If you have a shirt that you love but can't wear because it's too big, it can be frustrating. However, there are some methods you could use to shrink it and be able to wear it. You can wash it in hot water and then dry it, sprinkle it with water and put it in the dryer or you might consider going to a professional, be it a tailor, a person who can sew or ask in the laundry.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Washing and Drying
Step 1. Check the label on your shirt
Some types of fabric shrink with heat, while others are more resistant. For example, cotton and wool will shrink if you wash them in hot water. The label may also contain instructions on how to wash the shirt to prevent it from shrinking.
For example, the label may indicate whether it should be washed in hot or cold water. By washing the garment at the opposite temperature, you may be able to shrink it
Step 2. Fill the sink or basin with hot water
If the garment is made of cotton or wool, you can shrink it by immersing it in hot water. Leave the shirt to soak for about five minutes, then squeeze it to remove excess water. However, keep in mind that if it is a colored garment, putting it in hot water could fade.
- The hotter the water, the more the mesh shrinks; then choose the temperature that seems most appropriate to you.
- To heat the water further, boil a pot of water and pour it into the sink.
- If you also want to wash the shirt as well as shrink it, add a teaspoon of detergent to the sink. However, keep in mind that you will need to rinse the garment in a separate tub or sink.
- If you are concerned about color, you can try soaking the shirt in warm or cold water and then laying it out in a warm place to dry - for example, next to a stove.
Step 3. Put the shirt to dry
Place it on a clothesline and allow it to air dry. If you don't have a drying rack, leave it flat on top of a dry, absorbent towel.
- Do not hang it up to dry, otherwise it will spread out in the shoulder area.
- When the first side of the shirt is dry, turn it over and let it dry on the other side.
- Try putting the shirt in a warm place to make it dry and shrink faster.
Step 4. Put the shirt in the washing machine
If the above methods don't suit you, you can try putting the garment in the washing machine and doing a high-temperature wash. Starts the wash cycle for the "whites", the one that provides hot water also for rinsing.
- If you are concerned that the color of the garment may fade, add a cup of vinegar to the wash.
- The spin process causes the shirt to shrink as much as hot water, so if you're worried about exposing your garment to high temperatures, set it on a "gentle" cycle or with cold water instead of hot.
Step 5. Put it in the dryer
It is the effect of the centrifuge, and not the hot air, that makes it shrink. However, the hot air takes away the moisture, so since the shirt has come out of the washing machine, you need to set up a hot drying cycle.
- Set the "delicate" setting if you are concerned that the fabric will resist.
- Set the "anti-crease" or "normal" setting if you want to dry the shirt as quickly as possible.
Method 2 of 3: Restrict a Specific Point
Step 1. Fill a spray bottle with water
You can reuse a spray bottle to selectively wet the shirt so that it shrinks all or only in certain parts. If you are recycling an old bottle, make sure it is clean and contains no chemicals before using it.
Step 2. Gently spray the shirt
Use the spray on all sides. Moistening the fibers will make the reduction process easier. Don't wet the shirt completely though, or you risk shrinking it more than you want.
If you want the shirt to shrink only in certain areas - for example, in the arm holes - you can spray only in that area
Step 3. Dry the garment
Put it in the dryer, set the "anti-crease" cycle and let it dry for about two minutes at a time. Check about every two minutes and repeat the process as needed. If the shirt was wrinkled before, it should now be fresh and ready to wear.
- If you want to reduce it more, repeat the process and use a higher temperature setting.
- Also put a sheet of fabric softener in the dryer with the shirt for a fresher smell.
Method 3 of 3: Contact a Professional
Step 1. Take the garment to a tailor or someone who knows how to sew
If it is a shirt you are "fond of", you may want to take it to a knowledgeable person rather than trying to shrink it yourself. A tailor is able to make adjustments based on your specific measurements.
Step 2. Ask for it to be shrunk to you in the laundry
If the garment needs to be dry cleaned only, you may ask if it is possible to shrink it in addition to washing.
Keep in mind that you need to use water to shrink the garment so dry cleaning is usually not a solution. However, in a laundry room, they may suggest a safe method to shrink it without damaging the color and integrity of the fabric
Step 3. Contact a knitwear specialist
If you have a high-quality garment, you may want to consider having it specifically modified. This solution may be expensive and therefore not ideal for a generic T-shirt, but it may be a viable, safer strategy if it is a valuable garment.
