How To Prevent Clothes From Shrinking While Washing? Everything You Need To Know

By Author: Keerti
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Do you feel like taking out your favorite T-shirt or sweater from the washing machine and suddenly finding it has shrunk in size? It is a common issue but there are many ways to prevent clothes from shrinking during washing.

Clothes tend to shrink because of exposure to heat, moisture, agitating conditions, and poor washing techniques. Different fabrics are prone to shrinkage to different degrees which is why proper knowledge of fabric care will allow you to preserve clothes' original shape for much longer.

Whether you are doing laundry on your own or using professional laundry services in Bangalore, knowledge of fabric care will go a long way. Here are some useful tips to prevent clothes from shrinking during washing.

Why Do Clothes Shrink During Washing?

Knowing how to prevent shrinking of clothes, it will be useful to know the reasons behind this phenomenon.

Many natural or synthetic fabrics are highly reactive to heat and moisture conditions. Cotton, wool, rayon and some other fabrics are especially prone to shrinking.

The process of shrinking is initiated by the interaction ...
... of heat and moisture with the fabric which results in the contraction of fibres. Sometimes fabrics were elongated during production and then revert to their original length after washing.

That is why always try to follow care instructions on clothing labels.

1. Pay Attention to the Care Instructions of Your Clothes

Care instructions on labels are one of the best ways to ensure that your clothes stay in good condition.

Before washing a new item, pay attention to the instructions given there. The care label is created taking into account material and construction of the garment.

Instructions include such things as:

• Washing mode – machine or hand washing

• Water temperature

• No tumble drying

• Drying flat

• No wringing

• Dry cleaning only

• Low-temperature ironing

Disobeying the instructions will make you vulnerable to shrinkage, fading, stretching of fabric, etc.

If the garment says "dry clean only" you should stick to the instruction and not try experimenting with washing mode.

2. Be Careful with Using Hot Water

Hot water can be extremely damaging for some materials.

While hot wash is fine for some clothes, it is not a guarantee that this kind of treatment will benefit other garments. For those clothes which are likely to shrink, cold or lukewarm water is the best option if allowed by the label instructions.

Cold water will help to avoid extra strain on the fibres of your garments and will keep colors better.

If you are unsure whether to use warm water or not, it is always better to consult the instructions than use hot water just because you want to wash your clothes better.

3. Choose Proper Washing Mode

Washing mode is very important in preserving the shape of your clothes.

Intensive modes of washing mean extra movement which is not recommended for delicate garments. If your label says you should wash the item using delicate mode of washing, follow the recommendation.

It will allow you to avoid additional stress on the fabric and help it stay intact.

Be sure to not treat all your clothes the same way. Your cotton T-shirt, woollen sweater, delicate blouse and formal clothes should be washed in different ways.

4. Be Cautious With the Dryer

Washing is not the sole reason why fabrics could shrink. Drying may also play a role here.

Tumble dryers that produce high heat might shrink some fabrics, particularly cotton and wool. Instead of using the dryer when air drying is indicated on the care label, use the recommended method of drying.

For the right clothing items, you can try:

• Air drying

• Drying flat

• Low temperature dryer setting

• Taking clothes out of the dryer immediately after drying

Flat drying of knitted clothing items, like sweaters, helps prevent shrinking and loss of shape.

5. Do Not Overload the Washer

Loading the washer past its recommended capacity can appear to be an effective method of completing the laundry faster, but it affects washing and clothing care as well.

As the drum gets overloaded, the amount of space that clothes have becomes reduced. Clothes are not able to move around properly, which might increase friction and prevent proper rinsing.

Moreover, an overloaded machine cannot provide an even wash or dry of clothing items.

Give your clothes sufficient space in the drum to move around. This is especially necessary when you wash heavy and delicate clothing items.

6. Separate Laundry Items Prior to Washing

Sorting your laundry is not just about colour.

You will have to take into account the fabric type, the weight of the garment and the needs of each item.

For instance, washing a delicate blouse along with heavy jeans may put the delicate clothing under unnecessary stress. Likewise, woollen clothes usually require different treatment compared to regular cotton clothes.

Some easy classification may include:

• Whites

• Dark colours

• Light colours

• Delicates

• Heavy garments

• Special fabrics

7. Do Not Twist Delicate Garments

Twisting or wringing out wet clothes will stretch the fibers and alter the shape of the garment.

In particular, this rule applies to delicate and knitted fabrics.

Instead of wringing out the clothes to remove the moisture, pressing the clothes after washing is recommended in case it is permitted.

The idea is to remove moisture without causing unnecessary strain on the fabric.

8. Use the Right Detergent

Using too much detergent is not always better because of the extra rinsing and residues left on the clothes.

Besides, not all kinds of fabrics need the same type of detergents. The recommended quantity is mentioned on the package.

Moreover, depending on the clothes' material, a special detergent might be more appropriate.

9. Be More Cautious with Wool and Delicate Garments

Wool is one of those fabrics which are likely to shrink due to washing.

In particular, wool fibers are sensitive to heat, moisture, and mechanical impact. Wool can easily get smaller or change its shape due to washing with hot water or a wrong washing program.

In the case of wool or other delicate materials:

• Read the care label carefully.

• Avoid hot water if there is no recommendation for it.

• Use a proper cycle if the machine wash is applicable.

• Avoid wringing.

• Follow the recommended drying technique.

• Use a professional cleaning service when it is required by the care label.

The same concerns silk, rayon, garments with embellishments, and other special care materials.

10. Avoid Washing All Cloths at Home

One easy way to damage your clothes is not paying attention to how you should clean them.

There are certain types of clothes that need to be dry cleaned and are better taken to professionals. For example, suits, some dresses, delicate fabrics, clothes that are structured, and clothes with lots of embellishments may need special care.

To make sure, check the care label of your cloth before trying to wash it.

Professional garment care services are also helpful when you do not want to experiment with valuable and delicate clothes.

What If My Clothes Have Shrank?

Shrunken clothes are not necessarily irreparably damaged.

Dependent on the type of fabric and amount of shrinkage, certain clothes can still be fixed. However, using any home remedies may further ruin the clothes. Therefore, if you have valuable and delicate clothes, it may be safer to get help from professional garment care services.

The best thing, of course, is prevention – following correct cleaning procedures from the start would minimize risks of shrinkage.

How Professional Laundry Services Can Help

People living a busy life in Bangalore may face difficulties when they need to follow different cleaning procedures for different fabrics.

Professional laundry service may offer an easier option, especially when it comes to delicate, formal or special-care clothes.

Wash n Wear offers laundry services that make clothes maintenance more convenient. Customers no longer need to treat all their clothes like one standard load, but they can opt for a service based on the need.

Explore the services at Wash n Wear