How to Shrink Leggings

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

So, your favourite leggings are stretched out and you want to shrink them back to size. Save money and time by shrinking your leggings yourself instead of taking them to a tailor or buying a new pair. There are several easy ways to shrink leggings with what you have at home.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using a Washing Machine and Dryer

PDF download Download Article
  1. Choose a hot water wash and hot water rinse cycle. [1] The hot water makes the fabric yarns and threads shorten up so they are not as relaxed out. Although most items these days come pre-shrunk, using a combination of heat, water, and friction will allow the fabric to bind back together and shrink your leggings. [2]
    • You can use detergent if you want to wash the leggings at the same time. Detergent won’t interfere with the shrinking process.
  2. Allowing the leggings to have as much heat, water, and friction as possible will result in the best possible shrinkage. Longer wash cycles generally have a pre-soak time which can allow for the hot water to soak into your fabric and start the shrinking process.
    Advertisement
  3. The combination of heat and friction is what allows your fabric to shrink back together as the water is removed from your leggings. If you are unsure how much you want to shrink them, and this is the first time you’ve tried to shrink this pair of leggings, check the leggings regularly to make sure they don’t shrink too much. [3] [4]
    • Shrinking will make the leggings both tighter and smaller, so remember that the length and width will both change.
    • Polyester is a synthetic material that requires higher heat to shrink and therefore might need several runs through the entire process. Polyester requires temperatures of 155 - 178°F to shrink. [5]
    • It can take 5-10 cycles to shrink an item sufficiently so don’t give up after the first try. [6]
    • If needed, lower the heat setting to make sure that the garment dries completely but doesn't shrink. [7]
    4. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Using an Electric Iron

PDF download Download Article
  1. With the heat and hot water of both the wash and rinse cycles, the agitation of the washing machine will start the shrinking process in your leggings. Wash on the longest cycle available to give the hot water a chance to soak into the leggings.
    • If you don’t have a washing machine, boil a large pot of water, add the leggings and boil for about ten minutes. Then, carefully remove the leggings and press out the water. Alternatively, you can soak your leggings in warm water overnight. [8]
  2. Set up your ironing board during the washing cycle. As the cycle gets closer to being finished, plugin and preheat your iron on low to medium heat. Don’t use high heat if your items have any polyester or nylon content because the heat can warp and melt the fabric.
    • Be sure to stand the iron on its end while preheating. Never leave an iron laying face down on the ironing board as this can start a fire.
  3. As soon as the cycle ends, smooth out your damp leggings on the ironing board and use a dish-drying towel to smoothly cover the first section you are about to iron. The towel will prevent the fabric from being damaged but is thin enough to allow the heat through.
    • You can skip the dish-drying towel if your leggings are 100% cotton.
  4. One section at a time, keep ironing, moving the iron around and applying pressure to the leggings until the water is all evaporated and the leggings feel almost dry. Once they are almost dry, you can leave the leggings to air dry.
    • Make sure you keep moving the iron so your leggings don’t burn and so the friction works to shrink the leggings.
    • Don’t use the steam setting on the iron, as this defeats the purpose.
    • Don’t forget to unplug the iron and leave it standing on its end until it has fully cooled.
    • If you don’t have an iron, you can follow this method using a hairdryer. You won’t need a dish-drying towel but still spread the leggings on an ironing board. The process will take a little longer but the heat from the hairdryer can still work.
    5. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Shrinking without Washing

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you don’t have time or want to wash your leggings, use a spray bottle of clean water to lightly mist your leggings.
  2. Using either your clothes dryer, hairdryer, or iron, dry your leggings at the hottest setting possible.
  3. If you want to shrink the waistband separately, dampen the waistband, hang your leggings loosely around a clothes hanger, then use your hairdryer aimed specifically at the waistband to heat and shrink it.
    4. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Can you shrink leggings in the wash?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    It depends on what they’re made of, but many leggings will shrink in hot water. Using a hot wash and dry cycle works well for materials like nylon, spandex, and polyester, but not Lycra.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 2
  • Question
    How do you fix leggings that are too big in the waist?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    If the elastic is shot (or just too big), you can cut a slit in the waistband and slide in a new, smaller elastic band. Sew it together or tie it at the desired tightness.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 8
  • Question
    How do you fix leggings that are too long?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    One easy fix is to get the leggings hemmed. If you don’t have the sewing skills to do it yourself, you can get this done cheaply and easily by a tailor. You can also fold the hems up and secure them in place with fashion tape or fusible fabric tape.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 4
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • When using a washing machine to shrink, wash like colours together, as the hot water might cause colours to bleed.
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
      • Check the label to see what fabric your leggings are made of before you do any shrinking. Sports/workout leggings might have non-shrinking nylon/lycra, which is heat-set fabrics.
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Measure Your Waist For Pants & Find the Perfect Fit
      How to
      Tie Pants Strings
      The 16 Best Ways to Prevent Camel Toe in Leggings
      4 Easy Ways to Hang Your Pants on a Hanger
      4 Stylish Ways to Cuff Pants
      How to
      Measure Your Pants
      How to
      Fix Baggy Knees in Pants - Jeans, Leggings & Joggers
      How to
      Shrink Sweatpants & Joggers
      How to
      Sag Your Pants: Style Tips and Social Etiquette
      How to
      Tie Long Pants
      How to
      Style Cargo Pants
      How to
      Organize and Store Pants: Jeans, Loungewear, & More
      How to
      Look Great in Sweatpants
      How to
      Wear Leggings with Dresses
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ Rani Gorgis. Laundry & Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 12 April 2021.
      2. ↑ https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=98759520
      3. ↑ https://www.today.com/style/how-shrink-clothes-shrink-cotton-jeans-polyester-more-t144393
      4. ↑ Rani Gorgis. Laundry & Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 12 April 2021.
      5. ↑ https://homequicks.com/how-to-shrink-polyester
      6. ↑ https://www.today.com/style/how-shrink-clothes-shrink-cotton-jeans-polyester-more-t144393
      7. ↑ Rani Gorgis. Laundry & Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 12 April 2021.
      8. ↑ http://sewguide.com/how-to-shrink-clothes/

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 98,452 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement