How to Shrink Clothes For a Better Fit

Shrinking clothing can be an effective way to make it fit better. Whether you've purchased the wrong size or need to fix some unwanted stretching, these tips can help you shrink clothes effectively.

With a little knowledge and proper care for different fabrics, you can easily adjust the fit of various garments. Here's how to shrink clothes made of cotton, denim, wool, silk, polyester, and other synthetic materials.

NOTE: If you're not confident in your ability, take it slow. Don’t jump straight into using hot water in the washing machine. Instead, hand-washing solutions might be a better way to start.

Consider these tips when planning to adjust your clothing size and fit:

• If your cotton garment is labeled as pre-shrunk, don't bother trying to shrink it more. Putting it in the dryer may help restore stretched fibers but won’t reduce the size significantly.
• Decide if you need to shrink the whole garment or just a specific area, like a stretched-out collar or sleeve.
• Use garment bags for items with buttons or delicate details that shouldn't be laundered. Protect these details when attempting to shrink your garment.
• Polyester can shrink slightly, but the fibers can be easily damaged by a hot iron.

How to Shrink Cotton Clothes

• Launder your garment in hot water using the washing machine.
• Place the garment in the dryer and set the timer for 60 minutes. Avoid using the machine’s moisture sensor feature.
• Check on the garment every five minutes to monitor the shrinkage.
• Remove the garment once it has shrunk to the desired size, even if it is still a little damp.
• Let the garment air dry.
• Try it on for size.
• If further shrinking is needed, repeat the process.
• After achieving the desired size, wash the garment with low heat to avoid further shrinkage.

How to Shrink Wool

• Wash the garment in warm water on a short cycle with a small amount of detergent to agitate the fibers. Use a delicate bag or pillowcase to protect details like buttons and prevent accidental stretching. Avoid hot water as it can damage the fibers and cause felting.
• Dry the garment on a low-heat setting to slowly reduce its size with less risk of damage. Check the garment every five minutes to monitor shrinkage.
• Remove the garment once it has reached the desired size.

If you're focusing on a specific part of a wool garment, hand-shrinking is the best approach.

• Dampen the targeted area with hot water.
• Lay the garment flat and press the wet area between two dry towels to remove excess water.
• Gently bunch the fibers to help retract the stretched fibers.
• Air dry or use a low-heat hair dryer until fully dry.

If you’ve over-shrunk your wool garment, you may be able to reverse it by washing in cold water with a gentle wool cleaner and allowing it to dry flat on a towel.

How to Shrink Polyester

• Wash the garment on high heat. Turn the garment inside out to protect the colors.
• Dry the garment on high heat. Set the timer for a 30-minute cycle and check every five minutes.
• If further shrinking is needed, rewash in hot water and iron on low to medium heat.

How to Shrink Denim

• Boil a large pot of plain water.
• Submerge the denim, using a long wooden spoon to release air bubbles.
• Let the water and denim simmer for 30 minutes.
• Remove the denim and let it cool in a colander before compressing and drying.
• Dry the garment in the dryer on high heat.

If you only need to shrink specific parts, like the waistband or knees, you can do it more efficiently.

• Use a spray bottle to dampen the areas you want to shrink.
• Lay the garment flat on an ironing board.
• Dry the dampened area with a hot iron.

How to Shrink Silk

• Soak the silk in warm water for five minutes.
• Roll the wet garment in a dry towel to remove excess moisture.
• Let the garment air dry. Don't wring it out.
• If additional shrinking is needed, soak again and then use the dryer on high heat.