How to stretch a T-shirt if it shrinks after washing: proven methods and techniques

My favorite T-shirt has decreased in size after numerous washes - an unpleasant situation.

Do not rush to throw a T-shirt in the trash and run to the store for a new one. There are many ways to save your favorite item by stretching it to the required size.

In this article, we will tell you what to do if a T-shirt shrinks after washing, how to stretch it to the desired size.

What to do?

The choice of stretching a shrunken shirt is determined depending on the type of fabric... Before starting the process, it is very important to study the manufacturer's label for the composition of the fabric and recommendations for its care.

Failure to follow this rule may result in permanent damage to the product. Learn more about the rules for washing T-shirts. here.

Soaking in cold water

Stretch synthetic or composite T-shirts the method of soaking in cold water will help:

1. A T-shirt is lowered into a basin of cold water and left to soak for twenty to thirty minutes.
2. After that, the product is loaded into the drum of the washing machine and a program for delicate fabrics is started. Wash the item without using detergent.
3. After washing, the T-shirt is hung by one edge on a rope and dried in a well-ventilated, well-lit place.

Soaking in milk

Stretch white cotton t-shirt milk will help:

• a glass of milk is diluted in five liters of warm water;
• a thing is lowered into the resulting solution and left for half an hour to soak;
• after the product is rinsed in cool water and spread out on a terry towel, left to dry;
• during the drying process, the product is gently sipped in the right direction.

Milk is diluted with water, the temperature of which does not exceed 30C.

Salmon with vodka and turpentine

Stretch cotton garments to size A proven method will help - soaking in a solution of ammonia, vodka and turpentine:

• in a five-liter bucket filled with warm water, mix ammonia, water and turpentine (proportion 3: 1: 1);
• a T-shirt is placed in the resulting solution and left for twenty to thirty minutes;
• after the product is taken out of the water, squeezed slightly and hung out to dry.

Vinegar

Quickly stretch cotton T-shirt acetic acid will help:

1. Mix vinegar with water (proportion 3: 1).
2. After moistening the sponge abundantly with vinegar solution, we rub the fabric with it (in the process, the product must be carefully stretched in length and width).
3. Hang a wet T-shirt (without twisting it) to dry on a rope. During the drying process, the shirt must be periodically pulled.

In order to remove the smell of vinegar, before drying, the item is rinsed in water with the addition of conditioner.

This method cannot be used with synthetic fabrics.

Hair conditioner

Stretch jersey t-shirt hair conditioner will help... Under its influence, the fibers of the knitted fabric acquire special elasticity, which helps to stretch things to the desired size:

1. Lay the T-shirt on a horizontal surface and use a sponge to generously moisten the fabric with hair conditioner.
2. After ten minutes, stretch the T-shirt with gentle movements to the desired size.

Peroxide

Stretch a T-shirt made of light silk or wool hydrogen peroxide will help:

1. Pour warm water into a basin (volume of at least 10 liters), add two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide.
2. We put the shirt in water (it is important to ensure that the fabric is completely covered) and leave it on for several hours.
3. Then we take out the product, very carefully squeeze it from the excess vagi and straighten it on a flat surface for drying.

During the drying process, a light silk fabric must be periodically carefully pulled in the right direction.

Freezing

Stretch a thin woolen t-shirt the freezing method will help:

• in a bowl of cool water, it is necessary to dilute two tablespoons of powder for washing delicate items;
• a T-shirt is lowered into the resulting solution and left for twenty minutes;
• after that, the product is gently squeezed out and placed in a plastic bag, sent to the freezer for a day;
• after twenty-four hours, the item is taken out of the bag and, spread out on a horizontal surface, is left to dry.

Cargo

Stretch cotton t-shirt the cargo will help:

1. The washed, damp T-shirt is laid out on a horizontal surface, on a terry towel.
2. Pinned along the shoulders and neckline to the towel, the T-shirt stretches to the desired length and width. The lower edge is also fixed with pins and additionally pressed by a load (for example, heavy books).
3. The T-shirt is left under the load until it dries.

Steaming

Stretch t-shirts from cotton or blended fabrics the steaming method will help:

• we collect warm water in the basin (temperature not higher than 50);
• immerse the T-shirt in water (the fabric must be completely covered);
• after forty minutes we take out the product, gently wring it out and straighten it on a dryer or ironing board covered with a terry towel;
• cover the shirt with a cotton cloth and iron it with an iron.

In the process of ironing, the shirt must be carefully stretched in the right direction.

The temperature of the iron is set in accordance with the type of fabric of the product... It is also necessary to additionally set the steaming function.

Another unusual way to stretch a T-shirt is presented in the video:

Features of the procedure for different materials

The easiest way is to stretch natural (cotton) fabrics. You will have to tinker with synthetic products.

Depending on the composition of the fabric, there are several ways to increase the size of the product:

1. Linen. To increase the size of a shrunken T-shirt made of linen fabric, you need to rinse the item in warm water, and then hang it out to dry without wringing it out.After that, a slightly damp product is ironed with an iron, gently pulling the fabric in the right direction.
2. Synthetics. Enlarging synthetic fiber items is as easy as shelling pears. To do this, they must be washed in the washing machine on a mode for delicate fabrics, then hang the product on a hanger to dry.

   Pulling out the damp product in the right direction can increase the T-shirt by at least one size.

3. From wool... You can stretch a delicate woolen thing in a somewhat original but effective way - try on a wet T-shirt on yourself. A wet (previously soaked in cold water) wool T-shirt is gently squeezed out and tried on.

   You need to wear a T-shirt until it dries. During the drying process, the thing acquires the exact shape of the body, increases in size.

4. Cotton. An ordinary chair will help to increase the thing by one, or maybe two sizes. Everything is very simple: the T-shirt is pre-soaked in warm water (at least thirty minutes), and then put on the back of a chair. In this position, the thing dries up.

   You can speed up the drying process on a chair if you first wrap the back of the furniture with a natural cloth or cover with a terry towel.

How to prevent shrinkage?

Preventing the jersey or t-shirt from changing shape is easy. It is enough to adhere to some rules:

• never wash things in very hot water (temperature exceeds 60C);
• dry things only in a darkened, well-ventilated place (direct sunlight deforms the fibers of the fabric, which leads to their deformation);
• when washing with a machine, use only a delicate cycle and special detergents for delicate fabrics;
• always turn things inside out before washing, fasten all buttons and zippers;
• rinse things in cool, but not ice-cold water (sudden changes in the temperature of the water for washing and rinsing can cause deformation of the fibers of the fabric);
• always carefully study the manufacturer's recommendations for the care of the product.

Advice

A few tips from experienced housewives will help you quickly achieve the desired result. - T-shirt shrunk by one or two sizes increased by one or two:

1. It is necessary to take measures to stretch the shrunken thing after washing as soon as possible, without waiting for the fabric to dry completely.

   A well-dried fabric will lose its elasticity and will be much more difficult to stretch.

2. To maximize the size of the knitted garment, the fabric is soaked with hair conditioner before starting the stretching process.
3. In the process of steaming, the product is not completely dried. A slightly damp T-shirt is sent to dry on a rope, securing it with clothespins along the bottom edge.
4. Do not stretch T-shirts with pictures, embroidery, sequins or beads. The deformation of the fabric disrupts the outline of the pattern, after which the T-shirt finally loses its appearance.

Related Videos

How to stretch a shrunken thing after washing, video tips:

Conclusion

Taking into account all the recommendations and tips on how to stretch T-shirts after washing, you can forever forget about throwing out smaller items.