11 effective ways to stretch a drape or wool coat if it shrinks during washing

Which fabrics can be restored after improper washing?

Fabrics made from natural materials such as wool, cotton and their mixtures with synthetics are most susceptible to shrinkage. While cotton clothes are quite easy to shape, woolen fabrics require a fair bit of fiddling. That is why it is strongly recommended to use the most gentle mode for washing such items, and it is better to wash them by hand. In this case, it is necessary to use only lukewarm water, since the item often shrinks due to exposure to hot water.

How much does it cost to dry clean a coat?

Prices for dry cleaning coats

How to stretch a wool coat if it shrinks

An excellent way to stretch a wool coat, as well as any other wool product, is hydrogen peroxide. Dilute 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide in 10 liters of warm water. Dip the coat and, while rinsing, stretch it slightly. After this, you should leave the coat for an hour. After this time, you should stretch the coat on a horizontal surface. Woolen coats should only be dried this way, because hanging them can stretch them more than necessary.

I don't like the feeling of prickly fur. Which natural composition is better to choose?

A tactilely pleasant material is, of course, cashmere. You can reduce the prickly effect by using a composition with synthetic materials and choosing softer wool, for example: angora, llama wool, alpaca and merino wool. Pay attention to the composition of the coat in &Other Stories: 38% alpaca, 37% wool, 25% polyamide. Suitable for kinesthetic learners. Feel free to ask what specific wool the coat is made from. And, of course, give yourself time to try it on and evaluate how it feels, because a coat is an investment in your wardrobe.

Find out 5 more signs of a quality coat: tips from stylist Kristina Yarongova.

How to stretch a viscose item

Viscose is a very delicate and delicate fabric, therefore, in order to avoid problems associated with puffs and stretching, it is necessary to properly wash and dry items made from it.

Some viscose clothes absolutely cannot be washed either in a machine or by hand - this is indicated on the label. But if you found out about it too late, you need to have information on how to correct what was done.

To return viscose to its original shape, you need to soak it in cool water for a few minutes, then hang it on a wooden hanger to drain excess moisture. After this, it is recommended to lay the item out on a horizontal surface and gradually stretch it to the desired size throughout the drying process.

Does a double-breasted coat make your figure look bulky? Who is it suitable for?

A double-breasted coat can create volume in the chest and waist area due to the accent - two rows of buttons. But, in my opinion, not only slender girls can wear a double-breasted coat. The key to choosing a coat is the cut and the absence of other accents (patch pockets, large print). For example, a double-breasted coat with a loose fit and a V-neck can look effortless and elegant.

Look at what shoes to wear with fashionable coats.

How to stretch a jacket or trousers if they have shrunk after washing in the washing machine

There are three methods that you can use to return your jacket or trousers to their original appearance.

• The shrunken jacket should be immersed in water for 10 minutes (no more!), and then placed horizontally without wrung out. After 1-2 hours, place a terry towel under the shrunken item. When the jacket dries, it will be its normal size again.
• The second method differs from the first only in that the wet sweater or trousers are not laid out on the surface, but are put on oneself or on a mannequin. It is important to attach a weight to the bottom of the sweater and the sleeves so that the fabric does not have the opportunity to shrink back.
• Pour 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide into 10 liters of water and dip the jacket in this liquid for one hour. Hydrogen peroxide will make the fibers of the fabric more elastic, so it will be easier to stretch. After an hour, you need to put the item on the mannequin.

When using these methods, the most important step is the drying step. Do not dry shriveled clothes in the sun or near heaters. The drying process should take place indoors at room temperature.

Is it true that the heavier the coat, the warmer it is?

Absolutely not. With equal fabric thickness, a cashmere coat is at least six times warmer than a wool coat, and the former weighs five times less than the latter. This is such magical cashmere. Which, by the way, has not only advantages, but also high cost, demanding care, and no one has canceled the pellets. But in terms of heat-saving properties and lightness, cashmere comes first. But the drape coat is considered the heaviest, since it is a very dense material.

Look at what to wear with a trendy gray coat so as not to look boring.

What to do if you need to stretch something consisting of different fabrics

Today, most clothing is made from a mixture of natural and synthetic fabrics. Such things also tend to shrink. You can stretch them like this:

1. Soak for 15 minutes.
2. Wash again in the machine without powder on a delicate cycle.
3. Hang to dry vertically on a hanger or drying rack.
4. Throughout the drying process, it is necessary to stretch the item.

You can also use the method for woolen items to stretch clothes made from such fabric to the desired shape, just increase the dosage of hydrogen peroxide by 1 tablespoon.

Dry cleaners use temperature to restore this type of clothing. At home you can use it as follows:

1. Soak the item for 10 minutes in cold water.
2. Place on ironing board.
3. Then iron using the “steam” mode.

In conclusion, it is important to note that it is better to pay attention to how jeans or any other clothing should be washed before washing, than to stretch it later to return it to its original appearance.

Caring for woolen products must be careful, as they can easily lose their former softness and warmth, and also decrease in size. Since it can be difficult to stretch a woolen item if it has shrunk after washing, you should select the right household chemicals and processing temperature. If a problem arises, simple folk remedies can help.

What mode should I use to wash a polyester coat?

You can wash a coat made of cotton and polyester in a washing machine as follows: place the coat in the drum of the washing machine, then add powder and select the “delicate wash” mode. The spin should be set to several turns, and after washing the coat should be hung to dry on a trempel.

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Why do woolen items shrink after washing?

A wool sweater can shrink due to an incorrect washing machine program; also, unsuitable powders or too hot water have a negative effect on the fibers.

Attention! It is necessary to carefully read the information on the product label, as it specifies the appropriate temperature mode and automatic washing program.

To prevent things from shrinking, you should remember a few rules:

1. Difficult stains should be treated separately before washing. To do this, you can use folk remedies or special chemicals.
2. Hot water is contraindicated for washing woolen products - it should not exceed 30–40 °C.
3. It is recommended to wash clothes by hand or set the machine to a special “wool” mode.
4. You should pay attention to drying things: they should not be wrung out or twisted. It is necessary to place them on a horizontal surface, but away from heat sources. You should also not dry woolen clothes on radiators, under the sun or with a hair dryer.
5. Special liquid chemicals are used to wash wool.

If the item is quite expensive, it is recommended to have it dry cleaned. Professionals will help remove individual stains on the product and prevent it from shrinking.

Wrong chemistry

Woolen items do not tolerate the use of ordinary powder, as it contains alkali, which destroys the fibers, and because of this the product is deformed and loses its former softness.

During washing, it is necessary to use cold water, so it is recommended to use special chemicals for delicate fabrics. Regular powder cannot work effectively at low temperatures, and it is not washed out of the fibers.

Advice. You need to look for wool washing gel on the shelves of hardware stores. Before the procedure, you must carefully read the instructions for use and follow the recommendations provided.

Sudden change in temperature

Wool is a delicate fabric, so it is necessary to monitor the water temperature during automatic washing. Ideally it should not exceed 30°C, as hot water increases the risk of shrinkage.

Advice. In order not to think about the temperature and how to stretch a wool sweater that has shrunk after improper washing, it is recommended to select a special program on the washing machine panel. It involves gentle spinning and cool water.

How to prevent fabric shrinkage

In order not to spoil expensive wool clothes, you must follow these rules:

• Before washing, you need to carefully study the label, which contains all the necessary information.
• If the label indicates that the item cannot be washed, you need to abandon this idea and use dry cleaning services.
• Wool products can be washed at a temperature of no more than 30 degrees.
• Such clothes can only be washed with special products for delicate fabrics.
• Wool coats should not be twisted; such items should only be dried in a horizontal position.

When drying woolen items, do not use heating devices, this will lead to deformation of the item.

If your woolen coat or sweater is worn out, don’t be too upset; you can try to correct this mistake. There are many ways to stretch shrunken items, so you can choose the one that is suitable for this particular case.

How to return woolen items to their original appearance

Warped wool can be salvaged in several ways, but care must be taken when stretching the fabric or it may tear.

To return a woolen item to its previous size after washing, as if it had never shrunk, you can use a simple method: soak the item and put it on yourself. The method only works with minor deformation. To stretch the sweater along the sleeves, you can tie small weights so that they pull the material down.

To revive an item with an iron, you need to place the item on an ironing board and place a towel. Wet gauze is placed on top, and as ironing proceeds, it is periodically moistened with a spray bottle. The product is ironed and straightened by hand.

Attention! It is necessary to set the mode “for wool”, otherwise too hot temperatures will only damage things. In addition, you need to turn on the steam mode.

Hydrogen peroxide and ammonia

Hydrogen peroxide is a universal remedy that is suitable for removing stains of various origins and stretching woolen items. Take 1 tbsp. l. peroxide per 5 liters of clean water, then the product is washed in the solution. In this case, you need to slightly stretch the clothes, paying special attention to the seams.

After an hour, you need to carefully wring it out and put it on a table or floor to dry, placing a terry towel on it. As the item dries, it should be stretched so that it takes its previous shape.

You can restore a woolen item that has shrunk after washing using either peroxide or ammonia. Moreover, these ingredients are often used in combination with each other to achieve better results. Instead of ammonia, cologne and turpentine are also used, but these methods have a noticeable drawback - the smell.

A wool jacket that has shrunk - let's stretch it on the carpet

To reliably and safely stretch the jacket without losing its shape, we will use the “grandmother’s” method. It will require a solution of the following ingredients:

• 5 liters of cold water;
• 5 tablespoons of ammonia;
• 1 tablespoon of turpentine;
• 1 tablespoon cologne.

Operating procedure:

1. Soak the affected product for an hour and a half in the solution.
2. Rinse in clean water at the same temperature and squeeze a little.
3. Baste the jacket to a piece of thick fabric. To do this, spread a cloth on the table - a tablecloth, a sheet folded in 4 layers, a terry towel. Lay the jacket on top of the fabric, stretch it with your hands and begin sewing it along the contour to the fabric below. Make stitches in 2 cm increments. While sewing, constantly adjust the position of the jacket.
4. Stretch the fabric to which the jacket is sewn onto the frame (as indicated in the original recipe). In modern realities, you can do it simpler: lay out the fabric with the jacket on a cleaned rug and attach it to it with pins, pulling it tightly. To do this, you will need a helper to hold the fabric taut while you pin it to the carpet.
5. Dry your jacket this way.

Precautionary measures:

• this method is absolutely not suitable if there are small children or playful animals in the house;
• count and write down the number of pins used: you should collect the same number later.

Ten ways to stretch your coat

1. Immerse the coat in a bath of cold or cool water with a temperature of up to 30 degrees. Hold the product for 10-15 minutes, remove it and carefully wrap it in a large terry towel or sheet. Do not wring out woolen items under any circumstances! After about twenty minutes, when the moisture has been absorbed, hang the product on a hanger with soft hangers, straighten the material and leave to dry completely at room temperature, preferably in a room with good ventilation;
2. For five liters of cool water with a temperature of up to 30 degrees, take three tablespoons of ammonia and a spoonful of vodka and turpentine. Stir and dip the shrunken coat into the mixture. Leave for forty minutes and then dry upright at room temperature. After this treatment, the wool becomes elastic and stretches well. Lay the product on a horizontal surface and leave to dry, periodically stretching it in width or length with your hands;
3. If woolen items have stretched after washing, prepare a solution with hydrogen peroxide. To do this, dilute two tablespoons of the product in ten liters of water. Then rinse the shrunken coat with the mixture. During the procedure, stretch the material in the right places. Leave the product for two hours, then remove it and lay it out to dry on a horizontal surface, periodically stretching the material in the desired directions;
4. Prepare a solution in the proportion of three to four tablespoons of soda per two liters of water. Immerse the stretched item in the resulting composition and leave for 4-6 hours. Then rinse the product thoroughly in a solution of two liters of water and ten tablespoons of tartaric acid or wine vinegar. Leave the product in the solution for two hours, then rinse in clean water and send to dry;
5. If you want to stretch your coat, hang the wet item on a mannequin or hanger, attach a small weight underneath and leave to dry. The fur will quickly stretch downwards. You can extend the sleeves in the same way;
6. Dissolve a small amount of wool washing powder in water. Soak the coat for half an hour and rinse completely in clean, cool water, then gently wring it out, put it in a bag and put it in the freezer for a day. After a day, take out the product, lay it out on a horizontal surface and leave until completely dry. The coat will return to its previous size and shape;
7. A white or light cashmere, wool or drape coat can be soaked in milk for half an hour. Then the products are rinsed in cool water with a temperature of up to 30 degrees, wrapped for a while in a terry sheet or towel and left to dry on a horizontal surface;
8. For this method, you will need a special frame of the required size, which you can buy or make yourself from plastic, wood, plywood or other available materials. Lay the wet coat on a piece of thick fabric, stretch it to the desired size and secure it by sewing or basting to the bottom layer of fabric. The base is stretched on the prepared frame and left until completely dry;
9. If you don't have a steam generator or an iron with the appropriate function, choose the traditional steaming method. To do this, fill the bathtub with boiling water and hang your coat over the water. Leave the item in a closed bathroom for one to two hours, periodically pulling the material off in the desired areas. But it is important that the coat is located at some distance from the boiling water and is not immersed in water!;
10. Steam treatment will help straighten and straighten the coat, while returning the product to its original appearance and shape. Take a steam generator or an iron with a vertical steam function. Hang the coat on a hanger and steam the product on each side at a distance of 15-20 centimeters. At the same time, stretch the material in the desired directions. Be careful and don't get burned!

What can you do with shrunk socks and mittens?

Such a misfortune is doubly unpleasant if it happens in severe winter, and socks or mittens that have become smaller after washing are the only ones. To help the grief, you will need:

• vinegar;
• spray;
• many newspapers;
• any strong clips or clothespins.

Instructions:

1. Soak things in water (you can add hair balm).
2. Stretch them a little with your hands.
3. Remove and squeeze without twisting.
4. Spray wet items with vinegar from a spray bottle.
5. Place more crumpled newspapers inside and secure the edges of the cuffs with clothespins to prevent the newspapers from falling out. You will have to change the paper sometimes, and the more often you can do this, the faster everything will dry. The smell of vinegar disappears quite quickly.

Woolen items are useful to wear for people suffering from rheumatism, osteochondrosis, orthopedic diseases and circulatory disorders.

Vinegar and crumpled newspapers will help restore the shape and size of mittens or socks made of wool.