We reveal the secrets of natural fabrics: does linen shrink when washed?

Linen clothing has many positive characteristics. It allows the skin to breathe, absorbs moisture perfectly, never goes out of fashion, and does not cause irritation.

At the same time, many people are afraid to buy linen items for themselves because they can shrink significantly after washing.

Does linen shrink when washed and is it possible to prevent linen fabric from shrinking in size? You will find answers to these and other questions in the article.

Do linen items shrink?

Linen items may shrink after washing. However, this happens if the basic rules of clothing care have been violated.

To avoid problems, you need to follow simple recommendations:

1. Do not use too hot water. The higher the temperature, the greater the shrinkage.
2. Do not use aggressive detergents.
3. Avoid temperature changes.

Linen is a natural fabric. During the process of its manufacture and sewing, it undergoes various mechanical influences, due to which it stretches. After the first contact with water and detergents, flax fibers return to their original state.

For this reason all new linen items are slightly reduced in size. This needs to be taken into account when purchasing clothes.

Manufacturers of linen items know that they are prone to shrinkage.Therefore, most high-quality factory items are subjected to special treatment aimed at softening the fabric.

Thanks to the use of modern technologies, items do not change in size after the first wash, but only if all recommendations are followed.

How to wash?

To prevent linen clothing from shrinking 1-2 sizes after the first treatment, you need to care for it correctly. There are certain recommendations for hand and machine washing.

You can learn how to properly wash linen Here.

In the washing machine

So that after removing a linen item from the washing machine you will not be surprised by its small size, You need to follow a few rules:

1. Wash at a temperature no higher than 40-60 degrees. Flax is a very strong fiber, it can even withstand boiling, but after such treatment the shrinkage can be significant (up to 2 sizes).

   Therefore, they resort to extreme heating only in cases of urgent need.

2. Use mild detergents. They should not contain chlorine or bleach, or caustic acids. Both regular powders and liquid detergents are suitable for washing linen products.
3. You need to choose a gentle washing program. The lower the centrifuge rotation speed, the better. Number of revolutions per minute – up to 600.

It is not recommended to load the washing machine drum to the maximum. If there is free space left in it, then the detergent particles will be washed out better. In addition, linen absorbs water strongly, so the weight of the laundry increases 2-3 times when wet.

Manually

Hand washing is less likely to cause fabric to shrink. Therefore, items made from 100% linen are best washed by hand.

Basic requirements to be met:

1. The detergent may contain silicates, soda, and surfactants. They contribute to high-quality cleaning of fabric from stains, even with careful hand washing. An important condition is their thorough dissolution in water.
2. If it is necessary to use bleach, then preference is given to oxygen formulations.

   Bleach does an excellent job of removing yellowness and grayness, but it has a detrimental effect on natural fibers, leading to their rapid wear. Therefore, it can only be used as an exception.

3. If the laundry is not intensely colored, it is washed using laundry soap.
4. The water should be warm, but not hot. You need to choose a container in which there will be enough space for things. It will not be possible to properly wash and rinse products in a small basin.
5. Clothes can be soaked. The optimal exposure time in water is no more than 60 minutes.
6. Before washing, items are sorted by color and fabric type. It’s good if plain linen and cotton items are soaked together.

Before you start washing, you need to study the manufacturer's information, which is indicated on the product label.

First contact of new clothes with water

Particular attention should be paid to the first wash of a linen item, since it is this treatment that can cause the most severe shrinkage.

Please note the following information:

• preference is given to hand washing, as it is more gentle;
• if the fabric is colored, then it is pre-soaked in a weak vinegar solution (1 tbsp per 1 liter of water);
• after 15-30 minutes, the item is rinsed and sent to dry - this allows the dye to be fixed in the material;
• if the item has not been worn or used, then there is no need to add washing powder;
• To make the fabric softer, you can use fabric softener.

How to restore the size of a shrunken product?

If after washing the linen item shrinks slightly, then there is no need to worry. You can return it to its original size using a regular iron by ironing the product through damp gauze.

When the shrinkage is 1-2 sizes, you can resort to restoration methods such as:

1. Soak the product in a cool solution of hydrogen peroxide (1 tsp of product per 1 liter of water). After half an hour, the product is rinsed and dried on a flat surface, periodically pulling the fabric out with your hands.
2. Water. Lightly moisten the clothes using a spray bottle. In this form, they put it on the body and walk until it is completely dry.
3. Soak the cloth in hair conditioner. For 1 liter of water take 1 tbsp. l. products and soak the shrunken fabric in the solution. After 15 minutes, the laundry is rinsed and sent to dry, laid out on a flat surface. Periodically, the fabric needs to be stretched by hand.

Such methods will help increase the item by 0.5-1 size.

How to dry?

It is important not only to properly wash, but also dry the linen product. Basic recommendations:

• after hand washing, do not twist the fabric or roll it into a rope;
• Do not place products in the sun, because ultraviolet light promotes compression of fabric fibers;
• do not dry things on heating devices, protect from exposure to hot air masses;
• products can be hung on a rope, left in a dry room with good ventilation and low humidity;
• It is better to avoid using clothespins, as they leave creases in the fabric that are difficult to iron.

Read about how to properly dry clothes after washing. here.

Useful tips

Information that will be useful for all owners of linen products:

1. If you need to iron the item after washing, you should not wait until it is completely dry. When wet, folds straighten out better.
2. It is recommended to turn the laundry inside out before washing.
3. Linen fabric itself cannot cause an allergic reaction. If skin irritation occurs, you need to change the detergent.
4. The more intensely the fabric is dyed, the cooler the water in which it is washed should be.
5. If you had to resort to boiling them to remove stains and disinfect linen items, then you should not allow a sharp temperature change. The product is placed in warm water and the fire is turned on. The fabric should heat up gradually.

   After processing is completed, turn off the gas and leave the item in the water until it cools to room temperature. Only after this can the product be rinsed and hung out to dry. This sequence of actions will avoid shrinkage.

You will find maximum useful information about washing clothes and various fabric products Here.

Video on the topic of the article

Tips for washing and caring for linen products are presented in the video:

Conclusion

When washed for the first time, linen items will shrink slightly. In the future, you can avoid changing the size if you follow simple rules: wash clothes in cool water, at low speeds and without using aggressive detergents.