How To Shrink A Shirt That's Just Bit Too Big

5 tips for shrinking—on purpose.

Typically, people want to take steps to avoid shrinking their clothing. We do our research and take the necessary steps to avoid this common laundry mistake. Usually the goal is to ensure that our favorite garments don’t come out of the wash clean but child-sized. However, sometimes intentional shrinking has its merits.

Perhaps you lost some weight and find your clothes suddenly baggy or maybe you found a good deal on a top that’s not available in your size. Or it may be that you’re tired of an oversized look you’ve been sporting. No matter what the case, shrinking may be the solution.

As we’ve all discovered through numerous unintentional laundry mishaps, accidentally shrinking clothes is all too easy. Controlled shrinking is almost just as easy to facilitate. With just a little effort, a shirt that’s a size too big can lose an inch or two and fit just right. Follow these tips for a smaller shirt.

Check To See If It’s Pre-Shrunk

Some garments are pre-shrunk prior to being sold in order to avoid accidental shrinking at home. The tag should indicate whether or not this is the case. If your shirt has been pre-shrunk, it won’t be very susceptible to more shrinking.

Determine Fabric Type

Different fabrics will shrink based on how much water their fibers can absorb. Synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester don’t absorb much water and therefore aren’t very prone to shrinking. Natural fibers on the other hand, like silk, wool, rayon, linen, and cotton, can take in a lot of water and have lots of opportunity for shrinkage. Check the tag. If you’re working with a cotton shirt, or a garment made of another natural fabric, then you’re set to shrink.

Do The Opposite Of What You’re Supposed To

To avoid accidentally shrinking clothes in the laundry, we would normally recommend preventative measures like following the washing instructions on the label, choosing gentle and cold washer and dryer settings, and being careful not to over-dry clothes. When the goal is shrinking though, the rules are flipped on their head. If the tag says not to do something that will cause shrinking, go ahead and do it. Likewise, hotter settings may be encouraged in this situation and some extra time in the dryer may do just the trick.

Spike The Heat

In general, adding heat and moisture will cause natural fabrics to shrink. This can be accomplished in a few different ways. Turn up the water temperature in the washing machine then choose a hotter setting for the dryer—or just do one of these steps hotter than you usually would. Heat-based shrinking can also be achieved away from the laundry room. Try putting your shirt in a pot of boiling water or honing in with a steamer set to its highest temperature.

Be Patient

When shrinking a shirt on purpose, Whirlpool recommends going slow. Implement shrinking measures in small, short increments so that you don’t accidentally shrink your shirt more than intended. Stop and monitor your progress frequently to decide if you want to keep shrinking or if you’re happy with your shirt’s new size.

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