Ways to solve the problem, or what to do if the jacket shrinks after washing

If washing a sweater was unsuccessful and the item became one size smaller, there is no need to despair. Shrunken tissue can be restored.

What to do if a jacket, including a woolen one, shrinks after washing? Read the article about how to stretch a sweater using improvised means and not completely ruin it, and how to prevent possible shrinkage of the item when washing.

How to stretch a shrunken item?

To stretch shrunken fabric, you can use improvised means. Hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, hair conditioner and other substances that can be found in every home come to the rescue.

However, they must be used correctly. Without following the instructions, you will not be able to return items to their original size.

Hydrogen peroxide

You can restore shrinkage fabric using hydrogen peroxide. This inexpensive antiseptic helps relax the bonds between the fibers, so they can be stretched.

Procedure:

1. The item is lowered into the prepared composition.
2. Leave it for half an hour. For delicate fabrics this time is reduced to 10 minutes.
3. Gently wring out and shake the fabric.
4. Lay it out on a flat surface.
5. During the drying process, stretch the jacket with your hands in the desired direction. It is important to control the strength and uniformity of tension so that the product does not deform.

Peroxide is only used on light-colored or heavily dyed dark fabrics, as it can cause color fading.

Before soaking the jacket, the solution should be tested on an inconspicuous area of ​​fabric. If she responds normally, the procedure can be continued. Peroxide helps restore no more than 1 size.

Turpentine

Turpentine is a unique product that helps not only stretch a thing, but also remove stubborn stains from it. It is gentle on the material, so it can be used for processing delicate fabrics.

The only drawback of turpentine is its pungent odor.. It is difficult to remove it with some substances or drown it out with perfume.

How to use turpentine:

1. Prepare a solution (5 liters of water will require 2 tablespoons of product). You can enhance the effect with ammonia. It is taken in the amount of 4 tbsp. l.
2. Soak the jacket and leave for 60 minutes.
3. Rinse the item, gently wring it out and send it to dry.

During the drying process, the fabric must be stretched with your hands. Some housewives add 1 tbsp to the solution of turpentine and ammonia. l. a spoonful of cologne. This increases the effectiveness of the method, but foreign odors will take longer to disappear from the jacket.

You need to wear gloves when working with turpentine.. The room should be well ventilated. Prolonged inhalation of its vapors leads to headaches.

Conditioner or hair rinse

Hair care products help return the jacket to its original size, as they make the fabric fibers more elastic and pliable.To achieve the goal, you can use both conditioner and rinse aid. The main thing is that they do not contain coloring pigments.

Procedure:

• dilute 1 tbsp in 1 liter of water. l. air conditioner;
• soak the item in the solution for 15 minutes;
• rinse the jacket in clean water;
• lay it out to dry on a flat surface.

Table vinegar

To give the jacket its original size and stretch it slightly, you can use vinegar. The essence is not used for treating fabrics. This should be vinegar with a concentration of 9%.

Apply it as follows:

1. Prepare a solution. For every liter of water take 1 tbsp. l. vinegar.
2. Gloves are put on your hands.
3. Soak a sponge in vinegar and wipe the jacket if you need to stretch certain areas of it, for example, the sleeves.
4. When the product has completely shrunk, it is soaked entirely.
5. Leave the item in the basin for 10-30 minutes, after which it is washed in the usual way.
6. After wrung out the jacket from the water, lay it out on a flat surface. From time to time, the deformed areas are stretched manually.

Steam

Although washing in hot water causes the fabric to shrink, steam has a different effect. To obtain the desired result, you need to use the steamer correctly.

Details to pay attention to:

1. The jacket is not steamed dry. It is soaked in warm water (you can add hydrogen peroxide or vinegar), squeezed out, and slightly dried. Only after this can the steam generator be used.
2. The item must be pulled onto a mannequin of the appropriate size. If it is not at hand, then stuff the jacket with terry towels. The fibers of the fabric must be kept taut during the steaming procedure.
3. Continue steaming the item until it is completely dry. During the ironing process, you need to help yourself with your hands.

This method is not suitable for stretching 100% wool sweaters. Such products do not tolerate exposure to high temperatures and will become unusable.

Stretching a woolen product

Woolen sweaters lend themselves well to stretching. Such products can be increased by 1.5-2 sizes.

Features of restoration of woolen products:

1. The fibers can be stretched well if you wash the jacket in water with hair rinse. You can also use regular shampoo or fabric conditioner containing lanolin.
2. If the jacket needs to be stretched in length, it can be hung on hangers. Under the weight of its own weight, the product will increase in size.
3. If only the sleeves of a sweater have shrunk, lay it out to dry on a flat surface. Only the deformed area needs to be pulled.
4. The jacket should not be spun in the washing machine at high speed. However, you are allowed to drive off excess water with your hands. This will help it stretch better.
5. Only liquid detergents can be used for washing.
6. Wool should not be ironed or steamed, even on the reverse side.

Cashmere, tweed and drape sweaters are all types of wool, so you need to care for them in accordance with general recommendations.

If it is not possible to constantly go up and pull a shrunken woolen jacket, after washing it can be spread on a terry towel and secured around the perimeter with pins. They will prevent the fabric from shrinking.

Is it worth going to dry cleaning?

If you cannot change the size of a shrunken item on your own, you need to seek help from specialists. The cost of stretching an item in dry cleaning starts from 550 rubles.

It all depends on the original condition of the jacket. If it has dirt, complex stains, or is severely deformed, the price may be doubled.

Not all dry cleaners carry out work to return the product to its original size.. The organization must have special mannequins that allow the fabric to dry, giving it the desired shape.

Therefore, before you hand over your jacket to the laundry, you need to clarify the purpose of your visit. They pay for the service only upon completion of it.

How to prevent shrinkage?

To prevent the jacket from shrinking again during subsequent washing, The following recommendations must be followed:

• do not wash the item in hot water;
• avoid sudden temperature changes;
• do not wring out the product at high speed;
• do not use aggressive detergents;
• Do not dry the jacket in the sun or near heat sources.

Useful and important information about washing outerwear is presented in given section.

Read about how to properly wash a jacket. Here.

Video on the topic

8 video tips for restoring your favorite shrunken sweater or cardigan:

Conclusion

If the jacket shrinks after washing, there is no need to put it on the far shelf. You can restore the item using inexpensive improvised means.

The steaming method does the job well. You should contact dry cleaning only if the product is expensive and there is a risk of damaging it due to inept actions.