What should I do if my trousers have shrunk after washing?

Many people have likely encountered the unpleasant phenomenon of shrinkage after washing. Failure to follow the manufacturer's care instructions even once can ruin the garment, as it shrinks. Today, we'll explain what to do if your pants shrink after washing.

Pull manually or with a load

There's no single, proven method for restoring shrunken garments to their original appearance. But don't despair. A solution is always possible. For starters, it's a good idea to examine the characteristics of the fabric your pants are made from. If they contain wool, you can try stretching them.

The following procedure will help lengthen trousers:

• place the item in a container with warm water and leave it there for a few minutes;
• take it out and let the water drain;
• Place the damaged trousers on an ironing board or other flat surface, trying to stretch them by hand, and leave until completely dry.

There are other stretching methods:

• Trousers are soaked, but not laid out on a table. Instead, they are put on bare skin, with a weight attached to each leg. They are removed after drying. This method of saving clothes should only be used during warm weather or in a well-heated room.
• soak the trousers in an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide for an hour, then remove them and stretch them by hand;
• Hang the item up (it's better to use something sturdier, like a horizontal bar, rather than a clothesline) and pull both pant legs simultaneously several times with force. You can attach a weight to it and leave it to dry.

Important! Never wring out your trousers before stretching them.

Will an iron or chemicals help?

If the fabric doesn't contain wool, stretching pants is unlikely to lengthen them. In this case, it might be worth trying another repair method. Experts recommend:

• iron the damp item with a hot iron with a steamer, stretching the fabric with your hands;
• Soak the pants in a solution of water, ammonia, turpentine, and vodka for half an hour. Alternatively, you can use baking soda and water. However, in this case, you'll need to soak the item for 12 hours. After this procedure, the pants should become longer.

Caution! Do not leave the item in the solution longer than the specified time.

Why does the item shrink?

My pants have become too short after washing. Why is this happening? There could be several reasons:

• The washing temperature is too high. Hot water damages the structure of the fabric fibers, causing the pants to shrink. Following the care instructions on the manufacturer's label will help prevent this problem.
• High washing intensity results in deformation of the fabric fibers, specifically, their compression. Wool trousers are particularly susceptible to this. To avoid having to worry about how to restore the shape of a damaged item, be careful when setting the washing machine's speed. Better yet, use the delicate wash cycle;
• The specific properties of the fabrics from which the garment is made. For example, silk trousers require very careful handling, as silk is more likely to shrink after washing.

As you can see, it's possible to deal with the problem of fabric shrinkage. However, prevention is better than cure. Therefore, care for your items properly.

   

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