Since denim is based on cotton fabric, over time even the thickest jeans tend to stretch. If it so happens that your favorite trousers have become too big and do not fit as snugly on your figure as you would like, there are ways to wash your jeans so that they fit at least one size up.
There are many options for shrinking denim products, but they all have one thing in common - the temperature effect on the fabric. Let's look at the most common ways to reduce jeans sizes using hot water.
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Wash
The method of hand washing with the effect of shrinking jeans involves contrasting temperatures. To do this, while rinsing the product, you need to transfer it several times from a container with very hot water to a container with ice water. Or, if time is of the essence, soak the jeans in very cold water for 8-12 hours, and then hand wash them at the highest possible temperature.
What needs to be done to make jeans shrink when machine washed? Wash at the highest possible temperature followed by intensive spinning. In practice it looks like this:
- Select the “Intensive” or “For wrinkle-resistant items” washing mode.
- Set the maximum water heating temperature.
- Pour washing powder into the cuvette. If desired, you can add a rinse conditioner, thanks to which the denim will not be “wooden” after washing and drying.
- Set the maximum spin and dry mode.
- Place the jeans in the drum and turn on the washing machine.
When the product is washed and dried, it is recommended to leave it in the machine drum for 10 minutes. If the shrinkage is insufficient, the procedure will have to be repeated according to the same pattern. It is not recommended to iron slightly damp jeans, as this reduces the shrinkage effect of the fabric.
The intensive machine wash method is only suitable for denim containing at least 80% cotton. Synthetic, stretch, Shrink to fit fabrics cannot be washed in this mode. This shrinkage method is also not suitable for jeans decorated with decorations made of glass, plastic, metal, or prints made of guipure or lace fabric.
Common Mistakes
How to ruin a denim jacket:
- rub the fabric in your hands;
- machine wash at 60 degrees;
- remove stains with bleach;
- dry by throwing it over a clothesline;
- hang a damp item in the sun, next to the radiator, above the stove.
Jeans are cleaned in water with a clothes brush. To remove dirt, soap the cloth, not the brush. At temperatures above 40 degrees the fabric becomes lighter. Jeans should be dried in a ventilated area without using an electric dryer.
Boiling
The method is quite simple and straightforward to implement, but as in the previous case, it is only suitable for 100% cotton denim. For the procedure you will need a large container for boiling clothes and wooden tongs.
Procedure for performing manipulations:
- Jeans are turned inside out to preserve their color.
- Pour the required amount of water into a container large enough to accommodate the item being shrinked.
- Place on the highest heat and bring to a boil.
- Using wooden tongs, very carefully immerse and submerge the jeans in rapidly boiling water.
- Cook the product for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally and immersing the jeans in boiling water. There is no need to cover the container with a lid.
- Take the jeans out of the boiling water with tongs and immediately put them in the washing machine, setting the drying setting to maximum.
Boiling in boiling water itself causes the denim to shrink. And drying in the most powerful mode enhances and consolidates this effect. You need to remove the item from the dryer only after it has completely dried and cooled.
By ironing
Sometimes you just need to fix your baggy butt or knees before you hit the road. Using an iron is a quick and easy way to make these small corrections without causing any nuclear damage. For best results, use an iron with a spray function. Otherwise, use a spray bottle.
Spray the area you want to lift and then go over it with the iron at high speed, being careful to keep it moving. Do this until the fabric is completely dry and repeat as many times as necessary.
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Changing the size of an individual jeans piece
If your favorite denim trousers fit snugly around your hips and legs, but are too big at the waist, stretched out on your butt, and bulge at the knees, how can you make the jeans fit only in certain areas? There is a means for this.
You need to take the most common clothes conditioner and mix it in a 1:3 ratio with water in a spray bottle. Screw on the cap with the sprayer and shake the contents thoroughly. Then lay the jeans on the table and, from a close distance, spray the solution evenly onto the area of the product that needs to be reduced in size.
Parts of clothing that need to be reduced in size must be thoroughly soaked in an aqueous solution of fabric softener. The remaining areas should remain dry.
After this treatment, the jeans should be sent to dry in the dryer at the highest temperature. The fabric fibers will shrink when exposed to hot air. The desired effect of partial shrinkage of the jeans will be achieved.
If one procedure is not enough, you will have to repeat everything all over again. However, this time the concentration of the conditioner will need to be increased.
When thinking about reducing the size of jeans at home, you need to remember that they will shrink not only in width, but also in length. Therefore, if you need to reduce the size of denim pants at the top, it is advisable to use the shrink option with conditioner. Or initially buy jeans with extra length.
It is strictly prohibited to boil or wash items made from fabric with the addition of synthetic fibers at very high temperatures. The size of the jeans will remain the same, since synthetics do not shrink, but the appearance will deteriorate so much that the trousers will no longer be suitable for wearing.
If the jeans are made from Shrink to fit fabric, washing them in hot water to reduce their size will only be effective once. With all subsequent washes, this fabric no longer shrinks.
Stretch jeans should initially hug your legs like a second skin. If during wearing they stretch out or become too big after the owner has lost weight, it is useless to shrink the stretch. No methods of influence can reduce the size of such a product.
Jeans have become a common form of clothing. They are convenient and comfortable, provided they fit correctly. In some cases, there is a need to reduce the size of clothing, so it is useful to know what to do to make your jeans fit.
How to sew a jacket in several sizes
For this method you will need tracing paper . It must be applied strictly along the seams, both from the bottom of the clothing and from the top. On top of the tracing paper, mark with a pen the length along which you will need to sew in the future. Place the first point directly on the jacket, it should be at the bottom. And the other in the middle of the distance from the edge of the stitch to the fitting line itself. Then connect them. Therefore, further work will be done on a sewing machine.
- It is necessary to sew one line and remove the tracing paper.
- Use scissors to open the factory stitch and cut off one centimeter of allowance from the new stitch.
- Through the seam that will be on the lining, you can turn the jacket inside out.
- Then rip it apart and reduce the fabric along the seams at the same distance. As a result, the lining is connected to the outer part.
Washing to shrink worn and new jeans
Shrinkage may be required for both new and worn items. When choosing a model when purchasing, you need to pay attention to the properties of the fabric.
Sometimes this technique does not work and during wear the jeans become very stretched. In order for the product to take its original shape, you need to know how to wash jeans so that they shrink.
There are 2 washing methods: using an automatic machine and manually.
Hand washing is a more difficult process as it requires time and effort. To shrink this type of clothing, you need to use hot water, almost boiling water.
If you wash by hand, this rule cannot be followed. As a result, the desired effect will not be achieved.
Then you need to carry out manipulations to remove dirt and rinse the trousers well in cold water. This kind of hardening will help the tissue shrink.
It's easier and faster to wash jeans in a washing machine. To obtain the desired effect, you will need to load the item into the drum of the machine and set the program with a temperature of +90°C.
Intensive spinning will promote shrinkage. The important thing to consider here is whether the fabric can withstand heavy impact.
When using any type of cleaning fabric from contaminants, you must first familiarize yourself with the rules for washing the product and evaluate the quality of the fabric.
There are different types of denim, and some of them are not designed for high temperatures.
How to wash in an automatic washing machine
Preparing and washing a denim jacket:
- fasten the zipper, all buttons, turn the item inside out;
- select delicate mode in the machine menu;
- pour washing gel into the powder compartment;
- add conditioner to the special compartment.
For a blue jacket, the recommended water temperature is 40 degrees, for a black jacket - 30 degrees. Some washing machine models have a hand wash mode, which is also suitable for a denim jacket. The menu also includes a special program for washing denim items.
In programs for delicate fabrics, the required minimum spin speed is set.
If your lightweight jacket is hand washable, you can still machine wash it, but the spin cycle should be turned off. It is useful to include an additional rinse so that stains from the detergent do not appear on the fabric.
How to weld jeans to make them smaller
One of the time-tested methods of not only removing stains, but also shrinkage of a number of materials is boiling. Boiling is not suitable for making jeans fit properly.
This method may result in the product being reduced by more than one.
The method has another drawback. It manifests itself in the fact that after the procedure, denim trousers may change color. The color will become uneven or even patchy.
In some cases, this color is regarded as an advantage, because as a result you can get boiled jeans. They were in demand in the 80s of the last century and do not lose their relevance.
If you decide to boil the product, you must follow the sequence of all stages of the process:
- Pour water into a bucket or deep pan with a volume of at least 10 liters and dilute 1 tbsp in it. l. washing powder for hand washing.
- Immerse the jeans in a container of soapy water and place the dishes on the fire.
- Over medium heat, bring the liquid to a boil. Then reduce the heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes.
- After which the clothes are removed from the container using wooden tongs at least 0.5 m long or a wooden stick. And they immerse the pants in a basin of cold water.
When carrying out actions, it is necessary to observe safety precautions as much as possible so as not to be scalded by boiling water.
Basic Rules
IMPORTANT ! You can only reduce your jacket by one or two sizes.
Before you start work, you need to take care of the necessary sewing supplies. The house should have everything you might need:
- Sewing machine;
- Scissors;
- Chalk;
- Threads to match the jacket;
- Contrasting color threads;
- Tailor's centimeter or ruler;
- Non-woven fabric.
It is recommended to sew a jacket one size only in the place where it is too big.
Quick drying is one of the methods for shrinking jeans
How your pants dry after washing is important when trying to downsize. The correct drying method will allow you to maintain the shape and attractive appearance of your clothes for a long time.
There are several ways to make jeans fit:
- The simplest and most effective method is hot machine drying.
- Horizontal drying will help restore the size of a stretched item. After washing, the product is thoroughly wrung out and laid out on a cotton towel in a horizontal position. This method is suitable for rooms with dry air. In rooms with high humidity, pants may be prohibited.
- During the cold season, you can use radiators in the heating system. You need to hang the item on hot radiators and let it dry. Only smooth (without protruding parts) clean radiators are suitable for this method.
- In order for the product to retain its shape and return to its original state, it is necessary to hang the clothes in the fresh air, fixing them on a rope only by the belt. This will prevent creases and kinks in the fabric.
Drying jeans for shrinkage
Proper drying, like washing, affects the size of jeans. There are several ways to dry denim pants from cramps:
- Hang them on a clothesline in front of a heat source - a heater, a stove.
- Without unfolding, place on a towel in direct sunlight.
- Use automatic machine drying on the highest setting.
- Without waiting for it to dry, iron the product with a fully heated iron; the wet product will cause the fabric to shrink.
When drying in the sun, turn the fabric inward outward to preserve color.
Important. Clothing shrinks after washing, so these methods should only be used on pants that are originally long.
How to fit a certain area of jeans on the buttocks, hips, knees
There may be a need to shrink the product in a certain area, for example, on the buttocks or knees. For these purposes, a simple and effective method is used.
It is suitable only for those who have the ability to machine dry.
The method is as follows:
- It is necessary to fill the spray bottle with conditioner for washing clothes, diluted according to the instructions.
- The solution is sprayed onto the desired areas of the trousers so that the trousers become damp.
- After moistening, the item is sent to the machine to dry at a temperature of +90°C or more.
Some people use an iron or hair dryer to shrink, but the use of these household appliances, as a rule, does not bring the desired result.
It is possible to return stretched jeans to their original shape or make new ones smaller. Most of the methods listed reduce the size of the entire garment.
Both length and volume are reduced at the same time. This fact is worth taking into account. If the item does not have a reserve of length or width, then it is better to refrain from risky techniques.
Jeans made from 100% cotton are incredibly resistant to any aggressive temperature. Mass worship of universal denim began in the 60s of the twentieth century, and in the first thirty years after the “fashion revolution”, no matter how hard you tried, it was not possible to wash jeans to make them smaller.
Cotton products were not subject to shrinkage even after several procedures of boiling down, which was trendy in the era of the 90s. To soften the tough fibers of denim, manufacturers began to include elastane and lycra in the material. The higher the percentage of a softening additive such as elastane, the easier it is to wash jeans to make them shrink.
Useful tips on how to easily and accurately sew a jacket to size
To ensure the job goes smoothly, consider the following tips.
- The sequence of actions may be different, but it is better to first turn it out and then tear it apart.
- There is no need to suture or even affect the armhole of the sleeve and the fit of the shoulder. In this case, you will need to cut out the top of the sleeve.
- It must be remembered that the lining should hang over a short distance in order for the fit to be loose.
- Make sure that the length of the armhole on the pattern and the length of the rollback match.
- When securing materials during work, use pins for convenience.
- You can add an extra button at the waist.
- Make the undercut on the back closer to the middle.
As you can see, sewing a jacket is not as difficult as it seemed.
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Denim shrinkage: washing methods
Old-style denim was more durable and did not stretch when worn every day. With the use of new technologies for the production of denim, the rough fabric has acquired comfortable elasticity. But the innovation caused sprains in the knees and waist. Many methods have emerged on how to wash jeans so that they shrink and acquire their original “tight” look and even fit exactly to your figure.
Boiling denim
When exposed to hot water temperatures, jeans with elastane will shrink at least one size.
- You will need a large enamel pan and wooden tongs for stirring the material.
- Boiling denim in a soap solution should last no more than half an hour.
- Jeans are soaked in a boiling solution of laundry soap shavings (50 g per 10 liters of water) and cooked over low heat.
Boiling denim leads to partial loss of color. Unstable dyes completely peel off from the material, and the trousers take on an unkempt appearance. You can boil white jeans without loss.
Wash at maximum temperature
Do jeans shrink after washing in automatic mode? Yes, if you set the temperature control to maximum.
- Hot water from 60 to 90 degrees will shrink denim a size or more.
- To enhance the shrinkage effect, it is necessary to include several spin cycles of 800 rpm in the washing program.
Jeans will fit not only in volume, but also along the entire length. What should I do to make jeans fit only in width? Dry the item vertically, hanging weights from the bottom of the trousers, or fasten the trouser legs and dry the items taut.
Shrinkage exactly to your figure
What should I do to get my jeans to fit? Take a hot bath in your jeans! This extraordinary method works wonders: after washing, the clothes will fit like a glove.
- Put on jeans, fill the bath with hot water, sit in the water up to your waist and wait 20 minutes. During this time, the denim will fit your figure, accurately following the contours of the body.
- Dry jeans without removing them in direct sunlight or near heaters.
The prescription method of reducing clothing size has a temporary effect. After the first normal wash, the trousers may stretch again.
Warning!
The method for making jeans fit is only suitable for the warm season, since in pursuit of shrinking trousers you can easily catch a cold.
Local shrinkage
Jeans that are stretched at the knees can be brought into shape by using fabric softener.
- Prepare a concentrated solution (in a ratio of 3:1) and fill a container with a spray bottle with it.
- Spray onto the problem area and place the item in the dryer. At the maximum drying temperature, the stretched fibers will tighten significantly.
Do not use detergents instead of conditioner, as white streaks will appear on the treated areas after drying.
Note to the owner:
If your jeans have faded slightly during the washing process, you can improve the color quality at home. Soak the damaged items in a hot solution of water and blue (30 g per 5 liters of water) for 3 hours. Then rinse the material in a vinegar solution (40 ml per 5 liters of water). Full coloring is unlikely to be achieved, but you can enhance the color saturation and correct the consequences of an unsuccessful attempt to shrink the jeans.
How to hem the sleeves of a jacket?
If the sleeves of the jacket are a little long, they can be shortened. The bottom of the sleeve must be opened, the cuffs removed and excess material cut off. The size of the part to be cut must be determined in advance, and allowance should be made for allowance. As a rule, reducing the length by one size is minus 1.5-3 centimeters.
The sleeve lining is shortened in the same way.
Next, the cuff is combined with the front side of the sleeve and attached. To complete the work, the lining is sewn on with an exact match along the seam.
Alternative methods for shrinking denim
If there is very little time for shrinkage, you can resort to alternative methods. What can I do to make jeans fit true to size without washing them? There are two ways to shrink denim: ironing and drying.
Options for ironing and drying denim for maximum shrinkage:
- Iron the jeans from the wrong side by intensive steaming (at least 20 minutes);
- Using a spray bottle, spray the fabric with hot water and conditioner (3:1) and iron the material until completely dry;
- Immediately after washing, the product is dried in special drying equipment at maximum heat or in a centrifuge for at least half an hour. Then the wet items are ironed until completely dry.
How to make jeans fit two sizes? Using three shrinkage methods at once: automatic washing in hot water, drying on a heating device and ironing with steam until completely dry, I managed to tone up jeans stretched two sizes, consisting of 50% elastane. To my surprise, the shrinkage effect lasted until the second wash.
Buying jeans with a high percentage of stretch additive does not eliminate the problem of fabric deformation. Elastane increases the ability of denim to shrink after washing, but also has the opposite effect: it causes rapid loss of shape and maximizes the likelihood of stretched areas on the garment. Optimal composition ratio: 80% cotton, 20% elastane.
So that after the first wear of trousers you do not have to rack your brains about how to reduce stretched denim during washing, buy jeans that fasten tightly. Taking things apart is much easier than returning them to their original size.
Comfortable and practical jeans are in everyone's wardrobe. But, if when trying on and buying, they fit perfectly, then after a certain time after wearing, the jeans stretch. There is only one way out of this situation: artificially reduce them in size, make them shrink.
Surely, when jeans stretch, their owners come up with the idea of throwing them away or giving them to someone who will fit them. But don't panic, there are simple ways to help you fit your jeans and return them to their original size.
You can artificially shrink jeans only if they are more or less new. Old jeans cannot be restored to their original appearance.
Hot water
Washing at a high temperature will help your jeans shrink. But before resorting to this method, you need to familiarize yourself with the composition of denim trousers. If your jeans have lycra, hot water will only ruin their appearance.
There is a method that is also effective, but not every person will decide on it. You need to put on jeans and sit in a bath with hot water in them. The water temperature should be as close as possible to what a person can tolerate. You need to stay in the bathroom until the water cools down. After that, go outside in the sun. You can remove jeans only after they are completely dry, so it is not advisable to walk or sit all this time. It’s better to lie down on a flat surface and turn over periodically, exposing all areas of your jeans to the sun’s rays. An interesting book will help brighten up the time.
Boiling
A great way to downsize jeans and remove stains. The main thing is that the boiling process proceeds correctly:
- collect water in a bucket or pan with a volume of 10-12 liters;
- put jeans there, after emptying their pockets;
- add a tablespoon of washing powder;
- After the water boils, boil for half an hour.
It should be taken into account that boiling can affect the color of clothing. Jeans may fade in color or fade in places. Therefore, before boiling, it is recommended to turn the jeans inside out.
Iron
Jeans need to be washed or soaked in hot water. Spread them on an ironing board, cover with a thin cloth or gauze on top so that the fabric does not become shiny from the iron. Turn on the iron's maximum allowed temperature for these jeans (this information can be found on the label). Iron the jeans on all sides until dry.
Quick drying
If you speed up the drying process, this will also reduce the size of your jeans. There are several options for shrinking jeans by drying:
- Drying in the sun. This method can only be carried out in summer in hot weather. Place the wrung out jeans, without straightening them, on a flat surface in direct sunlight. It will be even better if you leave your clothes in the sun a little. The main thing is not to overdo it! There is no need to hang the jeans, as they will stretch out under their own weight.
- Drying on the battery. The battery, of course, must be hot. Jeans wrung out in a centrifuge should be hung on a heating radiator. But you need to remember that uneven ribbed batteries deform clothes.
- Fast machine drying. Jeans need to be dried in a washing machine, turning on the appropriate mode.
Shrinkage in certain places
Most often it is necessary to reduce jeans in some places, particularly on the knees and hips. This can be done using local food processing.
How to fix long knees:
- Soak a cotton pad in ammonia.
- Rub over stretched areas.
- Add water to the washing powder until a fluffy mass forms.
- Apply the mixture to problem areas.
- Leave for a few minutes and wash as usual.
Using conditioner will reduce your waistline:
- Dilute one part conditioner with three parts water.
- Pour the solution into a spray bottle.
- Shake and spray onto the small area to be reduced.
- Dry near a heat source or in the dryer on high.
Using conditioner may cause your jeans to shrink in certain areas.
To shorten your hips without losing length, hang your pants at the waist with clothespins. Do not stretch clothing across the width. Under its own weight, the clothing will stretch in height, but remain narrow.
How to shrink part of the product
There are cases when a certain part of the product is stretched, most often in the waist or knees. They can also be shrunk without harming the rest of the clothing.
How to reduce the waist of jeans
This part of the jeans bears the greatest load when putting on and taking off, fastening, and wearing a belt. There are several ways to reduce the waist of jeans:
- Fabric softener add water in a ratio of 1/3. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray it onto the surface of the problem area. Then place the jeans in the dryer and dry. It is important that the solution saturates the fabric well.
- You can sew in the sides of your jeans.
- You can also reduce the waist of jeans by inserting a wide elastic band into them.
What to do if your jeans are stretched at the knees
This is a problem common to all types of trouser-type clothing. When walking, as well as when a person sits, this section of clothing stretches and does not fit into place. You can help your jeans regain their former attractiveness using the following methods:
- Steam treatment. You need to straighten the jeans on a flat surface and iron them with steam. You can also rip the jeans at the seams in the knee area, iron the fabric well with a hot iron and sew it up.
- Straight-leg jeans can be updated by sewing small darts into the knee area.
- If the problem cannot be solved, then artificial holes can be cut at the knees, this will immediately make the jeans fashionable and stylish.
- Another option for hopelessly stretched knees on jeans is to turn them into shorts.
To avoid problems with clothing, in particular, with jeans stretching and losing their shape, you need to follow a number of recommendations:
- When purchasing, be sure to pay attention to the composition of the fabric. The more cotton it contains, the better quality and less stretch it is.
- Buy jeans a size smaller. After a few wears they will stretch and fit you.
- There is no need to wash jeans often: washing destroys the structure of the fabric, damages the fibers, causing them to become shapeless. Dirt on fabric can be cleaned in many other ways without washing.
- You don't need to wear them for a long time or wear them often. The ideal option would be to have several pairs of different models of jeans in your wardrobe that you can wear alternately. As a result, each of them will last a long time.
- If jeans are not stretched, then you cannot wash them in hot water and boil them.
- When washing, use gentle detergents. Choose liquid powders and oxygen bleaches that do not contain chlorine.
- If your jeans have decorative elements, such as rhinestones, stones, beads, then it is recommended to wash them by hand using liquid gel and a brush, rinse them in the shower, wait until the water drains and dry naturally.
- You should not wear jeans the same day they have been washed. Also, under no circumstances should you wear jeans if they are not completely dry and at least a little damp. It is not recommended to steam them when ironing. Moisture helps the fabric stretch.
- Dry your jeans horizontally, laying them on a flat surface, turning them over occasionally.
- If you sit down, do not forget to pull your jeans up a little at the knees, this will protect this area from deformation.
- Don't skimp on your purchase. Although jeans from well-known brands are more expensive, they are made from high-quality materials, which extends their service life and maintains their visual appeal.
As you can see, careless attitude to clothing and neglect of the rules of care is reflected in the external condition. Even the most fashionable and beautiful jeans will look frayed and worn out after a while. Therefore, how long they will have to be worn depends only on their owner.
Jeans can be reduced or increased by up to two sizes
Features of hand washing
Since denim items fade, it is not recommended to wash them with clothes made from other fabrics. But running a washing machine with one item is not economical. To save electricity, you can wash your denim jacket by hand:
- fill the bath with warm water, up to 40 degrees;
- pour powder or pour gel; it is good to use the product for denim or colored items;
- instead of conditioner, you can add a tablespoon of vinegar;
- rub the fabric with a brush.
The powder should be well dissolved in water before immersing the jacket. Do not sprinkle the product on top of the jeans. The universal powder changes color, oxidizes zippers, buttons, and rivets. Undissolved particles remain on clothing. Gel for washing denim protects color, does not foam and is quickly washed off.
If the jacket is decorated with fur, it is better to wash it by hand. The active substances in detergents destroy the leather base of natural fur. Artificial pile also becomes coarser and bristles from mechanical washing. Before washing, stains from food and spilled juice are rubbed with laundry soap, dishwashing detergent, and sprinkled with soda. Apply a little kerosene to greasy marks. Then the item is washed as usual. Instead of regular detergents, it is better to use a special gel for jeans.
Jeans are stretched: what to do?
The main advantage of denim is that it can be both shrinked and stretched.
I've always wondered why jeans stretch? It turns out the reason is simple - it's all about the fabric. Cotton tends to stretch, which is why it stretches.
When purchasing, I advise you to choose jeans two sizes smaller. They will stretch over time and will fit you just right.
Buy jeans a size smaller; when they stretch, they will fit just right!
If your pants have stretched out or, as in my case, you have lost weight, try reducing them in size at home.
Don't rush to throw away stretched jeans, they can be reduced in size
Proper drying methods
The faster a washed item dries, the more likely it is that it will shrink in size. The fact is that during normal drying, which lasts more than 10 hours, the fibers have time to straighten and fully recover. With rapid drying, there is a sharp reduction in fibers and the space between the threads without the possibility of recovery.
Dry clothes prepared for shrinking as follows:
- hang it near heating radiators or a stove, and in summer - in a sunny place;
- for greater effect, place a fabric under the product that absorbs moisture well;
- use a dryer.
To prevent the trousers from shrinking during drying, they are hung with clothespins.
How to make jeans smaller?
There are many ways to solve the issue. But you need to choose one that will not harm the fabric and color. To do this, study the label.
Method 1. Hot water
The most common and, I think, familiar way to reduce jeans by 1-2 sizes is to wash them in hot water. If you wash your jeans at 90 degrees, they will shrink and you can wear them for a while longer.
Washing in hot water causes fabric to shrink
And here you can go two ways:
- manually (with your own hands);
- in the washing machine.
Illustration | Sequencing |
Step 1 Place the pants in the washing machine and add laundry detergent. | |
Step 2 Select a washing mode of 90 °C, or higher. | |
Step 3 In the spin settings, set the spin mode to intensive. |
After washing at high temperatures, the fabric shrinks. This was the only way I saved myself from a complete wardrobe change after dieting and training.
Method 2. Boiling
Another method is to boil the pants. This way they can be reduced by several sizes:
Illustration | Instructions |
Step 1 Make a concentrated solution from hot water and powder.
| |
Step 2 Soak the jeans in the prepared solution.
| |
Step 3 Boil a container of soapy water along with your jeans. | |
Step 4 Boil for 30 minutes, then let cool. Dry your clothes. |
After boiling, your jeans are guaranteed to become a size smaller, and you can continue to wear them.
If jeans stretch after washing on a delicate cycle, this is due to exposure to powder, cold water and spinning. Therefore, I recommend setting the washing temperature 5-10 degrees higher than indicated on the label.
Proper drying
Proper drying of denim trousers will help secure the shrinkage result.
There are three ways:
Jeans, after washing in hot water, are hung on the dryer bar without straightening or stretching.
It is important that the dryer is located near a heat source (radiator or heater). Then the water from the denim will evaporate faster, recording the result of shrinkage.- Wet jeans are laid out on a terry towel. The fabric will quickly absorb moisture, which will help the trousers dry without losing their shape.
- Iron drying is a good method if you need to reduce localized areas. The jeans are turned inside out and ironed in the necessary places with a hot iron. If you don't have an iron at hand, a hairdryer is a good alternative.
- The fastest and most effective way to dry jeans is to use a special drying machine. Such hot air drying will help reduce jeans not by one, but by two sizes.
This article will tell you about ways to dry jeans.
How to dry it properly?
What can I do to prevent jeans from stretching? Dry them properly. This will help consolidate the effect after washing or boiling.
When properly dried, jeans do not lose their original appearance and quality for a long time.
So, you can resort to one of three drying methods:
- Standard drying
. When hanging things, you should not turn them inside out, straighten them or pull them out. The main thing is to squeeze them well before drying, and then the water will not drain and stretch the trousers. - Extra fabric.
It will absorb moisture from washed items. Place a fabric that absorbs moisture well on a flat surface, and trousers on top. This way the trousers will dry quickly, retain their shape and not stretch. - An additional function in the machine is “hot drying”.
Proper drying helps maintain the appearance of clothes
The photo shows how to properly dry pants to maintain their shape.
The hot dry mode will help dry things without damaging them.
Tips and tricks
There are some nuances and restrictions in washing for the purpose of shrinkage, observing which, it will be possible not only to reduce the size of the product, but also to maintain its respectable appearance:
- Jeans decorated with embroidery, rhinestones, and lace should not be boiled or washed intensively;
- as the width of the trousers decreases, the length of the product will also decrease;
- jeans made of stretch material should be taken a size smaller;
- To prevent jeans from stretching, you need to choose high-quality denim or gin and follow the washing and drying rules indicated on the label.
If your favorite jeans are stretched out a lot, and there is no desire or opportunity to buy new ones, you can try to revive the item using the above methods. In case of failure, you can only rely on the services of the studio.