What to do if your dress shrinks after washing: tips and ways to restore your favorite item

If after washing the dress becomes 1-2 sizes smaller, then the basic rules for caring for the product have been violated.

There is no need to rush to throw it in the trash can. You can return things to their original size using improvised means.

What to do if the dress shrinks after washing, what can be done to return it to its original size, how to increase it back? Find answers to your questions in the article.

What caused it?

The following factors can lead to product shrinkage:

1. Wash in hot water or sudden temperature changes.
2. Spin too fast in an automatic machine.
3. Incorrect drying of the product. Shrinkage is often caused by placing items near heat sources, for example, on a heating radiator.

The more delicate the fabric, the more susceptible it is to shrinking.. Products from:

• wool,
• silks,
• flax,
• cotton

may become 1-2 sizes smaller even if the recommended washing temperature is slightly exceeded. Read about how to properly wash dresses here.

What can be done: how to return the previous size and increase it back?

There are many ways to return things to their original size.. For this purpose, improvised means are used, for example, vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. A steamer and even a freezer can come to the rescue.

Hydrogen peroxide

Using hydrogen peroxide, you can quickly and safely stretch your dress without harming it. It is used as follows:

1. Dissolve 1 tbsp in 5 liters of water. l. peroxide.
2. Soak the product in the prepared composition.
3. Leave to act for 40 minutes. At this time, you need to periodically approach the pelvis and stretch the dress with your hands.
4. Rinse the item in clean water, lightly wring it out and place it on a flat horizontal surface to dry.

Peroxide is used only for treating light-colored items.

Turpentine

To return the dress to its original size, you can use turpentine. It is used as follows:

• dissolve 4 tbsp in 5 liters of cool water. l. turpentine;
• soak the product for 60 minutes;
• rinse the item and send it to dry.

The only drawback of this method is the unpleasant odor that appears after washing. To get rid of it, it is enough to leave the dress in the fresh air for 1-2 days.

Vinegar

You can stretch your dress using vinegar.

Use it as follows:

1. Dilute 1 tbsp in 1 liter of water. l. vinegar. If more liquid is needed, then the proportions are increased.
2. Soak the product in the solution for 30 minutes.
3. Rinse the item in cool water and send it to dry.

By spreading the dress on a flat surface, it is given the desired shape.

To prevent the fabric fibers from shrinking during the drying process, you can use small weights. They are distributed along the edges of the product and left until the moisture has completely evaporated.

Soda

Baking soda helps to slightly stretch the shrunken fabric. Instructions for use:

• Dilute 30 g of soda in 3 liters of water;
• soak the dress in the prepared mixture overnight;
• In the morning, rinse it thoroughly, squeeze it through a towel and send it to dry.

During drying, you need to stretch the fabric with your hands to achieve maximum effect.

Steam treatment

To stretch a shrunken dress, you can treat it with steam. This effective procedure is carried out as follows:

1. The dress is washed or slightly moistened.
2. Lay it on an ironing board, systematically process the seams and surface of the fabric using a steamer.
3. In problem areas you need to help yourself with your hands. This will allow the product to stretch evenly.

If possible, the dress is steamed on a large mannequin. This allows you to increase the efficiency of the procedure. This method is especially effective for wool and synthetic items.

Freezing

To return the dress to its original size, you can freeze it. Water, turning into ice crystals, tends to expand. The fibers of the fabric will stretch along with it. This is an effective method that allows you to cope with shrinkage of 0.5-1 size.

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

• wet and lightly wring out the dress so that water does not drain from it;
• place it in a plastic bag;
• put the item in the freezer;
• leave for a day;
• take out the dress and let it thaw completely;
• hang the product to dry.

Will they help with dry cleaning?

If an expensive dress has been subjected to shrinkage, and you were unable to cope with the problem on your own, you can use dry cleaning services.

Professionals have specialized compounds at their disposal that can stretch a thing. by 1-2 sizes without harm to the fabric. Drying is carried out using steam installations to achieve maximum effect.

Before submitting an item for processing, you need to check with the craftsmen what results should be expected. You must pay for the service only upon its provision. The cost of such work varies greatly.

The minimum price is 600 rubles. For this money, the dry cleaner will not only stretch the dress, but also rid it of dirt and smooth out wrinkles.

How to prevent possible shrinkage in the future?

To prevent the product from shrinking again during the washing process, you must follow the following recommendations:

1. Do not wash it in boiling water.
2. Avoid temperature changes. Do not alternately rinse your dress in hot and cold water.
3. Use a suitable washing cycle. Delicate fabrics do not tolerate intensive machine processing, so they often change their shape.

Important Tips

To ensure that the dress is not damaged during the resizing process, you need to listen to the following advice:

1. Before processing, read the information on the product label. It is located on the wrong side.
2. Do not soak colored or dark items in aggressive compounds, such as hydrogen peroxide. Such products can restore size, but often cause color loss.
3. If using the chosen method it was not possible to stretch the product, you can resort to another method. Different types of tissue react differently to substances.
4. When stretching a garment, special attention should be paid to the seams.
5. You need to stretch the product while drying. This is done until the moisture has completely evaporated. In this case, you need to ensure that both halves of the dress remain symmetrical.

When working with caustic substances, you must remember your own safety rules. You need to wear gloves on your hands and protect your respiratory system with a mask.

Video on the topic

This video will tell you what to do if your dress shrinks after washing:

Conclusion

Shrinkage of the dress indicates improper care of the item. There are several ways to deal with the problem. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages, so you should resort to them only when necessary.