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Whether you just got an oversized pair of pants as a gift or have lost a few pounds, sometimes you just need to shrink a pair of cotton pants. Fibers in cotton unwind when they are exposed to pressure or heat, causing cotton clothes to shrink. [1] X Research source Luckily, there are a variety of ways to use pressure and heat to shrink cotton pants without spending a lot of time or money.
Steps
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Boil your pants on the stove to shrink them quickly. Fill a pot with water and bring it to a boil. Once the water starts to bubble, turn the heat off. Drop your cotton pants into the pot and let them sit for anywhere between five and twenty minutes, based on how much you want to shrink them. Remove the pants with tongs and wait for them to cool. [2] X Research source
- Dry them in a dryer after you’re done to shrink them even more.
- The longer you leave your pants in hot water, the more they’ll shrink.
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Soak your cotton pants in warm water if you have more time to spare. Fill a bin or sink with warm water and soak your pants for up to six hours. This is one of the most common methods for shrinking cotton clothing because it tends to have uniform results. The entire garment has equal time to shrink, so the size of the clothing changes while the shape stays the same. [3] X Research source
- Dry them on a clothes line when you’re done letting them soak.
- Avoid using this method on bright clothing. It may cause the colors to fade. [4] X Research source
- If you don’t feel like waiting, you can soak your pants overnight.
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Wash your clothes in a washing machine to shrink them over time. Laundry specialist Rani Gorgis shares, "I would suggest washing the [pants] in hot water [to shrink them]." [5] X Expert Source Rani Gorgis
Laundry & Cleaning Specialist Expert Interview. 7 April 2021. Cotton will naturally shrink in a washing machine if it’s not made with synthetic fibers, but using hot water can accelerate this process. [6] X Research source The heat and agitation causes cotton clothing to shrink. This is more noticeable with repeated washings. If you’re not in a rush, throw your cotton pants in with your normal laundry and they should shrink with each repeated wash. [7] X Research source- Only use this method if your pants are machine washable. While this isn’t normally an issue for cotton clothing, check the tags on your pants to ensure that they can be machine washed.
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Throw your unwashed clothes in the dryer for smaller changes. The mechanical spinning in your dryer alone is enough to shrink your cotton pants. While heat helps the process along, you can place your unwashed fabric in the dryer and turn it on the lowest setting to shrink them in smaller increments. [8] X Research source For more shrinkage, laundry specialist Rani Gorgis suggests that you "place the [pants] in the dryer on high heat." [9] X Expert Source Rani Gorgis
Laundry & Cleaning Specialist Expert Interview. 7 April 2021.- Do not expect a radical change in the size of your pants if you use no heat. This method only works if you’re trying to make a slight alteration to the size of your cotton pants.
- If you don’t notice any shrinking after your first cycle, consider washing them first.
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Use a cold wash and dry on low heat for more shrinking. Try washing your pants in cold water if you only want your pants to shrink a little bit but don’t see any changes after drying them with no heat. After their wash, select a lower temperature setting on your dryer. Getting the clothes wet before drying them will relax the fibers and aid in the shrinking process. [10] X Research source
- Start with low heat and move up from there.
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Wash and then dry on high heat to really shrink your pants. If you choose this method, laundry specialist Rani Gorgis cautions, "check the [pants] regularly before the dry is complete so they do not shrink too much." [11] X Expert Source Rani Gorgis
Laundry & Cleaning Specialist Expert Interview. 7 April 2021. If you want them to shrink by a substantial amount, wash them with hot water first and then dry them on high heat. The heat will soften the cotton fabric and make it more flexible in the dryer.- Be careful. Repeatedly drying your clothes with high heat can make your clothes more susceptible to tearing.
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Iron your cotton pants with steam to control the shrinking. Spread your pants over an ironing board. Fill a steam iron with water and set it to its highest temperature. Lift your steam iron about half an inch from the pants and slowly steam them. After you’re done, make sure to let them air dry on a flat surface. [12] X Research source
- This is the easiest method to control what part of the clothing you’re shrinking. When you shrink a specific part of an item of clothing, it is usually referred to as fabric manipulation. [13] X Research source
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Apply a wet sheet over your pants and iron them. Take a piece of damp fabric and lay it over the cotton pants. Using a heavy dry iron, press the iron into the two textiles where you want them to shrink. If the pants are especially stiff, you can dampen them with a sponge instead of leaving the wet fabric on top of the pants. [14] X Research source
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Take your pants to a tailor for alterations. Taking your cotton pants to a professional may be a good idea if you have specific needs. A tailor will be able to alter and modify your cotton pants to shrink them to your exact specifications. [15] X Research source
- Paying a tailor to alter your clothes costs money, but shrinking your pants at home requires taking a risk with your clothes: a professional is less likely to damage them. [16] X Research source
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References
- ↑ http://mentalfloss.com/article/21316/why-do-clothes-shrink-wash
- ↑ https://www.whowhatwear.com/how-to-shrink-a-shirt/slide2
- ↑ https://sewguide.com/how-to-shrink-clothes/
- ↑ https://sewguide.com/how-to-shrink-clothes/
- ↑ Rani Gorgis. Laundry & Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 7 April 2021.
- ↑ https://youtu.be/_oVeKFziSmY?t=55
- ↑ https://sewguide.com/how-to-shrink-clothes/#2_warm_water_soaking
- ↑ https://www.today.com/style/how-shrink-clothes-shrink-cotton-jeans-polyester-more-t144393
- ↑ Rani Gorgis. Laundry & Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 7 April 2021.
- ↑ https://www.today.com/style/how-shrink-clothes-shrink-cotton-jeans-polyester-more-t144393
- ↑ Rani Gorgis. Laundry & Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 7 April 2021.
- ↑ https://sewguide.com/how-to-shrink-clothes/#2_warm_water_soaking
- ↑ https://sewguide.com/how-to-shrink-clothes/
- ↑ https://sewguide.com/how-to-shrink-clothes/#4_wet_sheet
- ↑ https://www.today.com/style/how-shrink-clothes-shrink-cotton-jeans-polyester-more-t144393
- ↑ https://www.today.com/style/how-shrink-clothes-shrink-cotton-jeans-polyester-more-t144393
Expert Q&A
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QuestionIs it possible to unshrink clothes?Kamel Almani is a Laundry and Cleaning Specialist and the Co-Owner of WashyWash, a toxin-free and eco-friendly laundry and dry clean service based in Amman, Jordan. Kamel and his staff at WashyWash use Blue Angel certified and dermatologically-tested detergents. They also combine EcoClean and digital technology to provide an eco-friendly, convenient, and quality cleaning service. Kamel holds a BA in Design from the University of Applied Science, Amman.It really depends on the fabric. Some materials can be reshaped with steam using either a steam iron or a professional textile tensioning machine.
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