How to Prevent Clothes from Shrinking

Co-authored by Safir Ali

Last Updated: September 20, 2024

It can be hard to find clothes that you are comfortable in, make you look good, and fit just right. So when you do, you want to be sure you keep them fitting the same way they did when you first bought them. To prevent your clothes from shrinking, wash them in cool water and dry them on low heat. Make sure to read the care labels on your clothes before you wash them, too. Read on to learn how to keep your wardrobe looking new and fitting great!

Quick Guide: How to Avoid Shrinking Clothes

Wash your clothes in cool or cold water on a delicate cycle to prevent shrinkage, and hand wash cotton, linen, and silk for protection. Use the lowest heat setting on your dryer and pull the clothes out while they’re still damp to let them air dry. Always follow the recommended instructions on the care tag.

For popular FAQs on stopping clothes from shrinking, jump to more common questions.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Washing Your Clothes Properly

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1
Wash your clothes in cold water to prevent shrinkage.^{[1]
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Safir Ali
Professional Dry Cleaner

Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.} Simply set the temperature on your washing machine to “cold.” With many detergents being specially-made for cold-water washing, using cold water still works to get your clothes clean.^{[2]
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- As a bonus, washing your laundry in cold water requires less energy, and can save you money on your utility bill.^{[3]
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Use the preset “delicate” cycle to help clothes keep their original size and shape. This setting uses low agitation (so less moving and shaking) and a slower, shorter spin cycle to drain the water, which makes it more likely that your clothes will remain the size and shape they were meant to be.^{[4]
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Safir Ali
Professional Dry Cleaner

Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.}
- Sometimes these cycles will automatically default to a warm wash. Use the controls on your machine to override the setting to change it to a cold wash.^{[6]
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All you need is a little laundry detergent and some water. It takes a little more time and effort, but hand washing your clothes is one of the safest bets to prevent shrinkage and maintain shape.

Cheryl Mendelson, Homekeeping Expert

To stop shirts and sweaters from shrinking out of shape, handle them gently while wet and lay flat to dry. Agitation and high heat cause fibers to tighten and distort. For cottons and blends, wash in cool water with a gentle detergent, skip the dryer, and reshape while damp. Taking these precautions allows fabrics to relax into their original dimensions.
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Take wool and cashmere garments to a dry cleaner. The labels on your clothes will tell you what type of material they are. If your item contains any cashmere or wool at all, it should be taken to the dry cleaner for proper cleaning.^{[7]
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Safir Ali
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Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.}
- Any sort of agitation can cause these animal-based fabrics to shrink, so for these items, it’s best to spend a few dollars to have them professionally cleaned.^{[8]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Drying Your Clothes Carefully

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Use the lowest heat setting on your dryer. The less heat, the less shrinkage. If you forget to change this setting, and leave the temperature on medium or high, there is a chance you may shrink your clothes.
- Some dryers even have the option to air dry. This setting doesn’t use heat at all, and instead works to dry clothes by tumbling only. This can take a long time, so be sure to only use this option with small loads.
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Remove clothes from the dryer while they are still damp. Drying your clothes in the machine for 15-20 minutes can help speed up the drying process, but removing them while they are still damp will help avoid over-drying and can help prevent shrinkage.^{[9]
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- Hang these items on a drying rack or lay them on a flat surface to finish drying.
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Air-dry your clothes. After washing, hang your items inside on a rod or drying rack, or outside on a clothesline, for an energy-efficient and shrink-proof way to dry your clothes.
- This is a good option if you are washing multiple delicate items at a time and/or have limited space for laying items flat.
- If you are drying your clothes outside, be sure to avoid hanging wool in the direct sunlight to avoid shrinkage, and all clothes in high winds or storms to avoid stretching or damage.^{[10]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Following Good Laundry Practices

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These washing and drying instructions are material-specific and are included to help you care for your clothing properly.
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Sort clothing by fabric type prior to washing. If you are using a washing machine, after sorting your clothes by color, group your cotton, linen, and silk garments to wash in a separate load. This will cut down on time and will be a lot easier than sorting through a large load of wet clothes to find the items you want to avoid shrinking.
- A good trick is to have a separate hamper for the clothes you’ll need to pay special attention to. This way, they will already be sorted come laundry day.
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Remove laundry from the dryer immediately after drying. This will reduce wrinkling upfront, so you don’t have to iron or permanent press your clothes in the dryer later--which could contribute to additional heat shrinkage.
- Sometimes you won’t be able to remove your clothes as soon as the cycle is finished. If this happens, try throwing a damp rag into the dryer and running it for 5-10 minutes. The dampness will create a bit of steam and work to get the wrinkles out quickly.^{[11]
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Common Questions: Stopping Clothes from Shrinking

What causes clothes to shrink?

Heat is usually what causes clothes to shrink. Hot water and hot air can cause the clothes fibers to contract and tighten. Agitation can also lead to shrinkage, which is typically caused by overly washing or drying your clothes.^{[12]
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Does air drying prevent shrinking?

Air drying your clothes can prevent them from shrinking, as it doesn’t use high heat. Either use your dryer’s air dry setting, or hang your clothes on a clothesline or drying rack.

Can you reverse clothes shrinkage?

Not all clothes shrinkage is permanent. To unshrink cotton and synthetic fabrics, fill your sink with lukewarm water and add 1 tbsp (15 mL) of baby shampoo or hair conditioner. Soak your item for 30 minutes and then gently stretch it back to its original size.^{[13]
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Tips

If you don't feel like you have the time or energy to read labels and wash accordingly, try filling your wardrobe with items that are mostly made of synthetic material. For instance, nylon, spandex, and polyester fabrics won't shrink and are typically easier to care for.^{[14]
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