19 Aug How to Unshrink Clothes Quickly and Easily (Part 1)

One of the concerns of washing knitwear, sweaters and other clothes is that they may shrink. Therefore, if you want your clothes to last longer, in addition to care, you must be careful in washing them too. Many people who put woven sweaters in hot water or the dryer lose their sweaters forever. But in this article, we will teach you how to unshrink your knitted clothes and return them to their original size in two easy methods.

Unshrink clothes with a baby shampoo

This method is used for woollen, cotton, cashmere and sweater clothes, and you can probably unshrink your clothes with this method. Densely woven fabrics (such as silk and polyester) won’t unshrink in this way. Keep in mind that natural fibres return to their original state sooner than synthetic fibres. You need a lukewarm tub of water, baby shampoo, and hair conditioner to revive woven garments or sweaters. To dry woven clothes or sweaters, it’s better to prepare a soft and clean towel. 

first step

Fill a sink with lukewarm water, then add some baby shampoo or conditioner to the water. Baby shampoo or conditioner doesn’t damage the clothes’ fabric and softens the texture of the wool or cotton. Pour as much lukewarm water as needed to immerse the clothes in a sink. Note that cold water doesn’t work well, and hot water damages the clothes’ fabric. Water with ambient temperature (between 20 and 30 degrees) is the best choice. Add a tablespoon (15 ccs) of baby shampoo to the water for every litre of water. If your clothes shrink a lot, increase the amount of shampoo to 20 ccs per water. You can start pulling clothes underwater right now. But a few minutes later, it will be easier. 

second step

Put your sweater or jacket in a basin of lukewarm water and shampoo for at least 20 minutes and a maximum of 2 hours, and let the clothes get completely wet. Remember never to squeeze clothes during this time.

third step

Rinse the clothes first to remove the shampoo and conditioner compounds from the fabric. Then roll it into a ball and press it as hard as you can to get as much moisture as possible. Then take the jacket or sweater out of the water and place it on a thick, clean towel. The towel removes excess water from the woven or woollen garment and helps the garment to dry faster. Once you have placed the woven garment on the towel, pipe it several times to add water. When this step is over, the clothes should be just damp. Don’t continue this step for more than 10 minutes. Because of the fibres of the clothes are cold, it will be more difficult to unshrink them.

Fourth step

Open the towel and move the clothes open on another dry towel spread on the table. Every few minutes, gently pull the wool or fabric from corner to corner until the garment unshrink. Do this several times, and don’t be disappointed with the size of your sweater or jacket! However, some people believe that you can attach the clothes to a board with a needle to dry them to their normal size. This method also helps to unshrink the clothes, but you must be careful not to puncture or damage them. If you find it difficult to pull the fibres, use a steamer or iron to help soften the hard fibres. (You don’t need to put the iron on the clothes; steam it). Place a heavy object (such as a book, mug, vase, etc.) on each piece of clothing that reaches the original size limit to maintain its shape. Instead of heavy objects, you can use clothespins to attach the edges of the clothes to the edges of the towel.

Fifth step

Leave the clothes in this position to dry. Check the clothes every 30 minutes and pull them again if necessary. After it dries completely, rinses it again if necessary with lukewarm water. Then expose it to air (on a clothesline or hanger) to dry. Hanging the clothes also makes the gravity help the clothes to return to their original size. If clothes haven’t returned to their original state, repeat the above steps.

Knitted, woollen, cotton and cashmere garments don’t need to be ironed. If you want your clothes to be neat, just spread them on a clean, smooth towel to dry. Also, the best way to fold woven and woollen clothes are to pipe them. This method prevents the clothes from wrinkling.