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It's always a disappointment when an item of clothing shrinks during the wash. If a rug, item of clothing, or other rayon item shrank, you may think you need to throw it away. However, you can unshrink rayon fairly easily at home with baby shampoo and water. After unshrinking your rayon, take precautions when washing it in the future. This way, your rayon will stay the right size in the long term.
Steps
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Fill a bucket with water and baby shampoo. Get a bucket big enough to fully submerge your rayon. Fill it with warm water and mix in about a capful of mild baby shampoo. [1] X Research source
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Soak and massage the rayon. Submerge your rayon in the water. As it soaks, gently massage the rayon with your hands. Work the shampoo/water mixture into the rayon so the fibers relax. Keep massaging and soaking the rayon until the mixture is thoroughly mixed in. Times will vary depending on the size of the garment you're shrinking. [2] X Research source
- The goal here is to make sure all the fibers are completely saturated, so keep massaging until the rayon is thoroughly wet.
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Rinse the rayon in cold water. Remove the rayon from the water and rinse out any lingering baby shampoo using cold water. After rinsing the garment, get some of the moisture out by gently pressing it with your hands. Only press the garment. Do not wring it, as wringing can break fibers in the garment.
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Lay your rayon on a cloth or towel. Lay a cloth or towel down on a flat surface. Take your rayon garment and stretch it flat over the towel. [3] X Research source
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Roll up the rayon in the cloth or towel. Roll up the towel your rayon is lying on. Roll the rayon inside the towel tightly. Press the towel gently once it's rolled up to remove any excess moisture from the rayon. [4] X Research source
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Reshape the rayon. Un-roll the towel so the rayon is lying flat again. Use your hands to reshape the rayon into its original size. There is no secret or special method to use. You simply need to stretch the rayon with your hands as long as it takes to get it to its original size. Times will vary depending on how much shrinking occurred. [5] X Research source
- Be careful not to stretch the rayon larger than it originally was. You do not want to create another problem while trying to resolve shrinking.
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Dry the rayon on a flat surface. Rayon should be transferred to a dry towel after you've stretched it out adequately. Lay it flat, like you did the first time, and let it air dry. [6] X Research source
- If you want to speed up the drying process, you can leave a fan running in the room.
- Dry rayon in a room where it will not be disturbed by other household members or pets.
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Dry clean your rayon if possible. As rayon is a more delicate type of fabric, it's more prone to damage during washing and drying. If at all possible, have your rayon clothing or other items professionally dry cleaned. This will prevent shrinking and stretching over time. [7] X Research source
- If an item is labeled "dry clean only," do not attempt to wash it at home.
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Wash rayon in cold water on the gentle cycle. If you do wash rayon at home, treat it gently. Wash it in cold water and on the gentle cycle. Rayon should also be placed in a mesh bag prior to washing to protect it.
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Let your rayon air-dry. It's usually best to air dry rayon on a flat surface to avoid shrinking. If you do decide to dry rayon in the dryer, place it in a mesh bag first. Do not dry it for a full cycle. Only dry it for about half a usual cycle and then let it air dry the rest of the way.
- In general, only use a dryer to speed up the drying process. Do not use a dryer to dry rayon completely.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionIs it possible to unshrink clothes that accidentally shrunk in the dryer?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.Depending on the fabric some can be reshaped using steam, either with a steam iron or from professional textiles tensioning machines.
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QuestionCan you put rayon in the dryer?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerRayon is a delicate fabric, especially when wet and when subjected to heat or rough treatment. A dryer is hard on rayon, both due to the heat and the tumbling, so it is not advised to use it for rayon garments or items. Dry on a line or clothes horse instead; rayon air dries quickly. If you must use the dryer, use only low heat and consider placing other soft items in at the same time, to provide a buffer against hitting the dryer drum.
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QuestionHow do you keep rayon from shrinking?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerIt is best to get rayon dry cleaned, especially if it has a bad stain or is very dirty. If it's a regular wash, try hand washing in cold water, then air dry the garment. By using cold water and only air drying, you spare rayon from being subjected to heat, which can cause it to shrink.
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References
- ↑ http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/unshrink-your-clothes-in-3-simple-steps
- ↑ http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/unshrink-your-clothes-in-3-simple-steps
- ↑ http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/unshrink-your-clothes-in-3-simple-steps
- ↑ http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/unshrink-your-clothes-in-3-simple-steps
- ↑ http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/unshrink-your-clothes-in-3-simple-steps
- ↑ http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/unshrink-your-clothes-in-3-simple-steps
- ↑ http://www.apparelsearch.com/education/ohio_state_clothing_education/rayon_multi-faceted_fiber.htm
About This Article
Article Summary
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To unshrink an item made of rayon, first, fill a bucket with warm water and mix in about 1 cup (237 mL) of mild baby shampoo. Submerge the rayon in the bucket and gently massage it with your hands to work the water and shampoo into the fibers. Once the item is thoroughly soaked, rinse it with clean, cold water. Gently press the excess water out of the fabric with your hands, but don’t wring or twist it. Next, lay out a towel on a flat surface and spread the rayon item out on top of it. Roll the rayon up tightly inside the towel and press on the bundle to help release excess water. Unroll the towel again and use your hands to gently stretch and reshape the rayon until it’s back to its original size. Lay the item out flat on a clean, dry towel and let it air dry. To speed up the drying process, set up a fan and let it blow over the rayon. To prevent future shrinking, always dry clean your rayon items if possible. If not, wash them in cold water on the gentle cycle, then allow them to air dry.
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Reader Success Stories
- "This totally works! My new skirt shrunk so that several inches of the inner layer was left exposed after I washed it, but this fixed it without even the stretching step! If you're feeling pessimistic like I was, don't worry -- it's so easy! You got this." ..." more
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"This totally works! My new skirt shrunk so that several inches of the inner layer was left exposed after I washed it, but this fixed it without even the stretching step! If you're feeling pessimistic like I was, don't worry -- it's so easy! You got this."
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"I inadvertently dried a beautiful gray duster and now it's like a shirt I tried this method and it worked beautifully. It was not as long as it originally was, but it definitely made it wearable."
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"I had a rayon skort that my husband had put in the dryer. It was ruined. I had nothing to lose, so I tried your method. Now the skort is back to its original size and shape, yay!"
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"I accidentally shrunk some expensive pants, not knowing anything about rayon. Hopefully this helps!"
