If you wash, iron and dry cotton items incorrectly, they can become deformed, shrink and shrink in size. In addition, clothes may be small to begin with. In this case, you can stretch the product to the desired parameters. But you should use safe methods to prevent clothes from deteriorating and shrinking even more. In this article we will look at how to stretch a cotton item correctly.
How to stretch something with baby shampoo
This simple method will allow you to stretch any clothing - from a T-shirt to sweatpants. To do this, you need to prepare a bowl, baby shampoo and two large towels.
- Fill the bowl with water, pour in baby shampoo, shake until a light foam appears, soak the clothes, while kneading them slightly with your hands so that the solution can penetrate between the fibers.
- Then we take it out and squeeze it, but lightly, and under no circumstances rinse or twist it.
- Now we take a dry large towel, straighten it, put the soaked clothes on top and roll it up, while pressing well on it. This will remove excess moisture.
- Then we put it on the second large dry towel and begin to pull it in all directions. It won't take much time.
- Let the clothes dry naturally.
Important! The next time you wash already stretched clothes, you cannot use automatic drying, otherwise the item will not only return to its previous size, but will also become even smaller.
Useful tips for stretching knitted sweaters
- A very interesting option is to put the product on yourself after preliminary soaking. After putting on a wet item, you can stretch it a little with your hands, moving from the stomach to the sides. This method is not very unpleasant, but it gives quite decent results for products made of any material. Ideally, a mannequin would be suitable to make stretching more convenient. You can also ask someone who wears clothes a couple sizes larger to wear a wet sweater.
- To stretch in length, additional weight is often used during the drying process. The main thing is not to overdo it, so as not to overtighten the product. To preserve the design or print, it is advisable to iron the area before soaking.
- It is best to carefully study the tags on things immediately after purchase. It lists all the actions that can be performed with them without the risk of losing their previous size. After all, it’s easier to prevent shrinkage than to suffer with restoration later!
What can be done from an old T-shirt
How to tie a sweater on the shoulders
How to stretch their cotton clothes
Cotton is a material with a composition of natural fibers, so violation of the washing temperature or improper drying can cause the fabric to shrink.
To correct this unpleasant situation, you can use the following method:
- Pour hydrogen peroxide or vinegar into a container with water (3 tablespoons per 10 liters), soak clothes in the solution for 30 minutes.
- We place the soaked clothes on a dry towel and begin to stretch them to the desired size.
- Leave to dry. We perform the procedure 3 times.
Advice! During subsequent washing, choose only the correct mode and a mild detergent.
Professional advice
Regardless of whether the item is wool or silk, it can always be restored if you listen to the recommendations of experts.
Why do clothes shrink?
There are many reasons why your dress, T-shirt, shirt or even pants may shrink. The most common of them are presented below.
- You are choosing the wrong spin cycle in your washing machine. For example, there are situations when a woolen jacket cannot be spun, and its owner sets the spin speed too high.
- The temperature when washing will also affect your dress, pants and even curtains. Try not to deviate from the values recommended by the manufacturer.
- The fabric itself. Remember that silk shrinks much more than any other type of natural or synthetic material.
If you choose the wrong washing temperature, the fabric may lose its structure as a result. In addition, the mechanical impact of the “washing machine” will have a detrimental effect on cotton and knitted clothing.
Do not despair ahead of time, because you can always find a way out of every situation, even the most deplorable one. Sit back comfortably and try to remember all the recommendations of professionals that can be useful to you in a situation when your T-shirt, dress, curtains and other things suddenly shrink.
How to stretch woolen items
The reasons for the shrinkage of woolen items can also include an incorrectly chosen washing mode and aggressive washing powder, since the detergent for washing such items must be specifically for woolen items.
But experienced housewives know what to do in such a situation:
- We dilute a little shampoo in warm water or use a mild conditioner.
- Soak the item for 30 minutes and then rinse in cool water.
- We stretch the clothes in small sections, first in a horizontal position, then hang them on a hanger and continue stretching them from time to time until they are completely dry.
Advice! If you take 5 liters of water, dilute 3 tbsp in it. l. ammonia, 1 tbsp. l. turpentine and the same amount of vodka. Keeping a woolen item in this solution for an hour will not only stretch it to the desired size, but also make it elastic and soft.
What to do to prevent cotton items from shrinking
To prevent cotton items from shrinking, you need to wash the material correctly. Before washing, ironing or stretching clothing, be sure to read the label and follow the recommendations. Before washing, turn clothes inside out and fasten zippers and buttons.
Wash thin items at a temperature of no more than 40-50 degrees, as thin fabric shrinks a lot in hot water. Thick and durable cotton can be washed at 90 degrees. The permissible washing temperature is indicated on the clothing label.
Do not use water with a large temperature difference for washing and rinsing. Otherwise, the fabric will become deformed and shrink. For washing, choose products that match the type and color of the material. Be sure to sort items by type and color of fabric. Wash dark, white and colored items, synthetics, natural and delicate materials separately.
Dry natural cotton items in a horizontal position. By the way, 100% cotton is easier to stretch than materials with impurities. Do not dry clothes on a radiator, near electrical appliances or in direct sunlight.
This type of drying causes shrinkage. We learned how to stretch a cotton item. What to do if the clothes, on the contrary, have stretched a lot, and you need to reduce the size, see the link.
How to stretch knitted items
In order to stretch knitted items, you can use different methods:
- First, soak the knitted item in warm water for 15 minutes, then wring it out and stretch it in the washing machine. We dry clothes only in a vertical position.
- Soak the item in warm water for 30 minutes, then wring out the clothing, but do it carefully, that is, do not twist it. Place on a dry towel, twist, leave in this position for 30 minutes. We unfold and steam the item with an iron until it is completely dry, while stretching the clothing in the right places.
Advice! If a knitwear item does not stretch well, then soak it in hair conditioner.
If the proposed methods do not help to stretch the item, then you can use a special clothes expander or take it to a studio. But if the item has become small due to excess weight gain, then you should put the clothes aside until better times.
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How to make jeans bigger
Denim trousers, especially those made of thick cotton denim, often shrink during the washing process.
There are several ways to return your pants to their original size or increase their size if you have gained weight.
- The first method is practically no different from that described above; jeans are soaked in a soapy solution, stretched and laid out on a towel. Pay special attention to the load with which you will secure the product; these should be fairly heavy objects.
- The next option is to stretch the pants on yourself. Put on your pants and spray water on the areas you want to stretch. Now do gymnastic exercises - leg swings, squats, etc. When the trousers are almost dry, remove them, additionally pull the fabric with your hands and lay them out under weights for at least a day.
- Another option that allows you to stretch jeans by two sizes or more is a bath with water. The water temperature should be warm enough that you will need to wear trousers and fully immerse yourself in the bath. You can add shampoo or liquid soap. After a few minutes, get up, drain the water and actively pull the desired areas of the fabric with your hands. The next stage is squats and raising your legs with your knees bent. Now you can take off your trousers and dry them, then put them on again and perform several gymnastic exercises.
If you need to lengthen your jeans, wet them, pull the side seams with your hands and hang them vertically on a rope without wrung out.
The trouser legs will stretch under their own weight and the weight of the water. Don't forget to place a container where the water will drain, and remember that jeans often fade - the water will turn blue.
The use of compositions from improvised means
If your sweater shrinks after washing, proven folk methods will help you return to its original size:
| Way | Methodology |
| Vinegar and steamer (iron with steam function) | First, you should wet the item, but do not touch the neck and shoulders. Gently wring out with a towel and hang on hangers, stretch a little, wait until completely dry. Repeat the procedure. Next, fill a spray bottle with water mixed with table vinegar (proportion 1:2). Lay the sweater on the ironing board and spray it. And treat it completely with steam from the iron. The main thing is not to touch the surface of the sweater with the sole of the iron. |
| Hydrogen peroxide | Add 2 tablespoons of peroxide to 10 liters of water. Rinse the sweater in this mixture while stretching it slightly. Leave for 2.5 hours, periodically stretching. Lightly wring out the item with a towel and lay it on a horizontal surface to dry. The main thing is not to overdo it with the amount of peroxide. Dark clothing will fade when exposed to this substance. |
| Turpentine, alcohol, ammonia | For 5 liters of water you will need 10 ml of vodka, turpentine, 30 ml of ammonia. Soak in the mixture for 60 minutes. The structure of the fibers softens and the jacket can be easily stretched. |
To prevent the sweater from shrinking as it dries, try to attach it to a rigid base.
Why does it stretch?
The main reasons for the deformation of our sweaters are improper washing and improper drying. But these are far from the only “culprits” of the problem. Some things stretch even from prolonged wear, some - due to the bad habits of their owner. Some people like to stretch the bottom, the neck of the sweater, and pull out the sleeves to plunge into them to the tips of their fingers. All these manipulations lead to stretching of certain parts of the product.
The rapid deformation of a sweater also depends on the density of the loops. So, if a product is machine knitted, then it is denser and therefore less susceptible to stretching. But cozy hand-knitted sweaters, on the contrary, have weaker stitch density, no matter how hard the needlewoman tries. That is why “handmade” products are stretched more often under the influence of various circumstances.
Advice! Always before washing, drying and even wearing a sweater, read the information provided by the manufacturer about this product - on the label, packaging, and official website.
For all of the above cases, we have found universal ways to eliminate the consequences.
Grooming reminder
If an unpleasant situation with knitwear has already occurred, it’s worth trying to fix it. And to prevent such troubles from happening again, we have prepared a handout for you with tips on caring for wool sweaters, which you can print out.
Rules for caring for woolen items:
- Wool doesn't like water.
Therefore, try to use laundry as little as possible. The less time a wool item is in water, the longer it will last and retain its original appearance.
- Natural fibers are self-cleaning
. If your sweater gets dirty, do not put it in the machine. It's best to let the stain dry and brush it off with a brush.
- In case of heavy contamination
, such as wine or coffee, perform local stain removal. Do not use chlorine, which will corrode paint or leave a yellow stain on light-colored fabric. Use folk remedies or oxygen-based bleach.
- Wash woolen items by hand
. For washing and rinsing, use cool water at the same temperature.
- For hand washing detergents, use liquid detergents or hair shampoo.
- Do not twist woolen items
. Remember that any excessive physical impact provokes deformation and shrinkage of the knitwear threads.
- After washing, simply squeeze the item
, squeeze out excess water and place the jacket on a terry towel.
- Don't dry natural items
on heating devices and in the sun.
- When machine washing, follow label directions.
If there is no information, always set the wash cycle to delicate or manual mode with a washing temperature no higher than 30 degrees.
- When washing automatically, turn off the spin
. You can use the water drain function.
- To avoid shrinkage due to temperature changes,
It is better to choose a cold wash.
- Use special liquids
for washing wool in automatic machines.
Often, while running, we do things that make us upset. It's a shame when your favorite soft sweater is reduced to the size of a doll's clothes. Unfortunately, no one is immune from this. But only those who know will never allow such metamorphoses with their clothes, since they are aware of the rules for caring for woolen sweaters.
Can polyester fabric be stretched?
If you are wondering how to stretch a 100% polyester item that has shrunk after washing, then you can stretch the damp item with your hands or do the same with an iron. You just need to remember that polyester is afraid of high temperatures, so be careful with the iron).
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Why do things made of wool tend to shrink?
Natural fabrics have this feature; synthetic clothing always stays true to size. Capable of shrinking cotton and wool items, especially with regard to the first wash. This is a reaction of natural fibers to moisture and temperature, so if you don’t follow the rules, your favorite sweater will become 1-2 sizes smaller after washing. This problem is caused by a number of reasons:
- Temperature rise above 30 degrees.
- Using standard powder with a large number of chemical components.
- Incorrect mode selection. Washing wool products requires the use of a special function with delicate operation.
- Vertical drying on a clothesline.
- Exceeding spin norms by more than 300 rpm.
- Drying on artificial heat sources: battery, radiator.
Return to contents
Exposure to steam
You can use a steamer to stretch a wool sweater. But, if you don’t have it at hand, then an iron with a steam function will do. The sweater is soaked and wrung out so that water does not flow from it. Lay out on a flat surface or ironing board. Heat the iron to a value no higher than 100-120 degrees. Iron through cotton cloth (gauze). During the ironing process, you need to slightly stretch the item. You will have to iron until the sweater is completely dry.
Important! Steaming and using an iron is suitable for sweaters with a mixed composition. 100% wool will not stretch when exposed to high temperatures.
Preliminary recommendations
Before you put your shrunken sweater in the car, be sure to:
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- check its label and the selected washing machine modes;
- read what is written on the product, determine whether it is suitable;
- if there are stains, depending on their nature, they should be treated first.
Suitable, for example, is an absorbent substance - talc, starch, tooth powder. Do not use alkaline compounds of any kind to remove stains.
The best option is hand washing . You need to fill a bowl with water at the temperature indicated on the sweater label, dissolve the product in it and wash it carefully, without stretching or twisting the item. Dry horizontally on a large terry towel.
Only a damp sweater can be stretched . If you don’t have time, then shrinkage is inevitable again. It is necessary to pull it out slowly in different directions, so that the tension of the threads is uniform everywhere.
Lifehack! To prevent the product from shrinking as it dries, try attaching it to the surface using regular pins or stretching it onto a homemade wire blank.
The sweater has stretched after washing: what should I do? 8 ways to get things back to their original shape
You just recently bought a new sweater or decided to wash your purchase after the store, when suddenly... From the basin or washing machine you take out an item that has significantly increased in size. As a result: after washing the sweater stretched. What to do? Don't worry, the problem can be fixed! We will be happy to tell you how to return the sweater to its former size.
How to return a jacket to its original size
Before work, carefully study the tag , which can tell you what material the item is made of.
Some methods for restoring the original size are universal, while others are suitable for a specific type of fabric.
Therefore, it is necessary to carefully approach this issue so as not to further harm the knitted product.
How to stretch a wool sweater in length and width
For items made of wool, the following several methods for returning to size are ideal.
First way
- Fill a basin with warm water and soak the shrunken woolen jacket in it for half an hour.
- After that, take it out and gently squeeze it out with your hands.
- Try not to twist to avoid distorting the fibers of the fabric.
- It is also undesirable for liquid to drain from clothing along one edge. Therefore, it is better to carefully lay out the knitted sweater in the bathroom on a wire rack, if there is one.
- Otherwise, roll it up, wrap it with a piece of gauze and hang it to dry for half an hour.
After this procedure, the product should increase significantly in length and width.
Important! To stretch the jacket, you need to dip it in warm water! Boiling water or a hot solution over 50 degrees Celsius can deform a woolen product so much that after complete drying it can only be thrown in the trash.
It is strictly forbidden to transfer things from hot to cold water . A sharp temperature change has a detrimental effect on their size and shape.
Second way
For soaking, you need to prepare a special solution : 1 liter of warm water and 2 tablespoons of boric acid.
It is an excellent relaxer for woolen products. Instead of boric acid, you can use regular 5% table vinegar in a proportion of 5 tbsp. l. per liter of water.
Attention! This method should absolutely not be used for products made of synthetic fabric. Otherwise, they may be seriously damaged by the acid.
How to stretch sweaters knitted from other fibers
In addition to wool, there are also several “problem” types of fabric, which include cotton, synthetics and knitwear.
Let's look at methods that are ideal for these materials.
Cotton products
A cotton sweater that has shrunk is “reanimated” using the following method.
- In 5 liters of warm water, mix ammonia, vodka and turpentine in a ratio of 3: 1: 1 .
- Cotton clothes are placed in this solution for 20-30 minutes, then lightly wrung out and left to dry naturally.
- At the same time, it is periodically stretched in the desired direction.
Advice. For white cotton, you can additionally use 1 cup of milk. Only after soaking will it be necessary to rinse the jacket thoroughly in plain clean water.
It happens that the sleeves stubbornly refuse to return to their original position, despite the fact that the rest of the part has already returned to its shape. Then it’s worth repeating the procedure again, but now soaking and stretching only the sleeves themselves.
How to stretch a knitted sweater
A good result for working with knitwear products is achieved by using hair conditioner.
- Apply it to the jacket and soak well.
- Leave it like this for 10-15 minutes, and then try to stretch the jacket in the desired direction. The fibers of the fabric in combination with the hair product become very elastic, which helps to return to its original shape.
- Instead of conditioner, you can use baby shampoo or a simple soap solution.
Reasons for shrinkage
There are several reasons why an item shrinks in size after washing. These include:
Violation of the manufacturer's recommendations for washing and caring for the product.- Incorrect spin speed.
- Washing water temperature is too high.
- Features of the fabric. It is known that cotton shrinks by 3-5% after the first wash. Corduroy and tartan are most susceptible to this process, while poplin, satin, calico and cambric are slightly lower. Woolen items may be considered at risk.
Two factors most often negatively affect the condition of products: mechanical stress and high temperatures.
Will dry cleaning help?
In some cases it really helps. There they will not stretch the item using traditional methods, but will immediately treat it with special professional means .
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The product may be refused acceptance if the sweater has stripes, appliqués, decorations, the wool is “blend” and contains silk thread, or the employees simply do not see the point in “continuing the fight” against shrinkage.
