Effective methods on how to stretch a sweater that has sat down after washing

Sweaters are beautiful and comfortable, they keep you warm in cold weather. However, such products are picky enough to care for. Improper washing can cause the item to shrink.

If this happens, there is no need to despair. There are several ways to help you deal with the problem.

This article will show you how to stretch a sweater (made of wool and other materials) that has sat down after washing, how to return it to its original size.

What to do with a shrunken product?

You can stretch a shrunken sweater by treating it with special compounds, for example, hydrogen peroxide or vinegar.

It is not only the processing of the sweater with certain compounds that matters, but also its proper drying.

There is a single instruction that applies to each method:

1. Do not wring out the garment after washing. Water should drain from it on its own. If you twist a sweater, its fibers will stretch, but unevenly.

   It is permissible to wrap the item in a terry towel and gently wrinkle it with your palms to absorb excess water.

2. You need to lay out the sweater on a flat vertical surface with a towel under it. Change it as it gets wet.
3. Stretch the sweater while it is wet. The fabric is grasped with your fingers and spread apart in different directions. Care must be taken to ensure that the tension is uniform.

You can use unusual methods, such as hanging some weights from the sweater, which will pull it down. Another solution to this problem is to put on the sweater and wait until it is completely dry. However, walking in a wet jacket for several hours is not entirely comfortable.

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide weakens the bonds between the fibers of the fabric, so it can be used to increase the sweater by 1 size.

Mode of application:

• 2 tablespoons of peroxide are diluted in 10 liters of water;
• the shrunken jacket is dipped into the solution, left for 3 hours;
• after the specified time, rinse it in cool clean water.

Dry the product on a flat surface.

However, there is a risk of uneven tissue deformation.Therefore, it is safest to dry your sweater horizontally.

Turpentine

Turpentine can be used to treat shrunken items.

1. Pour 5 liters of cool water into a basin, dissolve 4 tablespoons of turpentine in it.
2. Soak a sweater in the prepared composition, leave for an hour.
3. Rinse it thoroughly and lay it out to dry.

Any fabric can be treated with turpentine, but proportions must be carefully observed. After washing, the fibers become elastic and soft, so it will be easier to stretch them.

The only drawback of the method is that turpentine has a pungent smell.... It can remain on the item even after rinsing it thoroughly. You can cope with it if you keep the sweater in the fresh air for 1-2 days.

You can strengthen the recipe by adding 3 tablespoons of ammonia and a tablespoon of cologne or vodka to the solution.

Vinegar

You can deal with shrinkage with vinegar. You need to choose a product with a concentration of 9%.

How to use it:

• moisten the fabric with water, avoiding it getting on the seams and collar;
• wrap the product with a terry towel to remove excess moisture;
• dissolve 2 tablespoons of vinegar in 250 ml of water and gently spread the liquid over the surface of the sweater;
• spread the product on the table and gently stretch it;
• you need to fix the result with an iron, steam the sweater through gauze.

This is an effective method that allows you to restore a thing by 1-1.5 sizes. Do not directly iron the sweater. This will damage it.

Conditioner or hair rinse

You can use conditioner or hair rinse to stretch your virgin wool sweater.

Mode of application:

1. Soak the product in cool water.
2. Apply a hair rinse to the sweater and soak the fabric evenly.
3. Leave the product on for 5 minutes to take effect.
4. Pull the fabric in the desired direction.
5. Rinse the product and lay out to dry.

The conditioner makes the fabric soft and delicate, does not lead to pilling, helps to fluff the fibers.

Steam treatment

Not every sweater can withstand ironing. A gentle method of stretching it is steaming. It is suitable for woolen and mixed fabrics. The effectiveness of the method is to increase the product by 1 size.

Mode of application:

• stuff a sweater with a cloth so that its fibers are in a taut position;
• one or more pillows can be placed inside;
• process the thing with a steam generator around the entire perimeter;
• special attention must be paid to the seams;
• the tension can be increased manually.

When steaming is complete, leave the sweater taut until it cools completely. If the packing is removed immediately, the fibers will return to their original position.

Not everyone has a steam generator in their home. In this case, you can slightly stretch the sweater in another way.

Several ways to stretch a shrunken sweater after washing in the video:

How do I return a wool item to its original size?

Products made from natural wool require careful handling. Features of its processing:

1. It is forbidden to wash or soak the item in hot water. If this recommendation is not followed, then all funds will be ineffective and the product will remain shrunken. The maximum water temperature is 30 degrees.
2. Do not twist and wring out the woolen product. This will cause it to stretch unevenly.
3. The thing must be turned to the wrong side. Only then can you start washing, steaming and stretching.
4. Do not dry the product by placing it on a radiator or in the sun. The sweater should naturally dry.
5. Due to the influence of vinegar or turpentine, wool fibers lose their strength. Therefore, you need to carefully control the force of their tension.
6. The item is processed according to the manufacturer's recommendations, which are indicated on the product label.

It is much easier to stretch a jacket made from wool than from synthetics. Natural fabrics respond better to chemicals, but they do not withstand aggressive exposure.

Read about the rules for washing woolen sweaters in this article.

Will dry cleaning help?

If the product is expensive and you cannot cope with the problem on your own, you can resort to dry cleaning.

Professionals will carefully clean the product from existing dirt and give it the desired shape... This is done using special rollers or steam-air dummies.

The price depends on the complexity of the work being done. The minimum cost is 550 rubles.

How to prevent shrinkage?

To prevent the sweater from shrinking, you need to properly care for it. Key recommendations:

1. Choice of detergent. It should not contain aggressive components and large amounts of surfactants. Preference is given to liquid formulations.
2. Washing at a temperature not exceeding 20-30 degrees.
3. Refusal to spin. If the thing was washed by hand, then you need to let the water drain on its own, without twisting the fibers of the fabric.

Proper drying of the sweater is important. It is recommended to lay it out on a flat surface and protect it from high temperatures.

General rules for washing sweaters reviewed here.

Conclusion

You can ruin a sweater quickly, in one wrong wash. It will take much more time to restore the product.

You can return it to its original size and shape using inexpensive improvised means and proper drying.... If you cannot cope with the problem yourself, you need to contact the professionals.