April 21, 2025, 3:52 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Clothes should neither be washed too hot nor dried too hot. But sometimes it just happens that an item shrinks. The good news: it can be reversed—with a few simple tricks and household remedies!
First of all, it should be said that the tricks against shrunk clothing do not work with polyester, cashmere and silk. These fabrics are woven very tightly during production. If something shrinks, there is unfortunately no chance of saving it. The situation is different with knitwear and crocheted items. There is hope for improvement here, and it is easier than expected.
Overview
Trick to Save Shrunk Clothing
Soaking
Clothes shrink because the fibers contract due to incorrect washing or too much heat. So it’s important to gently relax them again. This requires three secret weapons: conditioner, baby shampoo and enough time. Soak the “washing accident” in a large bowl of lukewarm water into which you have previously stirred a teaspoon of baby shampoo or conditioner. Leave to stand for at least half an hour.
Wring Out
Then carefully spread out the shrunk clothing on a large towel. Important: Do not rinse. The conditioner-shampoo mixture has not yet done its work completely. Roll the towel up and gently press on the ‘towel roll’ to allow as much moisture as possible to escape from the garment in need of rescue.
Stretch and Dry
Place the damp item of clothing on another towel and pluck it back into its original shape. Please do not tear or tug; otherwise, it may look worse after the procedure than before. Then, spread the garment out to dry and, if necessary, secure the ends with heavy objects or clothespins to stretch the garment further.
Repeat the Process
If the shrunk clothing has not yet regained its original shape after the procedure, simply repeat the whole process until it has worked. Only when the shrunken item of clothing looks as it did before the accident when dry can you carefully wash it out and put it back on.
Vinegar as a Household Remedy for Shrunk Clothing
Whether for limescale stains or grease splashes – hardly any household remedy is used for a different purpose than vinegar. But it is also said to help with shrunk clothing. To do this, mix a vinegar bath of water and vinegar in a ratio of two to one and leave the shrunk wool sweater to soak for about half an hour without rinsing. After wringing out, stuff the sweater with towels. These will soak up the liquid and ensure that the fabric stretches out again. Then leave the sweater to air dry completely on a hanger.
Taking a Bath with Shrunk Jeans
Jeans can also shrink in the tumble dryer. In this case, however, you can simply take shrunk clothing into the bath. To do this, put the trousers on (as well as you can) and, if possible, fasten the button and zipper. Now comes the unusual part: sit in the lukewarm bath for about ten minutes while wearing the jeans. Afterward, it’s best to keep the jeans on for a bit longer, allowing the fabric to stretch and conform to your body. Due to the circumstances, this method is particularly suitable on warm days.
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How to Avoid Shrunk Clothing
To best prevent shrinkage, it’s crucial to adhere strictly to the care instructions on the garment’s label. We also recommend using the gentle cycle in the dryer (tumble dry or iron dry). If you have removed the care label, if in doubt, use low temperatures and refrain from tumble drying.