Woolen items shrink after washing, what should I do? We are trying to restore woolen items. What can you do with shrunk socks and mittens?

The problem of shrinkage of woolen items can be easily solved by using special means and physical influence.

At improper care The wool product may become deformed. If a woolen item shrinks during washing, there is still a chance to fix it. I’ll tell you what methods you can use to return its shape and stretch it to its previous size.

How to get things back into shape?

There are two methods how to stretch shrunken woolen items:

Physical– that is, pulling out a wet product with your own hands, or a wet product by steaming with an iron;
Chemical- using special means.

The best result will be when combining these methods.

So what to do if you're out of washing machine the product was made of wool and noticed that it had shrunk.

The first step is to stretch it, while still wet, with your hands.. Do not dry.

Next - soaking in products that give elasticity(more about them below).

The next step is re-stretching. wet product.
The last stage is drying.

3 special products

Solve the problem and return same size You can wash woolen items using products you have at home:

Image	Instructions
	Remedy 1. Hydrogen peroxide Gives elasticity to wool threads. The instructions are simple: Pour 5 liters of water at room temperature into a basin. Add 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide and stir the solution with the same spoon. Place the damp, shrunken item into the solution and wait half an hour. Rinse the product. Achieve the desired result by observing the proportions in the solution, since a high concentration will ruin the wool threads. The price of the product is from 30 rubles. Dark items will lighten due to this chemical treatment, so this method is only suitable for light-colored items.
	Product 2. Conditioner for wool fabrics By using a wool conditioner (pictured) after an unsuccessful wash, you will return your clothes to their original size. The fibers will become soft and pliable: Dilute the concentrate according to the instructions. Soak for a few minutes. Without rinsing, wring out. Pull in different sides hands. Hang to dry by securing it to the base. So it stretches under its own weight.
	Product 3. Hair conditioner The use of hair conditioner is quite effective in solving the problem of how to restore woolen item. Its main components are similar to the composition of conditioners that make wool soft. This facilitates easy stretching. The purpose of shampoo is to cleanse, the purpose of conditioner is to nourish. hair follicles, and the conditioner “works” with the hair shaft. Therefore, use it if a woolen item has shrunk. Your actions: Dilute a tablespoon of conditioner in warm water (5 liters). Soak wool clothes for half an hour. Without rinsing, lightly wring or wrap in a towel.

Physical impact

While stretching, make sure that the clothing does not lose its symmetry. How to stretch a shrunken woolen item after treatment with special products?

Method 1: Use a towel instead of squeezing

This method will help lengthen clothes:

Wet the item.

Take terry towel and lay it out on the table.
Pull the clothes out with your hands and place them on a towel.
Roll it up and wait 10 minutes - like this terry cloth will absorb moisture.
Replace the towel and stretch the clothing again.
Hang the woolen item on a rope, securing the base with clothespins. As it dries, it will stretch under its own weight.

Method 2: Iron

This method works if the product has slightly shrunk and is already dry.. This is how you can pull out a synthetic item:

Straighten your clothes ironing board.
Cover with a damp cotton towel.
Iron while stretching.
The steam function of the iron will enhance the effect.

Method 3: Put it on yourself

An excellent method is to let the product dry, maintaining its shape during drying.. There are several ways to do this:

Put it on yourself and walk until it dries. Pull out sleeves and hem to avoid shrinkage.
Build a structure on which to secure the thing stretched by hand with pins. For example, on a cork board.
Pull it onto a mannequin, the back of a chair or armchair.

Method 4: for the header

To make the hat stretch If it has shrunk after washing, use the common method - dry it by putting it on a kitchen utensil or ball.

Find suitable size jar, pan, ball.
Wet your hat in cold water with air conditioning.
After 10 minutes, squeeze lightly.
Pull onto a suitable object and leave to dry.

In this way, you can restore the shape of even a very shrunken headdress. The hat will correspond to the size of the item on which it was dried.

Conclusion

Now, knowing how to stretch a thing after washing, you can easily solve this problem. All of the above methods are easily accessible and effective. Check out the video in this article for visual tips. If you have a question or know new way How to return the size of a shrunken item - write in the comments.

Let’s ask ourselves a question: how often do we look at the manufacturer’s label when purchasing a piece of clothing? It seems the answer will be: infrequently. Because we don't know how to care for our purchases, we can ruin them and end up throwing them away.

Who hasn’t encountered the phenomenon that after washing your favorite sweater or dress turns out to be one size smaller? And even more. What to do if the item shrinks after washing, is it possible to return it? original appearance, what methods exist - more on that below.

Each type of fabric has its own structure and requires specific care. What is suitable for silk items is destructive for wool or viscose.

What materials are at risk after machine washing?

Cotton
Wool
Some types of synthetics

Before. How to tell how to return clothes to their previous size, let’s note why they shrink. There are several reasons for this.

Incorrect spin mode selected. Sometimes the material needs delicacy or complete absence spin cycle, and the owner set the speed too high.
Temperature can also affect size. Too cold or hot will cause the product to shrink.
Some fabrics shrink more than others. To prevent this, we carefully study the tag.

How to stretch a shrunken item - a proven method - video

How to stretch an item that has shrunk after washing

There are several ways to return clothes to their original appearance. So what should you do? To begin with, divide clothes by type of fabric - each material has its own method of stretching.

Wool

Due to the fact that wool fibers do not stretch very well, this task can be difficult, and you will need to work hard to return the garment to its original appearance.

Let's prepare a basin with water, put the woolen product there after washing. Time – about 15 minutes. Then we take it out and wrap it in a towel to absorb excess moisture. Then we lay out the washed items in the prepared place until completely dry. It is advisable that the surface is smooth and not in the sun.

There is one more radical way, but effective - we put a wet woolen product on ourselves and walk until it dries. If you have a large mannequin in the house, you can use it, but in this case we attach small weights to the sleeves so that they are pulled back.

To save something, some housewives put a little hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, or turpentine in water and leave the item for a couple of hours (they help achieve the desired effect).

Any woolen item may shrink in size after washing. Having put on your favorite blouse, socks or gloves, you will find that they are too small for you! The situation is unfortunate. Experienced housewives they remember this, and when washing and drying woolen products, special techniques are used so that the clothes do not shrink, but retain their original shape. Let's talk about these secrets.

Wool fabric consists of very small fibers. They are woven into threads, but there is still quite a lot of space between them. This is what makes woolen items, especially knitted ones, so airy and warm - the air in the spaces between the fibers of the wool does not allow heat to pass through, trapping it near your body.

So, in the process of improper washing, these villi come closer together and adhere to each other with microscopic scales that are on their surface. After drying, the fabric remains in this state. This leads to clothing shrinking in size.

Making the lint stick together can be like washing in hot water, and a strong spin, and even ironing with a hot iron with steam.

How to wash properly

First of all, it is useful to understand simple rules washing woolen items:

Washing should not be done in hot water. The labels that are usually on clothes indicate acceptable conditions, and for wool the water temperature is always suggested to be around 30-40 degrees, not higher.
It is advisable to wash things by hand, or use a special “for wool” mode if your washing machine has one. The drum will only feed warm water and no spin will be used.
You need to dry washed items by laying them out on a horizontal surface, without twisting or squeezing them, trying to remove water.

These are all the main principles on how to prevent woolen items from shrinking when washing. The rest simply follows from common sense:

Do not rub or wring things when washing, only wring them lightly.
Use liquid detergents, because powders, acting as an abrasive, can damage the structure of wool fibers.
If possible, use only special washing gels, intended specifically for woolen products.
Do not hang washed items on radiators or other heat sources, no matter how much you would like to dry the clothes faster.

How to return the form

However, it happens that woolen clothes are still subject to deformation despite all your correct actions. It's unpleasant, but not scary; There are ways to return things to their former appearance.

The first thing you can do as soon as you take an item of clothing out of the washing machine and see that it has shrunk is to simply stretch it with your hands. Don't overdo it, proceed with caution. Woolen fabric, especially knitted and openwork (for example), in wet very delicate, and if you overdo it with stretching, you can only ruin it! Walk along the entire length of the item, gently pulling it apart with your hands. This can greatly prevent further shrinkage.

You can also do this. Squeeze the water out of the item so that it does not flow in streams, and place it on a table or ironing board. Place a cotton fabric on top and iron it with a not very hot iron, while constantly pulling the woolen product with your free hand. This way it will dry exactly the size you give it.

Special means

In order to more reliably return things to their previous appearance, you can use various chemical substances and folk tricks.

Hair conditioner. It makes hair more voluminous and silky. Its action is based on the fact that it closes the scales on the surface of each hair, envelops them and prevents them from sticking together. But this is exactly what we need to prevent woolen clothes from shrinking! So try this recipe:

Dissolve a little hair conditioner in 5 liters of water. The exact concentration can be read on the packaging.
Immerse your sweater or blouse in it and “wash” as usual, being careful not to use force or rub the fabric. You can just soak it and leave it like that for a while.
Remove the item from the conditioner solution and rinse in clean water to remove all chemicals.
Lay out on the table to dry.

Vinegar. This recipe is more complicated than the previous one and will require effort and time. And also reliable ventilation.

Prepare a solution of one part vinegar and two parts water. (That is, you will need quite a lot of vinegar).
Soak a woolen item in this solution, put it on the fire and boil for half an hour. Then turn off the heat and let it cool.
Take the product out, squeeze it out of the liquid without twisting it, and spread it on a clean cloth or large towel. Cover the top with a cotton cloth and iron it.
Dry the product on fresh air until all the pungent odor disappears.

Vinegar helps soften the wool fibers and prevents them from sticking together.

Hydrogen peroxide. It is used in the same way as vinegar, only the concentration is much less. For 5 liters of water you will need only 1 - 2 tablespoons of peroxide.

But remember that the method is suitable because this substance lightens the wool. That is, your wool blouse was black, but will turn gray! Make no mistake, be careful.

Milk. Another folk way for light and pure white woolen clothing. Pour at least 3 liters of milk into a basin or bucket and simply soak the item in it for half an hour or an hour. After this, rinse in large quantities water and dry on a horizontal surface.

The method is not cheap, so it makes sense to use it only for expensive wardrobe items.

Note that in hardware stores you can buy preparations specifically designed for treating wool against shrinkage.

Physical impact

About itself in a simple way has already been described above: immediately after washing, while the item is still wet, carefully stretch it along its entire length with your hands. But there are also other methods.

Sometimes after air drying an item in a straightened state, you may find that it has shrunk again. To avoid being on duty waiting for your sweater to dry, do this. Immediately after washing, spread it on a large towel; Make sure that no parts hang over the edges of the towel. And then just roll the sweater and towel into a roll. In this form, the woolen item will not go anywhere; it will not be able to shrink again. You can unwrap your “roll” from time to time and change the towel for a dry one.

It can be very unpleasant when wool trousers or after washing they became a little short. This can also be prevented. While the pants are still wet, hang them on a rope by the waistband using clothespins. Then take two trouser hangers with clips and attach them to the bottom of each pant leg, and hang some weight on the hooks.

With wool knitted hat it's still simpler. After washing, pull it onto a three-liter glass jar, and leave it to dry.

And woolen socks can be stuffed with crumpled newspapers. Just don’t forget to change them from time to time for dry ones.

Which remedies are best to avoid?

As already mentioned, strong chemicals are best used only for washing. light clothes, since dark ones can change color from them.

Don't use regular ones washing powders. They do not dissolve completely in water; solid particles still remain, which will probably cause damage when washed. delicate fabric.

Before starting any wash, it is best to try the selected product on an inconspicuous area of the fabric.

Try not to wash woolen items frequently, as this will not be good for them. Small stains that may appear are best removed using dry methods.

Conclusion

So, when the right approach your favorite wool blouses, sweaters and pullovers will survive washing without much harm. Just be careful, act slowly, and think everything through. With certain experience, even very delicate and expensive products made from cashmere or angora, they can easily withstand the procedure.

Has your favorite wool sweater become a size smaller after washing? This happens if you wash delicate fabrics like wool incorrectly. Is it possible stretch a woolen item, returning it to its previous size, as is done correctly at home and preventive measures against shrinkage.

What can cause woolen items to shrink?

Wool is a delicate material that requires special precautions when washing and drying. The following unacceptable maneuvers lead to significant shrinkage:

wash at temperatures above 30 degrees
use of alkaline powders
Machine wash normal + spin
accelerated drying using any heating devices

Some things cannot be revived at all after they have shrunk, so in some cases you will have to take a philosophical approach to the problem: this means that this item has “outlived its usefulness” in your wardrobe. But try stretch a woolen item if it has shrunk not much, it’s definitely necessary, because you might succeed! Then you will save your favorite clothes, you will save money, and from now on you will learn to wash according to the rules.

Various ways

If it's a jacket, sweater or something similar? The easiest way is to soak the thing in s. Leave it to “take a bath” for half an hour, then lightly wring it out and spread it on a spread towel. As the product dries, it is advisable to change the towel to a dry one. In general, you should be prepared for the fact that a woolen item can take a very long time to dry, up to two days. This is due to the fact that wool is unusually hygroscopic and slowly releases moisture. That's why you should change the towels under your jacket more often - so that there is no musty smell. Another tip: turn the product from one side to the other so that it is ventilated.

If this method does not help, try steaming through gauze. The idea is to iron the shrunken item through a damp cloth and at the same time stretch it with your hands. It’s good if you have an “accomplice” in this matter: one irons, the other pulls the fabric with both hands. This method is very effective if used with four hands, be sure to use it.

How to stretch a shrunken woolen item, if these are trousers, a skirt or a cardigan (something elongated). It is known that wool products are not dried on a line so that they do not stretch, but in order to stretch the item in length, this is exactly what we will do. But first you need to soak the “victim” in cold water with the addition of hydrogen peroxide, a tablespoon per five liters of water. This way we will make the fibers more “accommodating”. The clothes should lie in the prepared solution for a couple of hours, after which they can be taken out and, after wrung out slightly, hung on a rope. Naturally, you need to hang it so that the product “sags” along its length: pants by the belt, and a cardigan by the shoulders. Use a lot of clothespins. While the top dries out, the water will flow downwards, and under its weight the product itself will stretch. Water will drip, so place a basin. When everything is dry, you will see that the item has acquired its original length.

What to do with a hat if it doesn’t fit on your head after washing

Everything is simple with a hat. Soak it in cool water with hair balm, wring it out, roll it in a towel, and put it on a three-liter jar. Let it dry. By the way, it is recommended to dry all hats (hats, caps, panama hats and berets) in this way, so they retain their shape in the best possible way.

How to stretch small woolen items (mittens, socks, footwear)

As you probably already guessed, you first need to soak the shrunken items. What do you have on hand? Hair balm, fabric softener, a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide or the same amount will do. ammonia for five liters of water. Let the clothes lie in the water for about an hour, then wring them out without twisting them and... put them on! Both socks and mittens should be worn (at home!) until completely dry. The method is somewhat unpleasant, but reliable.

To avoid having to stretch items that have shrunk, always carefully read the labels on your clothes before putting them in the wash. Wash wool in cold water with special means, preferably with your hands, do not twist, squeeze, and dry on a towel. Such simple rules will help you preserve for a long time attractive appearance woolen things. Comfort and warmth to you!

Stretching an item that has shrunk after washing is a painstaking, time-consuming and often risky task. Before stretching clothes, you should consider whether the chosen method takes into account the characteristics of the fabric from which the item of clothing is made.

Mechanical

There are several ways to stretch things with your own hands using physical properties water and air.

Soak shrunken clothes in cool water for 15 minutes. Then, without squeezing, lay it out on a horizontal surface, stretching it a little with your hands. Place a microfiber towel underneath. The item should dry naturally.
Wash clothes in a machine on a delicate cycle (without spinning and at minimum temperature). Detergent no need to add. After completing the procedure, hang the item on a hanger and dry it in vertical position. During drying, it is important to monitor the symmetry of paired parts. When choosing this method, you should take into account the features of a particular washing machine model.
For this method you will need an iron with a steam setting. Lay out clothes previously soaked in cold water horizontally. Iron it. You need to steam the item without pressing. After completing the procedure, leave the clothes to dry in a straightened state.

Chemical

This method uses available household products based on chemical compounds.

Dilute 6 teaspoons of 3% hydrogen peroxide in 10 liters of cool water. Leave the shrunken wardrobe item in the solution for an hour, and then wash it in a machine on a gentle cycle.
Dissolve 1 tablespoon of vodka, 3 tablespoons of ammonia and 1 tablespoon of turpentine in 5 liters of water. Rinse clothes in the prepared solution and dry on hangers.
Prepare a solution of 1 liter of water and 10 g baking soda. Soak clothes in it for 12 hours. Wash the item in water with a small amount of powder. Then soak the clothes in a mixture of 2 liters of water and 10 tablespoons of vinegar for 2 hours. Then rinse thoroughly and dry.

Tip: Before using any of the above solutions, it is worth testing its effect on an inconspicuous area of clothing. Some liquids can negatively affect the color and structure of the fabric. It is equally important to strictly adhere to the solution recipe.

Fabric types

Each fabric requires specific care. Violation of the rules of care leads to loss of attractiveness appearance. During washing, the shrinkage effect threatens cotton, silk, linen, wool and a number of synthetic materials. Let's look at how to avoid shrinkage of certain fabrics and what to do if it happens.

Cotton

Restore the shape of a shrunken cotton shirt You can use a vinegar solution:

mix 3 tablespoons of vinegar per 10 liters of water;
dip the product in it for 10 minutes;
Wash clothes on a delicate cycle and hang them on hangers.

The damp cloth should be straightened and stretched from time to time.

When leaving, you should follow some rules:

Cotton items should not be washed when temperature indicator above 60°C.
Stains must be removed before machine washing.
New 100% cotton clothes are washed in cool water and dried naturally.
If the fabric is very thin, set the washing cycle to a delicate cycle or the “hand wash” program.

Linen

rinse in warm water;
hang to dry without wringing;
Iron the slightly damp product using a pulling motion with the iron.

Hard water and aggressive cleaning products are harmful to flax. The higher the quality of the flax, the less likely it is to shrink. High-quality linen is distinguished by a smooth surface, dense weave of threads and strong coloring.

Linen clothing can only be machine washed if the clothing has a special mark on it.
Only the delicate mode is suitable.
The water temperature should not exceed 40 °C.

Wool

Most safe way return wool products pristine appearance - using a special conditioner for washing wool:

2-3 caps of conditioner should be diluted in warm water;
leave shrunken clothes in this solution for 15 minutes;
When taking out the item, you need to let the water drain and remove any remaining moisture with a terry towel.

Let the product dry on another towel. To stretch up to the right size You can use pins or buttons to attach the item to the towel.

Caring for woolen wardrobe items:

Wash at low water temperature (more than 30 °C).
Use non-aggressive detergents.
Avoid machine washing.
Holders woolen sweaters You should get a specialized powder and, if there is no special program in the machine’s functionality, wash your favorite things by hand.
You can send a wool coat to the dry cleaner without hesitation.

Silk and synthetics

Following the rules will help avoid shrinkage:

Silk does not like rough mechanical impact, high temperature and alkaline detergents.
The fabric must be washed by hand at a temperature of no more than 30 °C.
Silk items should be rinsed twice: first in plain water, then in water with added softener.
From machine washable, even with a delicate regime, it is better to refuse.
It is better to send expensive silk clothes to the dry cleaner.
High-temperature washing is contraindicated not only for natural, but also for synthetic fabrics.
Shrinkage threatens products made of nylon and polyester. They are not recommended to be washed at temperatures above 40°C. Lycra, acrylic and spandex do not shrink.

Jeans made from cotton fabrics, which include denim, often become deformed after washing. If the fabric contains elastane, the jeans should not shrink.

Ironing will help stretch out shrunken jeans. A hot iron with steam will soften the fabric.
Pants with added elastic materials can be stretched directly on the body, after wetting problem areas.
An excellent assistant in the fight against shrinkage is a special waist expander. This tool allows you to stretch your jeans to the desired size.

To prevent jeans from shrinking in size during washing, you must adhere to the following rules:

Give preference to hand washing.
Do not wash jeans at temperatures above 30 °C.
Avoid machine drying.
Do not dry jeans in direct sunlight.

Tip: The Shrink to fit mark means that the jeans shrink after the first wash and will no longer change shape. In such a situation, you should buy a pair one size larger.

How to prevent fabric shrinkage

Preventing shrinkage is much easier than returning clothes to their original condition. The main rules to follow:

Follow the recommendations on clothing labels.
Avoid washing in hot water (30 °C is the optimal temperature).
Do not dry clothes near heating appliances.
Use tumble drying with caution.

Why do clothes shrink?

Shrinkage is the reduction in size of clothing when washed. The list of the most common causes of shrinkage includes:

Incorrect spin mode selected.
High water temperature.
Features of the fabric.
Drying in washing machine or on a heating device.

The basis of the above mistakes is ignoring recommendations for clothing care. Necessary information encrypted in special symbols on labels.

Washing recommendations contain an image of a rectangular container, on which you can often see the permissible temperature regime. Washing icons vary depending on the manufacturer. Dots may be used instead of numbers to indicate water temperature.

The ability to restore clothes after washing is useful to everyone. Although it is better not to take things to extreme measures, but to take care of things right away.