What makes clothes shrink in the dryer?

How to avoid shrinking your clothes during washing and drying?

It’s happened to us all. We’ve carelessly thrown a woollen jumper or pair of stretchy jeans in the washing machine or tumble dryer, and they’ve come out a third of their original size. Sure, you might be able to salvage the item by stretching it out, but it’ll never be quite the same again. Well, work these pointers into your laundry routine, and you’ll never ruin another sweater, sports top or t-shirt again!

Why clothes shrink

Clothes are made from stretched-out fibres like cotton, wool, or synthetic. Heat, water and agitation from drum movements all have a knack for releasing that tension. So, expose your garment to too much heat at the washing or drying stage, and all those little fibres will relax. Suddenly that size 8 dress is a size 2, and you’ve learned an expensive lesson.

Steps to prevent shrinkage

Shrinkage can result from exposure to heat and liquid, as well as agitation, which means it can happen at either the washing or drying stage of your laundry routine. So be mindful of the points below to avoid the heartache of ruining another beloved item of clothing.

Step 1: Read your garment’s care labels

Care labels tell you all you need to know when it comes to looking after your garment properly. They explain how to wash it, dry it, and what you can and can’t do to it. The only problem is, all this information is represented by a series of symbols which aren’t that intuitive to understand. You can take a look at this guide to help you get your head around care label symbols, and once you do, you’ll be taking care of your clothes like a pro!

One of the most important indicators you’ll find on the care label is the temperature you can wash and dry your garment at. If you’re particularly worried about some garments, you can always wash and dry them on a lower heat, say 30 °C. While lower temperatures won’t prevent all shrinkage, it will significantly reduce it.

One other thing you might see on a garment label is the phrase “preshrunk”. As the label suggests, these items will have been shrunk before being sold, so they should stay the same size after a washing and drying cycle.

Step 2: Sort it out

Getting into the habit of sorting your laundry according to colour as well as washing temperature will help avoid shrinkage. Remember too that your washing machine and tumble dryer might offer programmes for specific fabrics as well, like a jeans cycle. Sort your laundry accordingly if you’re going to use one of these fabric-specific cycles. For more laundry tips, check out our guide on how to load your washing machine and tumble dryer properly.

Step 3: Choose the right cycle

This goes hand in hand with choosing the right temperature, as certain cycle will automatically set the washing temperature.

If you’re washing woollen items for example, be sure to choose a woollens cycle if your washing machines offers one. Not only will this cycle reduce the washing temperature, it will reduce the spin speed, resulting in a gentler wash and less shrinkage.

Hand washing is another option, and it might even be the instruction the care label gives you. This is certainly the least damaging method of washing your clothes, but of course, the most labour-intensive.

Step 4: Be smart when it comes to drying

Again, paying attention to care labels is key here. If the label indicates that the garment isn’t suitable for tumble drying, it’s not worth risking it. However, if it indicates that the item can be tumble dried, make sure you choose the right temperature setting. Drying clothes which require a low heat on a high heat setting is likely to result in shrinkage. Again, if your tumble dryer offers fabric-specific programmes, be sure to use these.

Even the most adept laundry pros fall victim to the occasional cleaning blunder—bleach stains and pink sheets included. (What is it with red socks?) But perhaps the number one laundry mistake involves shrinking our most cherished cotton clothing. No matter how much of a skilled laundress you claim to be, shrunken clothes are simply unavoidable, and this laundry gaffe has left us with too many misshapen t-shirts to count. Fortunately, all is not lost when you've inflicted unintentional heat damage.

According to fabric expert Suzanne Holmes of Cotton Incorporated, because cotton is a natural, breathable fiber, it may shrink when heated. If you find yourself with a teeny, tiny top in your hands, fully saturate the damaged shirt in water. Holmes then suggests gently stretching your wet shirt out on a flat surface or drying rack to the desired size. "Keep the shirt in place with household weights like heavy jars or cans," Holmes says. Take extra care with this step, since too many tugs may further distort the shape of the garment you're trying to salvage. Once you get the piece to its desired size, leave the garment out to air dry.

If your clothes still seem to get smaller with every wash, Holmes suggests taking cotton pieces out of the dryer while they're still damp and air drying them the rest of the way. Aside from keeping your clothing in tip-top shape, you're also conserving energy.

As for the most important laundry lesson we could all stand to learn? Always, always review an item of clothing's label before tossing it in the wash. "When buying clothes, opt for quality cotton pieces that fit," she says. "And you should check the label and follow care instructions closely to keep your cotton items newer, longer."

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One of the best ways to avoid shrinking clothes in the wash is by checking the label of the garments. For more tips on avoiding this laundry disaster, keep reading.

Doing laundry might seem like an easy, mundane task, but the truth is, it’s all too easy to make a mistake that can cost you your favorite piece of clothing. Chances are, you’ve probably put a shirt or sweater in the wash only to remove it and find out it’s two or three sizes too small.

Shrinking clothes in the wash is a preventable mistake and one that can even be fixed. Learn why clothes shrink in the wash, how you can keep them from shrinking and what to do if you’ve accidentally ruined your favorite sweater.

Why do clothes shrink in the washer and dryer?

There are several reasons why your clothes might shrink in the wash. These include fiber content, excess moisture, and heat and agitation.

Fiber content – Certain natural fibers, such as wool and cotton, are more likely to shrink than others. Wool fibers are covered in scales, and when these scales come into contact with heat and moisture, they mesh together, causing fabrics to shrink. This is known as felting shrinkage. Additionally, cotton and wool can both absorb quite a bit of water, which can also lead to shrinking.
Excess moisture – Natural fibers like cotton, linen and silk can also be prone to a condition known as relaxation shrinkage. This happens when these absorbent fibers are exposed to water, which causes the fibers to swell and the overall size of the garment to decrease.
Heat and agitation – Sometimes, the combination of hot water and the agitation from the washer and dryer can cause consolidation shrinkage. These conditions cause fibers, which are tightly woven and stretched out during the manufacturing process, to release this tension and return to their natural, smaller and shorter shape.

Related: 8 Laundry Hacks to Make Life Easier

While it’s easy to accidentally shrink your clothes in the laundry, you can avoid this blunder by following a few simple tips. Before you throw your next load of clothes into the washer, keep the following in mind:

Check your labels – Garment labels contain two critical pieces of information: fiber type and care instructions. You should always read labels before washing your clothes to ensure proper care and prevent stretching. Also, pay special attention to the manufacturer’s instructions for washing and drying, such as hand washing, dry cleaning and line drying.
Use the right water temperature – Hot water can relax the tension in fibers and lead to shrinking. Fabrics made of cotton or wool should generally be washed in cold water. Some clothing made of these fibers is “preshrunk” and less likely to shrink further with additional washings.
Avoid over-drying – Exposing clothes to too much heat in the dryer can also lead to shrinking. This is another reason to check your labels. Some clothes can go through the drying cycle on low heat, and some should be air dried to maintain their size and shape. Additionally, you should avoid running your clothes through more than one dryer cycle if possible.

Related:A Simple Guide for Laundry Symbols

If you’ve accidentally shrunk your favorite piece of clothing, don’t despair, It’s possible to reverse the damage with a simple little trick.

Fill up a sink or tub with lukewarm water and add a capful of baby shampoo. Place your garment into the water and allow it to soak for about five minutes. This process relaxes the fibers in the clothing.

Next, gently squeeze the clothing to remove water, but do not rinse it. Roll the garment up in a towel to absorb any additional moisture. Finally, get a fresh towel and lay the garment out on it. Reshape it to its original dimensions and allow it to air dry.

Help keep your washer and dryer in top shape

Of course, part of avoiding laundry mishaps is ensuring that your washer and dryer are in top working order. Remember, they’re appliances, and they need proper care and maintenance.

Related : Caring for Your Washer and Dryer

American Home Shield® offers home warranty plans with washing machine and dryer coverage to help you extend the life of your appliances. Coverage includes repairs and replacements up to $3,000, and we have a variety of plans designed to meet your needs. Get a quote today.

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