How to stretch a wool sweater that has shrunk after washing

If a housewife doesn't wash a wool garment properly, it can become misshapen and shrink significantly. In this situation, you'll have to quickly figure out how to stretch a wool sweater that has shrunk after washing it in the washing machine. If you don't restore the item to its original condition, it will become simply uncomfortable to use. Let's figure out how to effectively restore damaged wool clothing at home.

We return things to their original size

Restoring wool to its original appearance isn't difficult, as it can be done using household items. These include regular water, hydrogen peroxide, plain milk, and more. Follow the instructions carefully to avoid accidentally damaging the item further.

The result of clothing restoration directly depends on the degree of deformation of the fabric, the presence of impurities in the composition, and the aggressiveness of the substance used for treatment.

Because wool is highly hygroscopic, it absorbs moisture very well. This is why, after swelling, the fibers of wool fabric remain soft and extremely elastic, stretching greatly even with just water. So how can you restore a wool item after a bad wash?

Soak the clothes in cool water without adding any household chemicals.
Leave it like this for about 15 minutes.
Squeeze the item gently.
Spread it out on a flat surface, placing a terry towel underneath the item.
While drying, gently stretch the garment in the desired directions.
Replace the terry towel after it gets wet.
Turn the wool item over from time to time.

This method can increase the size of a sweater or other wool item by approximately 1 or even 1.5 sizes. Do not use heating devices if you decide to restore a wool item in this way.

You can also try restoring your clothes to their original appearance using a regular iron. In this case, the procedure will be different.

Turn the product inside out.
Place it on the ironing board.
Wet the gauze and then place it on the woolen cloth.
Activate the most gentle ironing mode.
Gently iron the wool item, stretching it slightly with your hand.

This method will stretch the garment another size. When repairing, remember not to press too hard on the gauze with the iron, otherwise you will irreparably damage the wool.

You can also use regular hydrogen peroxide, which is easily found at any pharmacy. This inexpensive antiseptic not only disinfects wounds perfectly but also helps make wool fibers more pliable. Follow our instructions to increase the size of a sweater or jumper by several sizes. take a more concentrated peroxide

Make a special solution by adding 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide to 10 liters of plain water.
Pour the resulting solution into a basin or bucket.
Place the damaged item in the container for several hours.
From time to time, gently stretch the item by removing it from the basin for the procedure and then returning it back.
After 2 hours, gently wring out the clothes and lay them out on a flat surface.
Periodically stretch the item lengthwise and widthwise while it dries.

If you don't want the wool fibers to shrink after the moisture evaporates, stuff the inside of the item with terry towels.

If you decide to restore a wool item using hydrogen peroxide, remember that it bleaches the fabric perfectly. Because of this characteristic, hydrogen peroxide can be used on light-colored clothing, but it should not be used on dark items.

It's also acceptable to use a steam generator to restore the item to its original appearance. What should you do?

Place the item carefully on a hanger or lay it on a flat surface.
Turn on the steam generator and work it over the entire garment, while stretching the fabric with your free hand.
Keep the tube at least 10 centimeters away while working.
Work the seams of the product separately.

After finishing, don't wait for the garment to dry completely; wear it immediately. This will increase the garment's size by one size.

Another stretching method is using regular cow's milk. It increases the elasticity of the natural wool fibers, making them easier to stretch. Follow our step-by-step guide to restore your deformed clothing.

Pour cool milk from the refrigerator into a bucket or basin.

Use low-fat milk with a fat content of 2.5% or less.

Soak woolen clothes in a container for half an hour.
Rinse the item gently and then wring it out.
Place the product on a flat surface and then stretch it out carefully.

After the procedure, the sweater may emit a distinctive milky odor. Getting rid of it is very simple: just leave the item on the balcony for 24 hours to completely dissipate the unpleasant odor.

Sometimes housewives use a solution of ordinary baking soda to restore their favorite clothes. How do you prepare and use it?

Dissolve 2 tablespoons of soda in 2 liters of plain water.
Place the wool item in the solution overnight.
In the morning, wash your clothes on a standard cycle.

After spinning, it's important to lay the item flat to dry. Periodically stretch the garment in the desired direction to restore its shape.

Finally, you can use a standard hair conditioner, which improves the elasticity of wool fibers, making them easier to stretch. How do you do this correctly?

Dissolve 1 tablespoon of conditioner in 1 liter of water.
Soak the sweater in the container for 10 minutes.
Remove the item, rinse with tap water and squeeze out a little.

Place the garment on a flat surface and stretch it occasionally. This will not only increase the garment's size but also impart a pleasant fabric softener scent.

Reasons for shrinkage of woolen items

A wool sweater or jumper is a wonderful item for the cold season. Natural wool items keep you warm, don't wrinkle, and hardly wear out. Their only drawback is that they're difficult to care for. The main reasons why woolen items so often lose their shape are:

treatment in hot water, the temperature of which exceeds 30 degrees Celsius;
Wrong choice of household chemicals. Only liquid concentrates and gels are suitable for washing wool;

Because classic washing powder contains alkali, it can destroy the fibers of woolen items.

Using standard cycles on a "home helper" can also damage a wool sweater. Such items should be washed either on a special wool cycle or a delicate cycle.
Drying errors can damage the garment. Never dry woolen items on radiators or in direct sunlight.

If you have violated the rules of wool care, it is better to start restoring the garment as soon as possible to minimize damage.

Let's turn to the professionals

Finally, if an item is severely deformed and you can't fix it, you can always seek professional help. Dry cleaners have long since learned to use special chemicals for wool to soften the item. steam dummy

These establishments use steam mannequins to enlarge clothing to your desired size. This procedure may be much more expensive than budget-friendly restoration at home, but it will allow you to restore your favorite item to its original size.