How to reduce clothing size using shrinkage 

Shrinkage and its causes

If you are not careful when processing cotton fabrics (for example, chintz, cambric, satin and others), they can:

• sit down (be subject to deformation);
• turn yellow;
• shed.

The material shrinks both in length and width. In order to properly care for such fabrics, you need to understand why their size changes.

Why does 100 percent cotton shrink?

The reduction in the original size of cotton is largely due to the structure of the fibers.
The raw material for the production of the material is the fluffy mass of cotton fruits. Textile threads are thoroughly stretched during the manufacturing process . When in contact with water and heat treatment, cotton fabrics swell, and when dried, they change length (shrink).

If decating was carried out correctly during production, the scale of shrinkage is much less. Decatation is the processing of textiles (wet-thermal) during the production process. Its purpose is to pre-shrink fabrics before cutting them.

Is it not 100% deformable?

Artificial fabrics, as a rule, are not prone to shrinkage , which is why adding them to cotton makes it more stable and elastic. Cotton with elastane (satin, stretch cotton, bengalene, gabardine, polyester) has increased stretchability.

When fibers are combined, the texture of the fabric becomes elastic, firm, and shrinks to a lesser extent. However, we must not forget about the temperature compliance when washing and ironing, determined by the product labels.

Why do decatification?

For many, the word decatification is unfamiliar. In fact, this is a kind of forced shrinkage of the fabric from which it is planned to be sewn. Before cutting the material, it is subjected to wet-heat treatment - this is an integral stage of quality control of the future product. Any fabrics consisting of 50 percent or more natural fibers (wool, cotton, linen, hemp, silk) are decatified. Tests are carried out under conditions that comply with the recommendations on product labels.

All fabrics used for sewing items that are planned to be washed must be decated.

Decating of the material is not done before sewing, for example, a coat. If in the future only dry cleaning is allowed for an item, then simply steam the fabric with an iron before cutting.

So, cotton and linen are soaked, dried and ironed while still wet. The same is done with silk fabrics, however, they are “passed” over them with a slightly warm iron, from the wrong side. Silk that is subject to shedding is covered with a wet sheet and then ironed. Thick woolen fabrics are moistened with a spray, then the material is left to rest for 8-10 hours. Next, the fabric is ironed from the wrong side. Thin wool fabrics should simply be ironed through a damp sheet.

Thus, absolutely any thing can “sit down”. To prevent this from happening, it is important to follow the care instructions on the product label. If shrinkage does occur, you can correct the situation. Try stretching the item with your own hands, choosing one of the available methods.

Interesting:

• Washing an acrylic sweater in a washing machine
• What to do if your T-shirt shrinks after washing?
• What to do if the dress shrinks after washing?
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• Woolen item shrunk after washing
• Washing corduroy trousers in the washing machine

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What fabrics shrink after washing?

Shrinkage after washing is typical for many fabrics. Natural materials are most susceptible to it due to the porosity of the thread structure. Artificial fabric is stronger and less susceptible to deformation.

Clothes can shrink not only along the width of the material, but also at the seams. Areas with multiple seams - pockets, darts, collars and cuffs - suffer the most from wet processing. In addition, even if the main material of the product was cut correctly, with allowances, the cotton threads for the seams can shrink significantly on their own.

Linen, viscose and cotton are the most deformed. These fabrics can even shrink several sizes if not washed correctly. Moreover, if the cutting pattern did not include allowances for shrinkage, the clothing may shrink even in wet weather.

• What to do if your jeans are stained during washing?

To choose the fabric that shrinks the least after washing, use the table:

Fabric shrinkage

Think about the last time you pulled a new sweater or T-shirt out of the washer or dryer and found that the clothing had shrunk to the size of a five-year-old. Monstrous disappointment! Is not it? We've all been in this situation at least once, but we don't have to repeat it. Read below about the causes of fabric shrinkage and how to prevent it.

Shrinking cotton

Need to shrink a cotton cardigan? This will work if it is sewn correctly. If the threads do not go as required, then nothing will work.

How to shrink a large cotton dress or suit? Experts recommend setting the machine to the hottest water possible with a strong spin. But you can only wash white clothes this way.

It is better to wash colored clothes by hand. Moreover, you need to remember the rule: when kept in boiling water for 5 minutes, the item decreases by 1 size. Accordingly, if you keep it in boiling water for 15 minutes, it will decrease by about 2-3 sizes.

After hand washing, it is advisable to use an electric dryer. If even after these actions the item has not decreased significantly, repeating the procedures is useless.

Nothing can be done. The clothes will remain the same size, but the structure of the fabric, especially colored ones, can be damaged by hot water.

What do we wash?

It is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of how to fit an item to size, because shrinkage can be either insignificant or very large. Inexperienced housewives, throwing a woolen jumper or turtleneck into the machine drum, end up with shrunken doll-sized clothes.

A thing made of viscose, for example, will not shrink so much. And 100% synthetics do not shrink at all. But if the shirt or pants contain at least 50% natural fibers, then there is a chance to return the stretched item to its previous shape.

You can wash trousers or stretch jeans in hot water. But you don't need to use boiling water. 60°C is enough for the thing to become addicted. Spinning in a drum will increase shrinkage, but high speeds are unacceptable for T-shirts, tank tops, panties and other knitted items.

• Fabric shrinkage: does linen shrink when washed?

How to wash viscose to reduce the size of the item? Blouses and dresses made of viscose practically do not shrink, but also do not stretch. And if the product contains other fibers - wool, acrylic, cotton, then deformation is inevitable. In this case, they resort to temperature changes during washing and drum drying.

It is difficult to return the original size to a stretched swimsuit or tights, because these things are usually made of synthetics. Denim shorts can be boiled to make them shrink, and a wool sweatshirt is recommended to be hand washed in hot water.

Washing in a machine does not always give the desired result. Be prepared for surprises when removing an item of clothing from the washing machine after a high-temperature wash at maximum speed.

Wool

Woolen clothes shrink from hot water and contrast showers. You can wash wool trousers so that they fit the same size in water at a temperature of 50 - 60 ᵒC. After 10 minutes, the item is lowered into a basin of cold water. Wool-blend sweaters and other items are also washed, but it is not recommended to soak a cashmere sweater for a long time. To reduce it by 1 size, you should wash your wool sweater only in warm water with the mildest detergent possible.

You can wash a woolen dress to make it shrink in a machine, but there is a risk of shrinking the fabric too much. It is better to wash a woolen item so that it shrinks according to this principle:

• soak the sweater in water at a temperature 20 ᵒC higher than recommended with wool products and leave the product in it for 15 - 30 minutes;
• rinse the jacket in ice water;
• lay the product on a dry terry towel and roll it up to remove excess water;
• dry flat with a hairdryer.

Using a similar method, you can wash both a sweater so that it shrinks and a woolen dress. But for a woolen hat, a device such as a blank or a 3-liter jar is useful; the product is placed on it after washing.

Cotton

How to wash cotton so that the item becomes 1 - 2 sizes smaller? Planting a cotton item is easy using the boiling method. If you hold the cotton in water for 5 - 10 minutes, it will shrink to size. In this case, the item may lose color and shape.

For white cotton items, machine washable. For example, a judo kimono can be thrown into a drum and set to 90 degrees.

How to wash without shrinking clothes

The main thing in this matter is to trust the manufacturer. It seems that tags on clothes only get in the way and are completely unnecessary? - this is wrong. They contain all the detailed information about the specific composition of the item. The mode, power, temperature are indicated. Pay attention to this and you will not make mistakes. If it has already happened, then do not panic, there is an opportunity to fix everything. We wrote above exactly how to do this with various materials. Now check out the “useful benefits”:

• Sneakers, shoes, boots should only be washed with a cloth. Remove all laces from your shoes, otherwise the drum will jam them. Place 2-3 pairs of sneakers in the washing machine. Place 1-2 rags there for dust and floors. This way you will kill two birds with one stone. Wash sneakers and rags, eliminate the noise of electrical appliances.
• Wash the drum with baking soda. Machines that have been in service for years wear out. The soda will clear them of possible plaque, and after washing the clothes inside will become velvety and soft.
• Pour gels and conditioners into beautiful jars for liquid soap. This will give an aesthetic look to your bathroom.
• Don't wash baby clothes with a lot of powder, especially if it's cheap. These are chemicals that can cause skin allergies in children. Therefore, use baby products or add powders to a minimum.
• Wash sports items separately from everything else. They stretch better and won't ruin other clothes. Because sports brands often produce very bright clothes that tend to fade.

Thank you for your interest in our articles. Wash your clothes correctly, using our material as a guide. Then you will definitely not make mistakes, and your favorite clothes will last for many years.

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