How to stretch a T-shirt if it shrinks after washing

Did something go wrong while washing and now the new T-shirt is too small? Let’s look at this issue from the point of view of physical and chemical processes. We will understand where we make mistakes and how we can restore the size of things.

The property of shrinkage is typical for fabrics made from natural fibers. Things made of polyester and other synthetic fibers are the least susceptible to temperature changes and the influence of detergents.

Why do things shrink

Often such a surprise is presented by new things. Exposure to water and improper washing results in a shrinkage effect, especially during the first wet treatment.

The reduction in the size of things is due to the structure of the fiber. So, cotton in its natural position looks like a twisted spring. In the manufacture of threads, the fibers are treated with chemicals to straighten and stretch the fibers. And she is able to maintain this state until the first opportunity. When the right conditions arise, the fiber can twist again. Most often this happens when the recommended care rules are violated. In other words, when extreme conditions occur, the protective properties of chemical treatment are leveled and the fiber tends to a natural state.

Wool sits differently. The down of animals, which we call wool, has a scaly structure on the surface. These horny structures, similar to fish scales, cover the entire surface of the pile. If the hair begins to wrinkle and bend, the scales begin to bristle and cling to each other. It is similar to the rolling process. The size decreases due to the fact that the threads are fluffed up and then fixed in a compressed state.

And if you pour boiling water over the wool, then the structural hair protein keratin undergoes denaturation (an irreversible reduction), as a result of which the thing sits down very strongly and irrevocably.

Flax fiber has a spindle shape. It is smooth and strong, but also able to shrink, especially when treated with hot water. Linen shrinkage is not critical, and when ironed, the fiber returns to its original size.

The fabrics that manufacturers use to sew T-shirts have a different composition. They can be natural, mixed and synthetic.

Materials made from mixed fibers and synthetics are the least susceptible to shrinkage. The following table shows the maximum percentage of shrinkage of fabrics of different types.

Now, by imagining what the fibers of knitwear look like and why they change length, we can determine the appropriate washing conditions for such products and understand how to return things to their original appearance.

Repairing a shrunken T-shirt

Having studied the experience of restoring shrunken items, having carried out experimental tests, we offer you effective and safe ways to restore T-shirts to their original sizes.

Vinegar treatment

Thanks to the acidic environment, cotton and wool fibers straighten and become soft. If at the same time you start to easily pull the material in different directions, the natural threads will stretch to their original state.

To process a cotton item, you need to soak it in vinegar, moistening it with a spray bottle or moistening it with a sponge. A wet thing must be gently stretched during the entire drying time. After the T-shirt has dried and fixed in the right condition, it can be washed in cold water to eliminate the smell of vinegar.

For a woolen, semi-woolen T-shirt, you need to prepare an acidified solution. To do this, dissolve vinegar in water in a ratio of 1: 2. Next, do the following manipulations:

1. Place the item in a cold solution for 30 minutes.

2. While the knitwear is in the solution, periodically stretch it in different directions.

3. After the time has elapsed, remove the T-shirt, wring out without twisting, and lay on a towel.

4. Give the jersey the correct shape, and stretch to the desired size.

Soaking in ice water

For greater efficiency, you can put ice cubes in the water. This processing method is suitable for all types of fabric. Wool, wool mixture, cotton, polycotton, linen — any fabric will not suffer from cold water, while the fibers will stretch, which will increase the size of the clothes.

Pour ice water into a basin and do this:

1. Immerse the shrunken item in the container and leave it for 15-30 minutes.

2. Take out the clothes and wring them out. Do not twist the product so as not to deform the fabric.

3. Hang the T-shirt on a hanger and evenly pull the fabric in different directions, giving it the desired size.

4. Periodically repeat the stretching procedure until completely dry.

5. Do not apply excessive force to avoid tearing the fabric.

Using vodka with turpentine and ammonia

We suggest using this method for cotton models. Need to prepare:

1. 5 liters of warm water;

2. 3 art. l. ammonia;

3. 1 st. l. vodka;

4. 1 st. l. turpentine.

Then mix the ingredients and do the following:

1. Soak the T-shirt in the solution for 15-30 minutes. Periodically stretch the fabric in different directions.

2. If there is an odor, wash the item by hand.

3. Hang clothes on hangers and stretch evenly.

4. Let the knitwear dry.

Hydrogen peroxide method

For natural silk and woolen fabrics, a method using hydrogen peroxide is suitable. We warn you that you should carefully use this method for dyed things, since perhydrol has a bleaching effect.

Let’s prepare a solution. To do this, in a ten-liter basin filled with warm water, pour 3 tbsp. l. hydrogen peroxide. Immerse clothes in a container and wait 5 hours. After the time has elapsed, slightly wring out the T-shirt and lay it out on a flat surface. If necessary, stretch and straighten the jersey.

Stretching with an iron

This method restores cotton and linen well. But synthetics can be severely deformed. For stretching thin woolen items, we recommend using only steam treatment.

What we need to do:

1. Wet the shrunken thing, wring it out slightly and let the remaining water drain.

2. Put the damp T-shirt on the ironing board and cover with gauze on top. You can not use gauze if the clothes do not have applications and thermal stickers.

3. Start ironing while pressing the iron with one hand and stretching the fabric with the other.

4. Perform uniform stretching of all parts in all directions.

5. Hang the item on a coat hanger to evaporate any remaining moisture.

To restore a woolen or wool blend item, you need to use the iron as a steam generator:

1. Lay the dry item on the ironing board.

2. While pressing the button on the steam generator, process the fabric and then stretch it with both hands.

3. To fix the result, pin the T-shirt to the ironing board with stationery pins around the entire perimeter.

4. Let things dry completely and remove the needles.

5. Slightly stretched fabric at the fixation points, steam again and align with your hand.

Stretching with the help of improvised objects

Our goal is to fix the stretched thing until it dries completely. This will require items on which we can pull a shrunken T-shirt.

What can suit us:

1. A pillow or two. It depends on the size of the clothes.

2. The back of the chair. If your size is not too large, you can pull the clothes over the back of the chair. At the same time, rolled towels or pillows can be placed on 2 sides.

3. Dummy. This option is more of an exception than the norm. But, if you have it, take the opportunity and pull a shrunken thing on it. Pin the product on the bottom with pins.

4. Own body. In the summer heat, you can apply this option. Be sure, after this, the reduced copy will sit perfectly on you.

Be careful when pulling T-shirts on hard objects. Because clothes can be accidentally torn or deformed.

Stretching with a load

In this way, you can increase the knitwear in length. For this method, weighting agents are required. Any thing can play this role: a kilogram dumbbell, a frying pan, a saucepan, an iron.

You need to do this:

1. Hang the item on your shoulders. Do not use light wire hangers as they may warp.

2. Collect the bottom of the product in a bundle, tie it with a rope and fix it with a knot.

3. Attach a weight to the free end of the rope.

4. If you need to stretch the sleeves, you should hang small loads from them in a similar way.

5. Allow the T-shirt to dry, release from the load and remove from the coat hanger.

6. Iron the fabric to straighten out any wrinkles.

When using this method, be careful not to overdo it with the weight of the load. It may happen that due to strong stretching, the T-shirt becomes too long.

Deformed hem and cuffs can be adjusted with a steam iron. For this you need:

1. Steam the wrinkled and stretched area.

2. Align the fabric with your hands. Give it the desired shape and size, pressing the fabric with your hand and straightening the folds.

3. Fix the result by pressing the fabric with a hot iron. The temperature of the iron must be appropriate for the type of fabric.

Care rules that exclude clothing deformation

Often we do not assume that clothes can shrink, and of course we do not look at the labels that prescribe the rules of care. Therefore, as a result, we are forced to correct the situation using the above methods.

To avoid damage to knitwear, we recommend that you read the following care instructions:

1. Wash and spin according to the instructions on the information label.

2. Unless otherwise stated, wash cotton at 40 degrees. At this temperature, almost all types of ordinary contaminants are washed away.

3. Delicate items should be spun at 500 rpm.

4. Wool washing temperature — no more than 30 degrees Celsius. Hand processing without strong pressing is welcome.

5. Flax withstands boiling. But in order to avoid shrinkage and shedding of the product, it is recommended to wash things at a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius.

6. We recommend using liquid detergents for natural fabrics. Powder particles are not always completely washed out of the fabric. Because of this, knitwear becomes stiff and less elastic.

7. To even out the structure of wool fibers, you can use fabric softener or hair conditioner. It glues the horny scales on the pile, so that the clothes become softer and do not roll.

Unpleasant situations can be eliminated from your life if you follow simple rules and tips. But even in the event of an unexpected shrinkage of your favorite thing, you should not panic. You should apply one of the methods we have given to restore things.