How to Shrink Blue Jeans

A perfect-fitting pair of jeans is sometimes hard to find right off the rack.

It can often be hard to find clothes that fit perfectly right off the rack. Blue jeans are one of the hardest items of clothing to shop for because the shape of the bottom half of a person varies greatly from person to person. So what can you do if you find a pair of blue jeans that you just can't live without but are slightly too big? You can shrink them in your washing machine and dryer so that they will be the right fit. You can also purchase jeans designed to shrink for a custom fit.

Things You'll Need

• Washer
• Dryer
• Bathtub

Instructions

Shrinking Regular Blue Jeans

1. Try the new jeans on and determine how much you would like them to shrink. Ask a sales associate when you purchase the jeans how much you can expect them to shrink if you wash them as directed on the tag.

2. Place the blue jeans in the washer. Set your washer on the proper load size setting and on the desired heat setting depending how much you would like the jeans to shrink--the hotter the wash, the more shrinking will occur. Run the washer.

3. Remove the blue jeans from the washer and place them in the dryer. Use a hotter setting for more shrinkage and a cooler setting for less shrinkage. If you can get the wet jeans on, you may be able to get a better idea of how much more you would like the jeans to shrink after they have gone through the washer. Run the dryer.

4. Maintain the tightness of the jeans by washing them regularly, not necessarily on the hottest setting after the initial shrinking, and then drying them on a warm setting. Your jeans will stretch out over time when you wear them, so wash and dry them frequently to maintain the tightness you desire.

Shrink-to-Fit Jeans

1. Purchase a pair of jeans specifically designed to be shrunk to fit. One very popular brand of jeans designed for this purpose are Levi's 501 Shrink to Fit Jeans (see Resources).

2. Soak the jeans in a bathtub full of hot water for 20 minutes.

3. Hang them on the shower curtain rod to dry. After about an hour of drying, try them on to see how they fit.

4. Hang them back up to dry overnight. The next day, try the jeans on and see how the fit suits you. If you are happy with the fit, wash the jeans in the washing machine on cold and hang them to dry. If you aren't happy with their fit yet, repeat the shrinking process until you are satisfied.

5. Wear the jeans while they dry after the first hour of drying for a really custom fit. Just be careful where you sit during this process because the jeans are likely to stain surfaces.

6. Wear the jeans for long periods of time before washing them again so that they are well suited for your body.

Tips & Warnings

• A standard pair of Old Navy jeans, when washed according to the directions on the tag, can be expected to shrink about a quarter of an inch in all directions. This may not be the same as other brands but should help give you an idea of how denim shrinks.

• It is important to know whether your jeans are pre-washed. Pre-washed jeans will shrink less than jeans that are not pre-washed.

• All clothes shrink at least a little over time as you wash them.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Levi's: 501 Original Jeans Shrink-to-Fit Jeans