How to stretch a T-shirt if it shrinks after washing: proven ways and methods

After numerous washes, your favorite T-shirt has shrunk in size - an unpleasant situation.

Don't rush to throw your T-shirt in the trash and run to the store for a new one. There are a sufficient number of ways to save your favorite item by stretching it to the required size.

In this article we will tell you what to do if your T-shirt shrinks after washing and how to stretch it to the desired size.

What to do?

The choice of method for stretching a shrunken T-shirt is determined depending on the type of fabric. Before starting the process, it is very important to study the manufacturer's label for the composition of the fabric and recommendations for its care.

Ignoring this rule may cause final damage to the product. You can find out more about the rules for washing T-shirts Here.

Soaking in cold water

Stretch T-shirts made of synthetics or fabrics of combined compositions The method of soaking in cold water will help:

1. A T-shirt is placed in a bowl of cold water and left to soak for twenty to thirty minutes.
2. Afterwards, the product is loaded into the drum of the washing machine and the program for delicate fabrics is started. Wash the item without using washing powder.
3. After washing, the T-shirt is hung by one edge on a line and dried in a well-ventilated, lighted place.

Soaking in milk

Stretch white cotton T-shirt Milk will help:

• dilute a glass of milk in five liters of warm water;
• the item is dipped into the resulting solution and left to soak for half an hour;
• Afterwards, the product is rinsed in cool water and, laid out on a terry towel, left to dry;
• During the drying process, the product is gently pulled in the desired direction.

Milk is diluted with water whose temperature does not exceed 30C.

Ammonia with vodka and turpentine

Stretch cotton products to the desired size A proven method will help - soaking in a solution of ammonia, vodka and turpentine:

• in a five-liter bucket filled with warm water, mix ammonia, water and turpentine (proportion 3:1:1);
• place a T-shirt in the resulting solution and leave it for twenty to thirty minutes;
• Afterwards, the product is removed from the water, lightly squeezed and hung out to dry.

Vinegar

Quickly stretch a cotton T-shirt Acetic acid will help:

1. Mix vinegar with water (ratio 3:1).
2. After generously moistening the sponge with a vinegar solution, rub the fabric with it (in the process, the product must be carefully stretched in length and width).
3. We hang the wet T-shirt (without twisting) on ​​a line to dry. During the drying process, the T-shirt must be pulled out periodically.

In order to remove the smell of vinegar, before drying, rinse the item in water with the addition of conditioner.

This method cannot be used for products made from synthetic fabrics.

Hair conditioner

Stretch a jersey T-shirt hair conditioner will help. Under its influence, the fibers of knitted fabric acquire special elasticity, which helps to stretch things to the desired size:

1. Lay the T-shirt on a horizontal surface and, using a sponge, generously moisten the fabric with hair conditioner.
2. After ten minutes, use gentle movements to stretch the T-shirt to the desired size.

Peroxide

Stretch a T-shirt made of light silk or wool fabric Hydrogen peroxide will help:

1. Pour warm water into a basin (volume of at least 10 liters), add two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide.
2. Place the T-shirt in water (it is important to ensure that the fabric is completely covered) and leave for several hours.
3. Then we take out the product, very carefully squeeze out the excess residue and spread it out on a flat surface to dry.

During the drying process, light silk fabric must be periodically carefully pulled in the desired direction.

Freezing

Stretch a T-shirt from thin wool thread The freezing method will help:

• in a bowl of cool water you need to dilute two tablespoons of powder for washing delicate items;
• Dip a T-shirt into the resulting solution and leave for twenty minutes;
• after that, the product is carefully squeezed out and, placed in a plastic bag, sent to the freezer for a day;
• after twenty-four hours, the item is taken out of the bag and, laid out on a horizontal surface, left to dry.

Cargo

Stretch cotton T-shirt cargo will help:

1. A washed, damp T-shirt is laid out on a horizontal surface on a terry towel.
2. Pinned along the shoulders and neckline to the towel, the T-shirt stretches to the desired length and width. The lower edge is also fixed with pins and additionally pressed with a load (for example, heavy books).
3. The T-shirt is left under the load until it dries.

Steaming

Stretch T-shirts in cotton or blended fabrics The steaming method will help:

• We fill the basin with warm water (temperature no higher than 50);
• immerse the T-shirt in water (the fabric should be completely covered);
• after forty minutes, take out the product, gently wring it out and straighten it on a dryer or ironing board covered with a terry towel;
• Cover the T-shirt with a cotton cloth and iron it with an iron.

During the ironing process, the T-shirt must be carefully stretched in the desired direction.

The iron temperature is set according to the type of fabric of the product. It is also necessary to additionally set the steaming function.

Another unusual way to stretch a T-shirt is presented in the video:

Features of the procedure for different materials

The easiest way to stretch things is from natural (cotton) fabrics. You will have to tinker with synthetic products.

Depending on the composition of the fabric, there are several ways to increase the size of the product:

1. Linen. To increase the size of a shrunken linen T-shirt, you need to rinse the item in warm water and then hang it out to dry without wrung out. Afterwards, the slightly damp product is ironed, carefully pulling the fabric in the desired direction.
2. Synthetics. Upsizing items made from synthetic fibers is as easy as shelling pears. To do this, you need to wash them in the washing machine on the delicate fabric setting, then hang the product on hangers to dry.

   By pulling the wet product in the desired direction, you can increase the T-shirt by at least one size.

3. Made from wool. You can stretch a delicate woolen item in a somewhat original but effective way - try on a wet T-shirt on yourself. Gently wring out a wet (previously soaked in cold water) wool T-shirt and try it on.

   You must wear a T-shirt until it dries. During the drying process, the item acquires the exact outline of the body and increases in size.

4. Cotton. An ordinary chair will help to increase the item by one, or maybe two sizes. Everything is very simple: the T-shirt is pre-soaked in warm water (at least thirty minutes), after which it is put on the back of a chair. In this position the item dries out.

   You can speed up the drying process on a chair if you first wrap the back of the furniture with natural fabric or cover it with a terry towel.

How to prevent shrinkage?

Preventing changes in the shape of a tank top or T-shirt is easy. It is enough to follow some rules:

• never wash things in very hot water (temperature exceeds 60C);
• dry things only in a dark, well-ventilated place (direct sunlight deforms the fabric fibers, which leads to their deformation);
• when machine washing, use only delicate cycle and special detergents for delicate fabrics;
• Before washing, always turn items inside out and fasten all buttons and zippers;
• rinse items in cool, but not ice-cold water (sudden changes in the temperature of the washing and rinsing water can cause deformation of the fabric fibers);
• Always carefully study the manufacturer's recommendations for caring for the product.

Adviсe

A few tips from experienced housewives will help you achieve the desired result faster. - a T-shirt that has shrunk after washing, increased by one or two sizes:

1. It is necessary to take measures to stretch items that have shrunk after washing as quickly as possible, without waiting for the fabric to dry completely.

   Well-dried fabric loses its elasticity and will be much more difficult to stretch.

2. To achieve maximum expansion of a knitted item, before starting the stretching process, the fabric is impregnated with hair conditioner.
3. During the steaming process, the product is not completely dried. A slightly damp T-shirt is sent to dry on a rope, securing it with clothespins along the bottom edge.
4. Do not stretch T-shirts with patterns, embroidery, or sequin or bead decorations. Deformation of the fabric breaks the contour of the design, after which the T-shirt completely loses its appearance.

Video on the topic

How to stretch an item that has shrunk after washing, video tips:

Conclusion

Taking into account all the recommendations and tips on how to stretch T-shirts after washing, you can forever forget about throwing away items that have been reduced in size.