How to Make Clothes Shrink

Sit in hot water wearing jeans

Some clothes shrink quickly and easily without much effort. Blouses or shirts-bought on bargain tables-end up as not being such a bargain if they shrink after a first cold water wash. Other fabrics, like jeans or cotton blends, take a tad bit more effort to make them shrink. Perhaps you found a great bargain in a size that is too large for you or perhaps you simply want something more flattering and form fitting in the style you already own. It's not difficult to shrink clothes if you put in the time and effort.

Instructions

1. Use the hot water setting on your washing machine. Add detergent. Add the clothes that need shrinking, Set to a regular wash cycle and wash for about 20 minutes. If you only have one or two garments, balance the load by adding a towel or two along with the wash.

2. Remove the clothes after the spinning action stops. Place in the dryer on the hot setting. Add towels to balance the dryer spin. Set the timer for about 15 minutes. Remove and iron if needed. Replace them if they still need further shrinking.

3. 

   Focus on drip drying. Shrinking can also be achieved by washing and then laying the wet garments in the hot sun to dry. Using the sun to dry would be best if you lay them flat.

4. Shrink jeans in a way that conforms to your body's shape. Put on the jeans and fill the tub with hot--not burning--water. Get into the tub, jeans and all. Have some soothing music or an audio book playing in the background or a film playing in view. Remain for a few hours. When you get out of the tub, use a towel to pat dry the dripping jeans to remove excess water. Step out of them slowly. Place them on a table in the sun to dry.

5. Regular jeans, or jean skirts, can also be tossed into the washing machine with hot water to shrink as well. Understand that shrinking is caused by a combination of heat, both in the washer as well as the dryer. Washing clothes of any kind in cold water, will not shrink clothes unless dried in a hot washer. Wash good clothes only in the cold water setting. Very expensive clothing will do better by being laundered, instead of being washed.

Tips & Warnings

• Pre-shrunk jeans can be found at most stores that sell jeans. It will be easier to buy them already shrunk to size.

• Never wash wool or cashmere in the washing machine. They will shrink immediately in any temperature water.

• Do not sit in the tub with burning hot water. You can easily burn yourself.

Resources

• Shrink Clothes
• Another Shrink Clothes Website