How to Shrink Preshrunk Shirts

Co-authored by Daniela Gutierrez-Diaz

Last Updated: December 1, 2023

If you've ever had a shirt that was just a little too big for you, you know how helpful shrinking it can be! Most cotton or cotton-blend shirts sold nowadays are pre-shrunk, but don't worry, you can still shrink most natural-fiber shirts by about 3-5%. You can try using a washing machine, shrinking by hand, spot-shrinking, and even bringing your preshrunk shirt to a professional to get the results you want.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using a Washer and Dryer

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Heat is what actually makes the fibers in your shirt contract, so be sure to set your washer and dryer on their hottest settings to get the best effect. For a dryer, the hottest setting is usually permanent press.^{[1]
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Pull your shirt inside out and wash it by itself. This will help preserve the color and design, and washing alone will make sure that nothing else gets accidentally shrunk!^{[2]
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As soon as the wash cycle ends, take your shirt out and put it right into the dryer. Let it dry for an entire cycle, even if the sensor tells you the shirt is already dry.^{[3]
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Try your shirt on to see how much it shrunk. If it's still not small enough, you may need to repeat the cycle a few more times until you reach the size you want.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Shrinking by Hand

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1
Boil a large pot of water. You'll need a pot large enough for your shirt to float around in, so use the biggest pot you have. Fill it about 2/3 of the way--if you overfill it, water might seep out when you put the shirt in. Let the water get to a rolling boil.^{[4]
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- You can put white vinegar into the water if your shirt also needs to be cleaned.
Pull your shirt inside out to prevent fading, and roll it into a loose ball. Be sure not to tie it into a knot--it will shrink unevenly!
To prevent scalding, lower your shirt gently into the water using a pair of tongs. Don't just toss it in the water. Fabric coming in contact with the burner can start a fire.
4
Leave your shirt in the water for at least five minutes. Let your shirt sit in the boiling water for at least five minutes. The longer you keep it in there, the more likely it is to shrink, but don't keep it in the water for more than half an hour. You'll risk damaging the fibers.^{[5]
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- Be sure that the entire shirt is immersed.
Turn the heat off and use a pair of tongs to pull your shirt out. Do this carefully to avoid burning yourself. Hold the shirt over the pot until it stops dripping, then move it away. Let it cool for about five minutes or until it's cool enough to handle.^{[6]
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6
Lie it flat on a rack to dry. Set up a drying rack and spread your shirt out on it to dry. The rack can be inside or outside, but an outside rack will usually dry faster. If you dry it outside, be sure to turn the shirt inside out to prevent the sun from fading it.^{[7]
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- Don't hang your shirt--it will stretch where the clothespins are attached.
If you want, you can run your shirt through the dryer on the permanent press setting to shrink it even more. Be sure to check your shirt first--it may have already shrunk enough!
Try your shirt on and see how it fits. If it's still not small enough, repeat the entire cycle again. You may need to do this 2-3 times depending on how much you want your shirt to shrink.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Spot-Shrinking Your Shirt

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You can use a microwave or a stove to heat the water up, or you can use hot water from the tap. The water should be very warm but not hot--don't let it get close to boiling! You should be able to comfortably put a finger in the water.^{[8]
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Use a funnel to carefully pour the warm water into a spray bottle. Be sure to use a bottle made of sturdy plastic, metal, or even glass. Lightweight plastic can distort in warm water.
3
Spray the parts of the shirt you want to shrink. Be sure not to spray the entire shirt--just the parts you want to shrink. This is usually the sleeves or neckline for most people. Spray the shirt enough to get it wet to the touch in the areas you want to shrink.
- You can also run the areas under a hot tap, but be careful not to wet the whole shirt.
Put the shirt in a dryer on permanent press and let it run through the entire cycle. Some people like to take it out of the dryer and repeat the spraying every ten minutes or so, but this is optional.
If the shirt doesn't fit right when you try it on, repeat the whole cycle. Since spot-shrinking uses cooler water than other methods, you'll probably need to do this at least twice.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Hiring a Professional

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If you live near a laundromat that provides custom washing and has staff on hand, bring your shirt in and ask if they can help you shrink it. They may have special high-heat washers or techniques you can't do at home.
If your preshrunk shirt is dry-clean only, bring it to your dry cleaner and ask if they'll be able to shrink it. Dry cleaners often have special methods for shrinking clothes.^{[9]
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3
Ask a tailor to alter your shirt. If you aren't able to shrink your shirt at home, consider bringing it to a tailor to be physically altered. They'll probably be able to size the shirt to your exact specifications, even if you need the entire shirt resized.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Daniela Gutierrez-Diaz
Clothing Designer

Expert Interview. 3 July 2019.}
- Some materials may be impossible to alter--listen to what the tailor says!
- This may not be cost-effective for regular t-shirts.

Community Q&A

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Question

Will shrinking an Egyptian cotton shirt affect the color and softness?

Community Answer

No, it shouldn't affect those qualities.

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Warnings

Wool, linen, and silk shirts will shrink, but if you aren't familiar with these fabrics, you risk ruining the whole shirt. Take these to a professional!

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Be very careful around boiling water. It can cause severe burns.

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Shirts made entirely of synthetic materials will not shrink at all without physical alteration.

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You may not be able to control exactly how much your shirt shrinks!

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