There are many reasons why clothes may shrink. So, when we wash our clothes, we actually make them smaller! Finally, the water moves back into the air as steam. Next, the water evaporates out of the cloth. Now, what happens when we wash clothes? Well, first, the water moves around inside the fibers of the cloth. Polyester blends are less affected by hot washing than pure cotton. Hot water also causes the yarns to stretch out. The relaxation allows them to snap back into their natural state and shortens the length of the fabric. All the fibers wrenched tightly during weaving relax in hot water or high heat.
When the shirt dries, it shrinks because water molecules move around inside the fabric. After that, we remove the shirt and hang it up to dry. Then we turn on the machine and wait until the cycle ends. We take off the shirt and put it into the washing machine. Let’s say we want to wash our favorite t-shirt. You should use cold water to wash your clothes. You should always wash your t-shirts in cold or lukewarm water.Ĭotton shrinks when washed in hot water. However, they may shrink when washed in hot water. T-Shirts have a loose, stretchable quality that allows them to be comfortable to wear. Heat and moisture will affect your clothes. Loosely woven fabrics may shrink more than tightly woven ones. You shouldn’t use hot water or a high temperature dryer setting. Your clothing won’t shrink as much the second time you wash them.
Pre-shrunk clothing helps prevent further shrinkage. You should take care when washing your clothes to avoid damage. Never dry-clean your shirt.Ĭotton can shrink dramatically the first time you wear it. You should always wash your clothes by hand or use a delicate cycle when washing by machine. This means that the manufacturer has shrunk the fabric before selling it to you. Most clothing labels include the term “preshrunk” or “pre-shrunk”. You should treat your clothes before you put them into the washer. It’s better to shrink them by accident than to do it deliberately! How Much Does Cotton Shrink?Ĭotton clothing shrinks more than most people think.
Shrinking your clothes by using a hot wash cycle is a great idea. This means that if you put your clothes into the washing machine without any detergent, they won’t shrink as much as they do when you use detergent. It shrinks when exposed to heat or moisture and expands when wet.Ĭotton shrinks when exposed to heat. 100% cotton is very absorbent and can be stretched easily.