Can you un-shrink clothing after it's been shrunken in the wash?

Question

Someone once told me she was able to do this by washing the shrunken item a particular way the NEXT time, but I don't remember what she told me about it.

Answer 1

if you wash your clothing in cold water they wont shrink anymore but they will not go back the way they were before the shrinking.

Answer 2

It's pretty difficult to un-shrink an article of clothing, and even if would succeed in making it fit better, it probably wouldn't look too good. Sometimes you can stretch a sweater by re-washing it, or at least rinsing it, if it's already been washed. The point is to get it soaked. Don't wring it out, just gently sqeeze out the excess water and lay it out on to dry. I'd suggest putting a large sheet of plastic on a large flat surface like a bed, or the floor, then several towels over that. As you lay out the sweater, pull and gently stretch the sleeves, and the top and bottom part to approximately the original size. It may or may not work, depending on the fabric. If it's 100% wool, it may stretch some, but the shrunken fibers will definitely compromise the overall shape and feel of the sweater. As for other items of clothing, the dry cleaners may be able to do something, but mostly clothes sent to a dry cleaner will shrink rather than stretch. Good luck!

Answer 3

Much depends of the fiber content of the item. Some cotton can be unshrunk by washing in cold water and stretching to dry, by tugging on the seams and corners, stretching it before hanging, then pressing while still damp and stretching while ironing.. Some wool items can also be stretched this way, although wool has a tendency to turn thick and felty. If the item is thick and felty you're out of luck. Rayon is the best for un-shrinking, wash the rayon piece in cool water, squeeze out the excess water, then use a very warm iron to press it while still wet and press until the item is dry. The piece will be back to it's original size.

After unshrinking clothes be sure to hand wash in cold water, squeeze out excess water and lay flat to dry. Some very old household chore books suggest drying wool sweaters pinned to shape and size on a board, so they can't shrink or stretch while drying. Don't be afraid to damp press cottons, washable silks and rayons to keep them the correct size and looking as good as possible.

Answer 4

you cant undo. yet to help avert is to place your clothing on a line to dry. its the dryer that actual shrinks and fades colorings so get some rope carry it on your basement and delay your clothing to dry.