Many women experience that their dress shrinks after washing or after prolonged storage. After this, the clothes become one size or even slightly smaller. In addition, we may make a mistake with the size, and the dress will simply be too small.
However, there are several ways that will help restore the previous appearance and parameters of the product or reduce clothing by size. In this article we will look at how to stretch a dress a size larger at home.
The choice of method depends on the type of fabric and material. Before using any procedure, be sure to read the label on your clothing and follow the recommendations.
For example, wool, synthetics and delicate fabrics can only be ironed at a minimum temperature. Cotton and linen, on the contrary, are ironed at a high setting. But there are several universal tips on how to restore a shrunken dress to its original appearance after washing or improper storage.
Proper care of woolen items
The fact that a woolen item is ideal in terms of wear does not give it any advantages in care. On the one hand, it does not wrinkle and rarely gets dirty, but on the other hand, it requires special conditions in terms of washing, ironing and storage.
Wash.
It is best to wash woolen clothes by hand. By the way, there are special powders designed for washing woolen products, so it is advisable to use them. When washing by hand, the water should be no warmer than 30 degrees. Upon completion, the item does not need to be squeezed out. But if the water flows down a lot, you can blot it with a terry towel.
In cases where you have to use a washing machine, the operating mode should be set to either manual or delicate. The temperature mode selected is similar (30 degrees).
Ironing.
Ironing should be done without steam and using gauze. The item must be dry, and do not forget to set the iron to a special mode.
Storage.
In summer, woolen items should be stored in a closet, not forgetting about moth protection measures.
Without following the care conditions, the item can simply be ruined. Very often it settles, and returning its original appearance becomes problematic. But, using small tricks, you can try to do this.
Professional advice
Regardless of whether the item is wool or silk, it can always be restored if you listen to the recommendations of experts.
Why do clothes shrink?
There are many reasons why your dress, T-shirt, shirt or even pants may shrink. The most common of them are presented below.
- You are choosing the wrong spin cycle in your washing machine. For example, there are situations when a woolen jacket cannot be spun, and its owner sets the spin speed too high.
- The temperature when washing will also affect your dress, pants and even curtains. Try not to deviate from the values recommended by the manufacturer.
- The fabric itself. Remember that silk shrinks much more than any other type of natural or synthetic material.
If you choose the wrong washing temperature, the fabric may lose its structure as a result.
In addition, the mechanical impact of the “washing machine” will have a detrimental effect on cotton and knitted clothing. Do not despair ahead of time, because you can always find a way out of every situation, even the most deplorable one. Sit back comfortably and try to remember all the recommendations of professionals that can be useful to you in a situation when your T-shirt, dress, curtains and other things suddenly shrink.
Stretching a woolen item: simple and radical methods
So, what methods are applicable at home? The simplest option: you can rinse the item in warm water and hang it on a hanger. Under the influence of the gravity of the water, it will stretch itself. But in order not to end up with a couple of extra sizes, it is better to periodically gently squeeze out the water from the sleeves and edges of the clothes.
There is another similar method: the wet item is laid out on a large piece of thick fabric, the edges are adjusted to it to the desired size and sewn. Next, the entire structure must be left until it dries completely.
There are more radical ways. You need to take vinegar and mix it with water in a 2:1 ratio. The item is dipped into the resulting solution and left in it overnight. The next morning you need to pour the solution into a bowl, transfer the product there and boil everything for half an hour. Then the item should be left to dry, but during drying it is advisable to periodically stretch it.
Woolen items require a delicate approach
Hydrogen peroxide is also a good helper in this matter. You need to take two tablespoons of peroxide and mix them with ten liters of cold water. Rinse the woolen item in the resulting solution, trying to stretch it with your hands, and then leave it for two hours. After the specified time has passed, the item is laid out on a terry towel and dried. During this time, you must manually stretch it periodically.
“Grandmother’s Methods” contains many recipes on how to stretch sagging woolen clothes. Among them there is another miracle solution. What you may need:
- five liters of water at room temperature,
three tablespoons of ammonia,
one tablespoon of turpentine,
one tablespoon of cologne.
All of the above is mixed. The item is dipped into the resulting mixture and left in it for an hour. Afterwards everything is taken out, rinsed in regular cold water and dried. This solution allows you to achieve elasticity and softness of the wool product, which will return it to its original appearance.
If, for example, a woolen sweater doesn’t shrink too much, then you can try the simplest method – steaming with an iron. Just take a sweater, turn the iron on low and steam it. If you only need to stretch the sleeves of a sweater or cardigan, you can try either this method, or make it even simpler: wet them, stretch them by hand and dry them.
There is one costly method, so if you have extra funds, you can go to a dry cleaner, where professionals will get down to business. But it is necessary to take into account that this method will work one hundred percent only if the item is made entirely of wool, without the use of additional material.
The product can also be stretched on yourself. The only question is how long you can wear wet wool clothes. Although, when nothing helps, then why not try this method on yourself. It definitely won’t be worse, but quite better.
All of the above “rescue” options can really help. But once faced with such a problem, one simple rule will definitely be learned - read the label before washing, where it is described in detail and shown what can be done and what cannot be done.
Reasons why knitwear shrinks
The shrinkage of this type of fabric, like many others, is explained by its structure. It is such that it consists of many loops connected in different ways. The structure of knitwear is very flexible, so it is easily deformed if not properly cared for. Knitwear shrinks especially strongly during intensive washing and drying in the drum of a washing machine, long-term soaking and hand spinning and twisting. The loops can stretch, causing the item to deform, or shrink, causing shrinkage. The following types of knitwear shrink especially often:
- Kulirka. Smooth cross-knitted one-sided fabric, thin, very dense, stretches strongly in width. Most often made of pure cotton, less often with the addition of lycra (stretch cooler) or polyester.
- Interlock. Double-sided elastic-type fabric. Dense and warm, stretches in all directions, wear-resistant.
- Footer. Warm and dense, smooth on the front side.
Pay attention to these types of knitwear, it shrinks, especially if the composition is 100% natural.
It is important to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for caring for products and read the labels, which clearly indicate the type of wash, maximum water temperature and method of spinning and drying.
How to restore a wool sweater to its original shape
The ability to correct the shape of woolen items depends on the percentage of natural threads in the composition. Items made entirely from wool cannot be restored because the material cannot be stretched. If there is at least a small percentage of synthetics in the composition, you can try to save the item. There are several methods for this.
Method No. 1
The product must be soaked in cold water and then manually stretched to its original size. After manipulation, the item is placed on a towel to dry. Periodically during the drying process, it is recommended to stretch the product several more times until it is completely dry. Care must be taken to ensure that all sides are stretched evenly. If this is not done, you may notice the appearance of “tails” and the product will lose its original shape.
Method No. 2
To correct the shortcomings of the first wash, it is recommended to wash again using the “delicate” mode. Instead of powder, a special composition for woolen materials is added. At the end of washing, the item is pulled out, stretched, pinned to a dry towel, and left to dry without changing its position.
Method No. 3
Create a solution (10 liters of water mixed with 2 tablespoons of peroxide). Water is taken either cold or at room temperature. The sweater is rinsed well in the prepared mixture and stretched during the process. After manipulation, leave to dry on a towel.
Sometimes a steamer or iron is used to return the sweater to its former shape. When ironing, the item is stretched to the required size.
Useful tips for stretching knitted sweaters
- A very interesting option is to put the product on yourself after preliminary soaking. After putting on a wet item, you can stretch it a little with your hands, moving from the stomach to the sides. This method is not very unpleasant, but it gives quite decent results for products made of any material. Ideally, a mannequin would be suitable to make stretching more convenient. You can also ask someone who wears clothes a couple sizes larger to wear a wet sweater.
- To stretch in length, additional weight is often used during the drying process. The main thing is not to overdo it, so as not to overtighten the product. To preserve the design or print, it is advisable to iron the area before soaking.
- It is best to carefully study the tags on things immediately after purchase. It lists all the actions that can be performed with them without the risk of losing their previous size. After all, it’s easier to prevent shrinkage than to suffer with restoration later!
What can be done from an old T-shirt
How to tie a sweater on the shoulders
How to stretch a shrunken cotton or viscose item
There are many ways to stretch a shrunken cotton or viscose item, since these fabrics are more amenable to manipulation. The washing machine is set to the delicate cycle, the spin cycle is waited, after which the viscose or cotton knitted item is taken out of the drum and manually stretched to the required shape and size. After this, the product is hung on hangers and dried in a shaded place.
To return the shape of a cotton shirt, use a vinegar solution. Prepare a composition of 3 tbsp. vinegar and 10 liters of cold water. The shirt is dipped into the prepared solution and left for one and a half to two hours. After the specified time has passed, the item is removed and hung to dry without rinsing.
A very effective way to stretch out a shrunken item is to put it damp on the body immediately after washing (without drying). It is recommended to wear the product until it is completely dry. The method is unpleasant, but effective.
Of course, to avoid such cases, it is better to follow the recommendations on the product label. And if you have doubts that you will be able to wash the item yourself without unexpected results, then it is better to contact dry cleaners in Minsk, which are easy to find
Probably every housewife has encountered a situation when a favorite item, after washing and drying, has lost its original appearance and decreased in size. The reason for shrinkage of clothing material most often occurs due to violations of the washing regime, when the item is washed in too hot water, or the detergent is selected incorrectly. In addition, the reason why an item shrinks in size is the composition of the material. Every housewife should know that clothes that fit only contain natural fibers.
.To avoid unpleasant incidents, you need to adhere to the instructions for caring for a certain material, which should be indicated on the tags and labels of clothing.
But if trouble does happen, and your item has decreased in size, you can try to restore the shrunken clothes. To do this, you can use old and proven methods that do not require financial costs. Most often, such stretching is required for woolen clothes.
, she is the most capricious and demanding.
But in addition to woolen clothes, knitwear and cotton
, since they also contain natural fibers. In this article, we’ll look at how to stretch woolen, cotton and knitted clothes, but first, what will a housewife need if her favorite item has shrunk?
If your favorite item has lost its original appearance, has stretched out, or shrunk, you can try to revive it, for this you will need:
- a bowl of warm water;
- iron, ironing board;
- large towels 2 - 3 pieces;
- mild detergent for delicate washing;
- vinegar solution;
- hydrogen peroxide;
- conditioner for wool products.
It should be noted that for the procedure of stretching things, you will not need all of the above means, but only those that are suitable for a specific material or fabric.
How to increase the size of an item. How to widen or lengthen clothes. Execution options
The situation when a beautiful and comfortable piece of clothing becomes too tight is familiar to everyone. This may be due to weight gain,
pregnancy, as well as the wrong choice of washing or drying mode. However, your favorite thing can be remade like this:
that it will not only fit well, but will also take on a new original look.
Stylish DIY clothes
How to expand clothes
The item is wide, but the sleeves have become narrow? Use homemade shoulder straps. They can be anything: lace, embroidered or contrasting fabric.
If your favorite item has become too tight in width, use sewn-in side inserts. The material for them can be chosen in a single color or in the color of the main product.
Contrasting inserts that differ in texture and color will not only help to expand the blouse, but will also become an interesting decorative element.
This is how you can increase the size of your favorite blouse or tunic. To do this, add inserts along the back or shelf of the product.
With trousers, follow the same pattern: use side inserts along the entire length. Moreover, both from the outside and from the inside seam.
Are your previously comfortable jeans starting to put pressure on your stomach? Make inserts in the waistband area in the side or back seam.
Here's a great idea to increase the size of the dress in all respects. I already want the same for myself!
Nowadays, repairing and extending old things is not so important: in the era of the heyday of mass marketing, it is easier to buy new clothes than to remake old ones. But sometimes it’s a pity to throw away your favorite thing, you want to update or refresh it. Most often, shortening is not difficult, but lengthening beautifully is a little more difficult.
How to lengthen clothes
This is probably one of the most common methods. He looks just great! Add a strip of fabric or lace along the bottom of the product. Color and material depend on your imagination.
A very fashionable trend this season is an insert made of transparent fabric. Place it on the hem of a skirt or light summer dress.
And this is an even more radical transformation of trousers. Openwork inserts are placed not at the bottom, but in the middle of the product. To enhance the effect, you can decorate your pockets and belt with lace. Personally, I really like this option.
For girls who love a sporty style of clothing, knitted cuffs will be an excellent option for changing the shape of trousers.
If we talk about blouses and jumpers, there are a huge number of options. The most popular of them are lace inserts at the bottom of the product.
Looking at this photo, I immediately wanted to have the same summer T-shirt. To remake it, you need to make a contrasting fabric insert in the middle of the product.
As you can see, you don’t always need to throw away a tight blouse or a too short skirt, especially if it concerns your favorite clothes. Use these simple but resourceful tricks and stay on trend!
How to stretch cotton clothes?
Cotton fabric is one of the inexpensive and comfortable materials containing natural fibers. Violation of the temperature regime and improper drying often leads to deformation of clothes. To return a cotton item to its original appearance, you can use the following method.
- Soak cotton clothing in a container of warm water. Add 3 tablespoons of vinegar or hydrogen peroxide to 10 liters of water and leave for 30 minutes.
- Take a towel to dry and spread it on a flat surface and place the pre-soaked item on it. Take a cotton item in your hands and begin to stretch it evenly in the right places. If it's a T-shirt or sweater, tuck your forearms inside the T-shirt towards the shoulders and stretch. If you need to stretch at the bottom, grab the edges of the garment and stretch it to the desired size.
- Then place the item on a towel to dry and leave it to dry. In this case, periodically repeat step 3.
When washing later, use a mild detergent and the correct water temperature.
Prevention
To prevent things from shrinking in the future, you need to follow simple recommendations:
- Pay attention to the information on the product label.
- Wash items at a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees.
- Buy cotton items 1.5 sizes larger, as they shrink the most.
- Do not expose items to sunlight.
- Use suitable detergents for washing and follow the spin speed recommendations.
You will find maximum useful information about washing clothes and various fabric products here.
How to stretch a wool item?
Shrinkage of wool, like cotton, occurs when the temperature of the water is violated, also due to the aggressiveness of the washing powder. Therefore, you need to choose a powder that will indicate that this product is for wool. If, nevertheless, your wool item has decreased in size, you can resort to the experience of successful housewives who know how to return wool to its previous appearance. To do this you need:
- Fill a basin with warm water and add a little shampoo or mild conditioner.
- Place the wool item in a bowl of warm water and conditioner and leave for 30 minutes. Then take the item out and rinse in cold water.
You can make a solution in which the wool will become soft and elastic, this will make it easier to change its shape. To do this you will need: 5 liters of water add 3 tbsp. l. ammonia, 1 tbsp. l. vodka and 1 tbsp. l. turpentine. The item should lie in this liquid for at least an hour, after which you need to proceed to the next steps of stretching.
- Wring out the item well and start stretching. You need to stretch woolen clothes in small sections, gradually moving on to others, and so on until you have processed the entire fabric. Then you need to hang the item on a hanger and periodically stretch it until it is completely dry.
What to do if the village Dress is made from staples?
How to deal with staple shrinkage?
- If the item “shrinks” after washing, wet it and “stretch” it with springy movements while it is wet.
- If it is not possible to wet the fabric, a hot iron and movements similar to the previous option will come to the rescue.”
Aug 2
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How to stretch a knitwear item?
Shrunken knitwear can be stretched using several methods.
- Fill a basin with warm water, soak the item and leave for 15 minutes until it is thoroughly wet. Then place it in the washing machine and run the spin cycle. After centrifugation, the knitted item can be stretched. Knitted items should only be dried in a vertical position. If you use a towel to dry, your item will return to its original condition. When the item of clothing is dry, you should iron it and look at the final result.
- Soak the knitted item in a basin of warm water for half an hour. Then gently squeeze out the excess water, but do not twist. Place the wet item on a towel and roll it together with the towel and leave for 10 - 30 minutes. Unfold the towel and place the item on the ironing board. Using a heated iron, steam the item until it is completely dry, while stretching the desired areas. Dry horizontally on a dry towel. If the item is difficult to pull out, you can soak it in hair conditioner.
In order not to wonder how to stretch a thing in the future, you need to adhere to some basic rules:
- Such items should only be washed by hand, and if a washing machine is used, then only using the gentle wash program.
- During the washing process, use special powders and conditioners that are intended for items that shrink and decrease in size.
- The water used in the washing process should not exceed 40 degrees.
- Avoid changes in liquid temperature, that is, wash and rinse strictly at the same temperature.
- Vinegar will help keep things in shape, so it is recommended to add it every time you wash, but just stick to the correct ratio of water and vinegar. For example, for 3 liters of water - 1 spoon of 9% vinegar.
If your favorite item has lost its previous size, then you need to remember that you need to dry such clothes only in a horizontal position, periodically stretching each part either in length or width with your hands. Only woolen items can be dried vertically, but without using a towel. And only when the clothes are dry can you hang them on hangers. The next time you wash, use only cool water.
Have you noticed that fashion and discounts so often make us act irrationally? For example, grabbing and carrying things to the checkout that are frankly too small for us. Motivating this with arguments in the spirit of “I’ll lose weight” or “stretch”, or “the price is still good.” But in the end, I never wear them. Enough tolerating this! If you are already captured by greed, then find out a simple way that will help you slightly stretch clothes that are too small or have shrunk.
Did you make a mistake with the size, did you gain weight, or did the washing machine give you an unpleasant surprise in the form of shrunken clothes? It's unpleasant, but it's an everyday thing. Do not rush to throw a “hopeless” thing into a far corner or list in your mind relatives of a suitable size. Try this simple and completely harmless method that will help you slightly (or thoroughly) stretch almost anything: from T-shirts to sweatpants. Just remember: the higher the content of stretch fibers, the better the result will be, but the more careful you need to be with “stretching”.
To easily stretch shrunken or small clothes, you will need:
1. Bowl or bucket; 2. Baby shampoo; 3. 2 dry large towels
Can polyester fabric be stretched?
If you are wondering how to stretch a 100% polyester item that has shrunk after washing, then you can stretch the damp item with your hands or do the same with an iron. You just need to remember that polyester is afraid of high temperatures, so be careful with the iron).
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How to stretch a shrunken item
If you wash your clothes in the wrong way, they may become damaged and shrink. To restore it, there are some useful tips.
Let's look at the table on how to stretch shrunken items:
Stretched thing | Recovery method |
Wool sweater | Pre-soak in cold water for 10-15 minutes. Afterwards, run it in the machine on gentle mode with a temperature of 30 degrees. Lay it on a flat surface until dry |
Jeans | Wet the jeans with water, put them on and walk around in them until they dry. Or sprinkle with water and iron with steam |
Linen shirts | Soak wet items in water for 20 minutes, then wash in a washing machine on a delicate cycle at 30 degrees. Iron the damp shirt with an iron through gauze with the steam function, helping to stretch it slightly with your hands |
Shorts | The shorts are soaked in a basin of water, then washed on a delicate machine with powder. You can dry them by putting the wet item on yourself, or by placing it on a flat surface and treating it with steam from an iron. |
Sweater | If the jacket is wool, it should be placed in a bowl of water for 10 minutes, placed on a towel in a horizontal position and helped to stretch with your hands while drying. |
Costume | Soak in water with vinegar for 30 minutes. Remove from water and hang on hangers until completely dry. |
Coat | You can lubricate the coat with a weak solution of vinegar, then hang it on hangers or dry it on a mannequin. Or place it in water with the addition of hydrogen peroxide for 15 minutes, then remove it without squeezing and smooth it with steam from an iron. |
Dress | Wet the dress with water, then grease it with a weak solution of vinegar and let it dry well, placing it on hangers. You can periodically stretch it while drying |
Blouse | The blouse and shirt can be easily straightened and taken to normal sizes using a steam generator. Spread the wet product onto hangers and treat it with steam, stretching it slightly |
Before washing, you need to know which fabrics shrink on a hot cycle before putting the laundry in the machine.
Let's look at what fabrics shrink when washed:
- Knitwear
requires a lot of attention and accuracy; products made from it shrink easily. - Linen.
Linen products are very durable and shrink when heated. Afterwards, they can be restored in size by soaking in cool water and drying on a flat surface. - Calico
is able to retain its qualities after many washes. In individual modes it may decrease in small sizes. - Satin
does not shrink when machine or hand washed. - Poplin
, due to its soft structure, shrinks in small sizes at a temperature of 90 degrees. - The staple
consists of cotton and synthetics, which tends to shrink up to 10 percent. - The cooler
is capable of shrinking during hot processing. Products made from it are stretched in width, significantly shortening. It is necessary to select a mode of no more than 30 degrees. - Polyester
is a durable fabric. Basically, clothes made from it rarely shrink.And if this happens, in small sizes. Synthetic mode up to 60 degrees is best suited.
- Stretch
tends to shrink after machine and hand washing, even at low temperatures.Stretch jeans often shrink in size. But they also easily stretch, taking on their previous sizes.
- Fleece.
Fleece items are synthetic fabrics, so they do not shrink or stretch when washed.
To prevent things from shrinking, you should look at the product label, treat them with care, and care for them.
And when buying clothes, give preference to fabrics that are less susceptible to shrinkage, change their color and presentation.
Width
Increasing the width of a shirt is not difficult if you follow the procedure. Algorithm of actions:
- As in previous methods, it is first soaked in cool liquid for half an hour.
- Then squeeze out excess moisture and lay it out on a horizontal surface.
- Fasten all buttons or zippers.
- The bottom of the T-shirt and the top must be fixed in one position so that the item does not shorten. And the inner part must be carefully stretched with your hands.
- You can also put the wet product on a mannequin or the back of a chair, just first measure the circumference of the area on the body where the width stretch is required, and then the width of the back of the chair.
This method is suitable for stretching cotton and woolen items.