Don’t rush to throw it away, or what to do if your shirt shrinks after washing

A shrunken shirt is a nuisance that anyone can face. It occurs due to non-compliance with the rules washing shirts and caring for her.

You should not rush to throw away an item. You can try to restore its size and shape at home.

What should I do if my shirt shrinks after washing, how can I return it to its original size? Find answers to your questions in the article.

How to return the previous size of something that shrinks?

There are several ways to deal with the problem. Repeated washing in cool water, stretching the fibers of the fabric by freezing, as well as treatment with various substances can come to the rescue.

In this case, you must strictly follow the existing instructions for action so as not to further damage the product.

Soaking in cold water

You can return the shirt to its original size using cold water (up to 30 degrees).

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Pour cool water into a basin.
2. Soak your shirt completely in it.
3. Leave for 10 minutes.
4. Remove the product from the water and, without squeezing, lay it on a flat surface. Place a terry towel underneath so that the liquid is absorbed faster. The fabric needs to be changed periodically.
5. During drying, you must manually stretch the shirt in the desired directions.

The good thing about this method is that it is suitable for both delicate and regular fabrics.. The color of the item and the strength of its coloring do not matter. In this way, you can cope with minor shrinkage, not exceeding 2-5%.

If you have time and patience, you can put on a wet shirt and wear it until it dries completely. This will give it the desired size.

Soaking in milk

A shrunken light shirt can be soaked in milk. Step-by-step instruction:

• pour cold milk into a basin;
• place a shirt in it, leave for 30 minutes;
• rinse the item in warm water;
• Place it on a flat surface, on a terry towel, and wait for the product to dry completely.

You need to choose a product with a minimum percentage of fat content. Milk will not only give your shirt the desired shape and size, it will also whiten it.

The disadvantages of this method include the unpleasant odor that remains on the fabric after washing. To get rid of it, the item must be rinsed thoroughly. You can soak it in vinegar for 5-10 minutes and then rinse it under running water.

Vinegar treatment

You can stretch your shirt using 3% vinegar.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Dilute 3 tablespoons of vinegar in 10 liters of water.
2. Soak the shirt in the prepared solution for 2 hours.
3. Wash the item with powder, rinse with conditioner. This will get rid of the vinegar smell.
4. Lay the shirt out to dry on a flat surface.

This method is suitable for drawing white and colored products. The main disadvantage of the method is that a shirt that has shrunk 1-2 sizes cannot be restored. Vinegar removes only minor shrinkage.

Ammonia, turpentine and vodka

To eliminate shrinkage, you can soak the shirt in a special solution. To prepare it you will need:

• 3 tbsp. l. ammonia;
• 1 tbsp. l. vodka;
• 1 tbsp. l. turpentine;
• 5 liters of water.

Thanks to alcohols and turpentine, the fibers of the product become more elastic. To achieve maximum effect, the fabric should be slightly stretched while drying.

The main advantage of the method is that with its help the item can be increased by 1-2 sizes.

The disadvantages include:

1. A pungent odor that comes from ammonia and turpentine.
2. Inability to use the solution to stretch black and lightly colored fabrics.
3. The need for prolonged rinsing of the product. This is the only way to get rid of foreign odors.

While working, you need to protect your respiratory system by wearing a mask or respirator.

Hair conditioner

You can make a shirt 1-1.5 sizes longer if you wash it in hair conditioner. Step-by-step instruction:

• wet the shirt and place it in an empty basin;
• pour hair conditioner into the item so that it is completely saturated with it;
• stretch the fabric with your hands in different directions for several minutes;
• rinse the product in cool water;
• dry on a flat surface.

This method is suitable for stretching shirts made from natural fabrics.

Under the influence of the conditioner, the fibers straighten, become more pliable and stretch easily.. After washing, the item will have a pleasant smell.

Hair conditioner will not harm the material, so you can safely use it on shirts of any color.The only drawback of the method is its low efficiency for synthetics.

Freezing

By placing the shirt in the freezer, you can stretch it 1-2 sizes.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Dissolve washing powder in water and soak the shirt in it for 10 minutes.
2. Rinse the item and wring it out a little.
3. Place it in a plastic bag and put it in the freezer.
4. Remove the shirt after a day and leave it in the bag until completely thawed.
5. Spread the item on a flat surface and let it dry completely.

The disadvantages of freezing include:

• it will take a long time to wait for the result;
• the method is not suitable for processing delicate fabrics;
• You cannot stretch fragile products in this way, as they will tear.

You need to carefully remove the shirt from the freezer without making any creases. When frozen, the tissue is very fragile and prone to tearing.

Hydrogen peroxide

You can stretch a shirt one size using hydrogen peroxide.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Pour 5 liters of cool water into a basin, add 3 tbsp. l. hydrogen peroxide.
2. Soak the item in the solution for 2 hours.
3. Rinse it and place it on a flat surface to dry.

This method is universal as it is suitable for any type of fabric. However, its effectiveness is not very high.

Steaming

Steaming the item will help to slightly correct the situation. Step-by-step instruction:

• lightly moisten the item by spraying it with a spray bottle;
• turn the product inside out;
• lay the shirt out on the ironing board, covering the top with gauze;
• steam the fabric, holding the iron at a distance of 10 cm, manually stretching it;
• If the material can withstand steam treatment, it can be ironed.

Pulling by weight

You can stretch the shirt using a weight.

Step-by-step instruction:

• moisten the product;
• hang it on hangers;
• hang a small weight from the bottom of the shirt;
• wait until completely dry.

In this way you can increase the size of almost any fabric. However, the disadvantage of this method is that it will be difficult to achieve uniform stretching.

Return of the lost form for products of different colors and materials

Depending on the fabric from which the shirt is made and its color, the methods for stretching it will differ. Recommendations are presented in the table:

Important Tips

So that when you try to stretch a shirt you don’t completely ruin it, The following recommendations should be taken into account:

1. To cope with the problem, the product should be stretched while drying. However, the tension force must be controlled so as not to damage the fabric.
2. Before soaking an item in a chemical, you need to test it on an inconspicuous area of ​​the fabric.
3. The product should not be thrown over a rope. Such drying neutralizes the entire effect of the manipulations performed.

After returning the shirt to its original size, you must follow the manufacturer's instructions for caring for it. Otherwise, the next incorrect wash will cause it to shrink again.

Conclusion

If your shirt shrinks after washing, you can resort to one of the methods aimed at returning it to its original size. If all recommendations are followed, the product will take the desired shape and will serve its owner for a long time.