- Shrinking clothes in the laundry is a common issue, leaving people wondering if there's a way to get them back to their original size.
- Our Good Housekeeping Institute cleaning expert reveals the answer, plus ways to avoid shrinkage in the first place.
When it comes to laundry, simply failing to read a care label or running a load at the wrong temperature can be all it takes to damage a piece of clothing. I've accidentally dyed one of my favorite white t-shirts pink, snagged a sweater, and worst of all: shrunken a pair of pants that once fit just right.
After digging online, I found a few "hacks" involving warm water and conditioner and even products dedicated to the process of unshrinking. Before deciding if any of the methods or products were worth it, I consulted the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab Executive Director, Carolyn Forté.
Read on to learn more about what causes clothes to shrink, whether they can be restored to their original size, and tips to avoid shrinkage in the first place.
What causes clothes to shrink?
While you don't have to worry too much about certain materials shrinking (think synthetics like polyester and spandex), there are others that are unfortunately pretty prone to shrinkage—especially fabrics with natural fibers like cotton, silk, and wool. When these fabrics go through the washer and dryer and experience high heat and forceful tumbling, their fibers can tighten up.
Can you unshrink clothes?
There are few methods online that claim to unshrink clothes. The most popular involves soaking fabrics in lukewarm water and conditioner, then stretching the clothing back to its original size and letting it air dry. While that sounds easy enough, our GHI experts don't necessarily recommend it.
"We have never found any of the recommended methods to be successful," says Forté. Our GHI Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab has even tested a product meant for unshrinking, and while it worked the first time, the clothing shrunk again after washing. While this may not be the best news, there are still expert-approved ways you can avoid shrinkage altogether in the future.
Tips to avoid shrinkage
Accidentally shrinking a piece or two of clothing is a universal experience. However, there are a few tips and tricks you can apply moving forward to prevent it from happening again.
- Check tags and follow instructions: Reading the care label will provide you with essential information about the type of fabric used and which wash cycle is recommended. This is one of the simplest ways to avoid shrinkage, so don't skip this step!
- Wash in cold water: Cold water is more gentle on fabrics than hot water. It can help prevent color bleeding, shrinking, and damage to fibers.
- Air dry or dry on low heat: Heat can cause certain fibers to contract, leading to shrinkage. Avoid the dryer all together to avoid damaging shrinkage-prone fabrics. Hang them out to air dry instead, or use low heat.
- Hand wash or use a delicate cycle: Avoid unnecessary agitation by hand washing certain pieces of clothing or choosing a delicate cycle.
Laura Millar (she/her) is the assistant lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home design. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2024, she wrote for NBC's TODAY.com, where she covered everything from entertainment news to pop culture updates.
