6 ways to stretch jeans at home - length and width, iron and water

It’s possible that your jeans have shrunk after washing, or that getting into brand new pants has become your daily torment, but this is not a reason to give up skinny jeans.

In this article we will tell you how to return the original size to jeans that have shrunk after washing, 5 effective ways to stretch denim at home, and what to do to prevent jeans from shrinking in the future.

Why did my jeans shrink after washing?

Jeans are a piece of clothing whose main component is thick cotton fabric. It is recommended to wash denim items at a temperature of 30-40 degrees with powder or gel for colored laundry.

Denim fabric is pleasant to the body, warms well during temperature changes and allows air to pass through, allowing the skin to breathe. For all its advantages, it tends to shrink if not washed correctly.

The reason for a shrinking item may be too high a temperature or an intensive washing program, due to which the fibers of the fabric change their structure, and you end up with jeans that do not meet at the waist and hips.

Prohibitions on the procedure for reducing jeans

Each item is marked with the maximum washing temperature allowed for the product. You should not increase it so that the item does not deteriorate.
You should not iron wet jeans, as this will stretch them even more.
Air drying at normal temperatures will not cause shrinkage.
Also, shrinkage of jeans leads to their reduction not only in width, but also in length. Therefore, you need to be careful in this procedure so that the pants do not become too short.
If your jeans have decorative elements, such as sequins, you should not wash them in the machine at full power. The design will deteriorate and the washing machine may become clogged.

Rules for restoring jeans after shrinkage

The good news is that denim is stretchable, so going up one size on your favorite pants is quite possible.

Before you start restoring your favorite denim item, read the rules for restoring it:

The higher the cotton content of trousers , the easier it will be to restore them.
If clothes have shrunk after washing, it is advisable to restore them in water whose temperature does not exceed 30-40 degrees , so as not to damage the synthetic fibers that make up the fabric. This is a very important point if you want to stretch stretch jeans, because stretch fabric will simply lose all its elasticity in hot water.
To prevent dark jeans from fading , it is advisable to use gentle detergents intended for colored laundry.
Don't twist things,
as you may end up with unsightly folds in the fabric in places you didn't intend.
It is not advisable to dry jeans in high temperatures or in the sun.
Try not to soak the item for more than half an hour , even if it is heavily soiled, as it will be more difficult to stretch it.

It is not advisable to dry jeans in high temperatures or in the sun.

Methods using a sewing machine

If stretching does not bring the desired result, you will have to enlarge the jeans using sewing. Dealing with thick denim requires good sewing skills.

Reducing allowances

This method will help increase the width, but only by a centimeter. What you need is a sewing kit and a razor.

What we do:

turn the product inside out;
Use a razor to rip the side seams up to the knee;
we baste the fabric along a new line;
We sew the trousers again on a sewing machine.

Sewing inserts

Decorating narrow trousers with stripes will expand them by one or two sizes. This method involves sewing an insert into the side of the trouser legs. It is not necessary to select a similar fabric for stripes; you can take a bright and textured material, then the jeans will sparkle with new colors:

Open outer side seams.
Put on the jeans, attach a piece of fabric for insertion and secure with pins.
Take off your trousers and baste the stripes.
Sew the structure together, bending the edges.

Advice! If you only need to expand the waist part, there is no need to sew stripes along the entire length. It is enough to undo the belt and sew a denim rectangle or thick elastic band into it.

Ways to stretch jeans length and width

If you're wondering how to restore your favorite denim pants to their original size, these tips can help you get them back into shape. Choose the method that you like best.

Spraying

A good way to stretch jeans in a certain area. For example, only on the belt or calves, leaving the same dimensions in the hips.

For this procedure you will need a spray bottle , into which you need to pour clean warm water.
Then lay the item down and thoroughly moisten the areas that need to be stretched, not forgetting that the inside of the clothing is also moisturized.
Don't forget to stock up on a tape measure or ruler to see if stretching the wet fabric was effective.
If you are stretching an item at the waist , unbutton it so as not to tear off the button.
Put on a damp thing and walk around in it until it dries , periodically doing exercises, bending, leg lunges and squats.

Important! It is better not to use this method for old or frayed denim items. The jeans may not withstand such loads and will burst.

Length stretch

A good method for extending the wear of children's jeans if your child is growing in length very quickly. Don't rush to the store for a new pair of pants; it's possible that small jeans can grow with their owner.

To stretch your jeans, wet the area below the knee , then place them on the floor and stand on them, pulling the legs toward you. The action must be repeated more than 10 times for the desired result.
You can involve an assistant who will pull out the trouser legs with you.
Then measure the result and try to put it on to see how much they have increased in length.

Soak

One of the most extreme and effective ways to change the width of jeans.

This method is suitable for items that have undergone significant shrinkage.

First, you need to reserve at least a few hours of time, prepare an unnecessary towel or cloth to wipe wet jeans and the oilcloth on which you will sit. If your jeans are new or fade when washed, wear tights underneath them to prevent your legs from staining.

So, let's begin:

Put on your pants.
Fill the bath with warm water so that it completely covers your feet. It is okay to add a small amount of shower gel or foam, but never try to add detergent or washing powder - it can cause severe irritation or allergies to the skin.
Soak in the bathtub
for about 10-15 minutes until you feel the item fit looser.
While the water is draining from the bathtub and dripping from your trousers , stretch the problem areas with your hands.
Dry your jeans with the prepared towel and stand on the oilcloth laid out.
For good results, do exercises - bending , squats, lunges with legs or pulling bent legs up.
Stay in wet jeans for at least 30 minutes , then take them off and hang them to dry away from heating devices.
After they dry, you need to put them on again and move around. After some time they will acquire the desired shape and size.

Iron and steamer

A good helper in enlarging problem areas on pants is an iron with a steam function or a hand-held steamer.

The procedure is as follows:

Place the jeans on the ironing board and identify the areas that need to be enlarged.
Set the temperature on your iron to no higher than that recommended on the product label to avoid damage to the fabric. On average it is about 150°C.
Iron the desired areas , steaming them thoroughly.
Let the trousers cool a little, then put them on and do a light warm-up for 15 minutes, maybe walk a little.

For better effect, the procedure can be repeated.

Expander

If the idea of putting on wet trousers and standing in them is not to your liking, there is a special belt extender on sale that you can put on jeans that have been soaked in water and left until completely dry.

A good way to stretch men's jeans that are rough and tight in the waistband.

Instead of a special device, any available means are suitable for stretching clothes, for example, a durable wooden or metal hanger. It is enough to put jeans on it and fasten it at the waist.

To stretch the item in length, it is enough to tie any weights to the ends of the wet trouser legs. Please note that their weight should be approximately the same so that the ends of the trousers do not become different lengths.

other methods

Above we have listed the basic techniques for increasing the volume of trousers at home. Despite this, there are many effective and interesting ways, for example:

Instead of special stretchers, you can use any available items for things - books, pillows, water bottles. Additional items can be added as needed.
Vinegar - to stretch a denim item, you need to take 7% or 9% vinegar , dilute 3 tablespoons in 10 liters of water and soak your pants in this solution for several minutes, or moisten the desired areas with a sponge. After this, lightly squeeze, stretch by hand and hang to dry.

How to expand a thing in a certain place?

If jeans have become too small in places such as the hips, sides, waist, then there is a chance to give them the same look by stretching them along the vertical seams.
The stretching of the trouser legs is carried out by smoothly pulling the material:

take the pant leg in the area of the inner seam where the length begins from the knee to the shin;
gently pull along the seams several times.

This method is not suitable for denim pants that have holes or slits.

Effective recommendations:

Spray the top of the product with warm water. It is important that the tissue is sufficiently moistened for subsequent manipulations.
You need to stand in the place where the front pocket is located. Take in your hands the part where the second pocket is located.
Pull the fabric 10-15 times wide.

What to do to prevent jeans from shrinking

It’s unpleasant when a new, carefully selected item to fit your figure shrinks after washing. Especially if it was quite tight and after drying it stops fitting completely.

To prevent this from happening, follow a few simple rules:

Before washing, pay attention to the labeling of the product - it indicates the recommended temperature and method of cleaning the item.
To make denim trousers stretch and fit better , purchase models with the addition of artificial threads - they are less susceptible to shrinkage and stretch easily.
Use mild detergents designed for colored items.
When washing jeans, try not to set the temperature to more than 40 degrees - the likelihood of shrinkage will be lower.
It is not recommended to dry trousers in direct sunlight or in a dryer - try to avoid high temperatures.
Avoid drying out your pants.

Jeans care rules

To ensure that denim trousers serve you longer and retain their original color and shape, there are several simple principles for caring for such a product:

Don't wash your jeans after every wear. Too frequent washing accelerates the destruction of cotton and synthetic threads, and the accessories lose their original shine. In addition, over time, the fabric becomes less durable and is prone to tearing and deformation.
A good way to keep denim clean and intact is to hand wash it inside out. All you have to do is pour a mild detergent into the bathtub and wash it gently. There is no need to twist the item too much after washing in order to squeeze out a drop of water from them - this damages them. With this approach, the item will delight you with its blooming appearance and will last longer.
To preserve the color of your pants, you can use a weak solution of vinegar when washing , which will protect them from losing color.
Do not wash trousers with other items, especially light ones - the darker the color of the trousers , the stronger their ability to stain adjacent items when washed.

Tips and tricks

To wear denim trousers comfortably, follow certain recommendations:

After purchasing the jeans, it is advisable to wash them to refresh and make the fabric more soft.
Before washing the item , it is recommended to soak it for half an hour.
Denim trousers are usually washed separately , with washing powder or washing gel previously diluted in water.
When washing by hand, it is not advisable to rub dirty areas too hard - lighter stains may remain.
Squeeze the jeans on a “delicate spin” , up to 800 rpm.
It is advisable to iron the item slightly damp, from the wrong side. Then wearing it will become more comfortable, and the fabric will be soft.
If the product is prone to shrinkage, it is advisable not to wring it out , but to let the water drain naturally and hang it to dry.
The correct way to dry trousers is in a horizontal position or by hanging them upside down by the ends of the legs.
It is not recommended to dry clean jeans - aggressive chemicals will quickly turn them into a piece of rag.
If you wash the product by hand , first rinse it with warm water in the shower, and finally with cold water.
To prevent the leather patch on the jeans belt from becoming deformed , it is lubricated with glycerin.
It is not recommended to iron the front side of the pants - there is a high probability that shine will appear.
If you need the item to shrink , wash it at 60 degrees and hang it to dry in a warm place.

If your jeans have shrunk after washing, try simple and effective ways to get them back to their original shape. However, do not overdo it with stretching them - even a well-stretched fabric has a limit and can tear. Follow simple rules and the result will not be long in coming.