Soak the clothes in the resulting solution for 40-50 minutes.

While the dress is soaking, be sure to stretch the material with your hands every 5-10 minutes. After 40 minutes, rinse the dress in clean water several times. Then, gently wring out the garment and lay it out on a flat countertop to dry.

Hydrogen peroxide can only be used to stretch light-colored clothing.

You can also try to restore the item's shape using turpentine. The procedure is as follows:

dissolve 4 tablespoons of turpentine in five liters of cold water;
soak the dress in the resulting solution for one hour;
Rinse the sundress and dry it.

Turpentine can help stretch almost any material. It works great for both colored and white clothes. It can also be used to save delicate dresses. However, this method has one significant drawback: the fabric absorbs a distinctive odor. However, the solution is simple: simply hang the dress outside for a couple of days.

Vinegar comes to the rescue

If your dress has shrunk after cleaning, you can try to solve the problem with table vinegar. This method is a folk remedy and has been tried and tested by generations. The procedure is as follows:

Dilute a tablespoon of vinegar in a liter of water. The volume of liquid can be increased proportionally (for example, for 5 liters – five tablespoons of acetic acid);
soak the item in the resulting solution for half an hour;
Rinse the garment thoroughly in cold water;
Dry the product by straightening it out on a flat tabletop.

When drying, it's best to stretch the dress to the desired shape and secure it in place with small weights. Place them along the edges to prevent the fabric fibers from shrinking back. Once the moisture has completely evaporated, remove the weights.

Soda or steam

If the fabric has shrunk slightly, baking soda can help save it. This method is quite safe. In addition to the fact that baking soda restores 0.5 of the size of a shrunken item, it effectively cleans fabric fibers and helps deal with unpleasant odors. The instructions for action will be as follows:

Dissolve 30 grams of baking soda in three liters of water;
soak the garment in the solution for 10 hours;
Rinse the item and dry.

When drying, it is necessary to periodically stretch the fabric; this is necessary to return the dress to its original appearance.

You can also stretch clothes by steaming them. What should you do in this situation?

Wet the dress.
Straighten the product on an ironing board.
Treat the seams and surface of the item using a steamer.
In the most problematic areas, stretch the sundress with your hands.

The ideal option is to steam a shrunken dress on a larger mannequin. This will make the procedure much more effective. This method is ideal for items made of wool and synthetics.

Let's use the freezer

Freezing your favorite dress can help restore it. Water expands when it turns into ice, which will also stretch the fabric fibers. Freezing can help restore the garment by 0.5–1 size. Here's how to do it:

wet the item of clothing, wring it out so that the water does not run off the fabric;
Place the dress in a plastic bag;
place the “bag” in the freezer for 24 hours;
remove the bag and let the item melt completely;
Dry the product.

The fabric is very fragile after freezing, so it must be handled carefully. One careless movement can damage the material. Therefore, it is crucial to wait until the dress is completely thawed.

Entrust your item to professionals

If your favorite dress made of expensive materials has shrunk and you're worried about ruining it by trying to stretch it, take it to the professionals. Modern dry cleaners are happy to offer this service. Specialists have special compounds at their disposal that can restore clothing to its original appearance and add 1-2 sizes without damaging the fabric. Drying in dry cleaners is carried out using steam units, which enhances the effect of the procedure. take the dress to the dry cleaner

Before sending your dress for treatment, be sure to clarify the expected result. Payment for the service is only made once the desired result has been achieved. The price for this type of work can vary greatly. The minimum cost is $6. For this amount, the specialists will not only stretch the garment but also clean it and smooth it perfectly.

Helpful tips

There are a number of rules you can follow to reduce the risk of shrinkage. Then you won't have to worry about saving your favorite dress. The recommendations are quite simple:

Follow the manufacturer's recommended temperature guidelines. Each product has a label with this information.
avoid sudden temperature changes;
Choose a wash cycle appropriate for the fabric type. A wool or silk dress will not tolerate vigorous spinning in the drum;
Avoid tumble drying at high speeds. In almost 100% of cases, it causes shrinkage. Besides losing size, dresses can easily become misshapen;
Don't soak dark or colored clothing in hydrogen peroxide. While this method will help restore its shape, it will cause the fabric to fade.
If one method doesn't help restore the original appearance, try another. Different fabrics may be more sensitive to one or another substance;
When restoring items, pay special attention to the connecting seams.

It's important to stretch the garment while drying. Continue adjusting the garment until it's completely dry. Be sure to ensure the dress halves are straightened symmetrically.