What to do about clothing that has shrunk

Short answer: A shrunk piece of clothing can be partly stretched back into shape while it is still damp, because the water makes the fibres more pliable. It rarely returns fully to its original size, but the difference can still be enough to save it.

Why clothing shrinks

Shrinking happens when fibres that were stretched during weaving contract again under heat and moisture. Cotton and viscose are the most affected, because the manufacturing process stretches the fibres out, and that tension releases as soon as the fabric meets hot water or a hot dryer for long enough.

Soak the piece in lukewarm water

Soak the shrunk piece in lukewarm water with a little hair conditioner added for about ten minutes. The conditioner softens the fibres and makes them more pliable, so they stretch back out more easily, without the fabric being harmed by this gentle process, which suits most materials well.

Stretch the piece while it is damp

Press out the excess water into a clean towel without wringing hard, then gently stretch the piece in the direction it shrank. Lay it flat to dry in that stretched shape afterwards, so the fibres have time to settle into the new, more extended position as they dry completely.

Repeat if needed

One round of soaking and stretching is not always enough for the full result. Repeat the process once or twice more if the piece still feels too tight, but expect diminishing returns each time, as the fibres eventually reach their natural limit of how much they can give.

It rarely comes back completely

Expect to get back most of the original size, but rarely all of it. The more a piece has shrunk to begin with, the less there is realistically to save, and a badly shrunk bamboo T-shirt for women often ends up as a smaller but still wearable item.

Prevent it with lower heat going forward

Shrinking mainly comes from heat, not from the water or soap itself. Wash at 40 degrees or lower, and avoid high heat when drying, and most materials will keep their correct size wash after wash without requiring any special attention each time the laundry gets done.

Buy a size up if you tumble dry

If you are between two sizes and already know the clothing often ends up in the tumble dryer, it can be wise to choose the larger size from the start. This applies especially to bamboo T-shirts for men and other pieces worn close to the body, where even slight shrinkage is noticeable.

Some materials shrink more than others

Bamboo viscose generally shrinks less than ordinary cotton, but is still sensitive to high heat. Bamboo underwear for men keeps its shape best when washed according to the care label, because the fibre structure has already been handled as gently as possible throughout the whole manufacturing process.

Read the care label first

The best protection against shrinking is reading the care label before the clothing goes into the machine for the first time. See washing and care for the general recommendations that apply to most materials in the shop, and follow them consistently from the very first wash onward.

Frequently asked questions

Can shrunk clothing be fixed?

Partly. Stretch it gently while it is still damp, ideally after a few minutes in lukewarm water with hair conditioner, and dry it flat in that stretched shape afterwards.