How to Prevent Clothes from Shrinking

It's a terrible washroom moment: You open the dryer to take out a freshly laundered load of clothing only to find that your favorite T-shirt or the cardigan your best friend knitted for you has shrunk to the size of doll clothing.

Fortunately, avoiding shrinkage is pretty simple. Three main factors cause fabrics to shrink—heat, agitation, and improper use of laundry products—and once you're aware of them, you can make smarter, more informed choices when doing laundry.

This guide provides the information you need to avoid shrinking your clothes, an explanation for why shrinkage happens in the first place, and a list of fabric types that are among the most shrink-prone.

What Causes Clothes to Shrink

Understanding the causes of shrinkage in clothing can help you make better laundering choices. The most common cause of shrinkage is exposure to heat, whether in the form of washing a garment in hot or too-warm water or putting a shrink-prone item in the dryer, where high, medium, or even low heat can cause shrinkage.

In addition to exposure to hot water and overdrying, shrinkage can occur in clothing that is overly agitated in the washing cycle. Vigorous washing can cause fibers to tighten, resulting in shrunken clothing items.

Improper washing that leads to shrinkage happens to garments made from certain materials. Viscose will shrink if washed in water, regardless of temperature. Wool clothing can shrink if washed with detergents that are not pH-neutral or with chlorine or oxygen bleaches.

A garment's care tag tells you all the information you need to prevent shrinking, so check it before washing the item. In addition to guidance on water temperature and drying recommendations, the care tag lists a garment's fabric content. Natural fibers like ​​cotton, linen, wool, and silk are more shrink-prone than synthetic fabrics.

How to Prevent Clothes from Shrinking in the Wash

To prevent clothing from shrinking in the wash, start by consulting the garment's care tag for information on its fabric content and specific laundering instructions.

Washing clothing in cold water prevents shrinkage caused by heat exposure. Choosing the delicate, slow, or hand-wash setting protects against shrinking due to agitation. Opting for detergents formulated for delicate fabrics, like silk or wool, and avoiding harsh laundry boosters like chlorine or oxygen bleach prevents shrinkage due to improper product use.

Hand-laundering clothing is an excellent way to wash delicate, shrink-prone clothing. Washing clothes by hand is particularly effective for fabrics likely to shrink because of overhandling or too much agitation, like wool.

How to Prevent Clothes from Shrinking in the Dryer

The high heat of a dryer, agitation from the dryer's tumble function, and contact with other garments can cause fibers to contract, leaving the item shrunken or misshapen. To avoid damage in the dryer, use a low-heat or air-dry setting. Place the garment in a mesh washing bag, which adds a layer of protection from agitation and friction caused by the presence of other clothing.

In addition to using a low- or no-heat dryer setting and placing the garment in a protective mesh bag, removing clothing from the dryer before the item is completely dry avoids shrinking due to overdrying. Overdrying happens when a completely dry item of clothing remains in the dryer, exposing the fabric to unnecessary heat.

Tips to Prevent Shrinking and Maintain a Garment's Shape

Use these simple tips to take the guesswork out of washing, drying, and storing shrink-prone clothing:

• Consult the care tag. A garment's care tag provides important laundering information and the fabric content of the clothing so you can make the right washing, drying, and detergent choices.
• Avoid Hot Water. Washing clothing in hot or even warm water can cause shrinkage. When in doubt, wash clothing in cold water.
• Pay attention to washer settings. Agitation is another common culprit when it comes to shrinking. When washing shrink-prone fabrics, select the gentlest cycle available on your machine.
• Use protection. Agitation can also happen when clothing comes in contact with other items in the wash. Place shrink-prone clothing in a mesh washing bag to protect it from other items, and wash it alongside other delicate or lightweight items. Avoid placing shrink-prone clothing in the same load as bulky, heavy items like jeans, hoodies, or towels.
• Avoid high-heat drying. Like hot water, exposure to the high heat of a dryer can cause shrinking. Dry clothes using a low- or no-heat setting.
• Don't overdry. Even on a low-heat setting, overdrying—which occurs when a garment remains in the dryer after it is already fully dry—can cause shrinkage. Dry clothing using a short cycle, and remove the garment from the dryer when it is still slightly damp, allowing it to finish drying away from the heat of the machine.
• Better yet, air-dry. The best way to avoid shrinking an item of clothing in the dryer is to avoid using the dryer entirely. Opt instead to air-dry the clothing.
• Store in a cool, dry place. Clothing can shrink due to improper storage. Avoid storing shrink-prone clothing in a way that leaves it exposed to humidity, high heat, or direct sunlight.