The Secret to Unshrinking a Sweater So it Fits Again

It’s incredibly frustrating to take a load of laundry out of the washer only to realize that your favorite sweater has shrunk several sizes. The reason for that is that wool and cotton clothes have space between the fibers, and this makes them contract when washed at higher temperatures than intended. But it’s not all bad news. Here’s how to fix it when things do go wrong.

Unshrinking the Laundry

The good news is that there is a way to unshrink a sweater after a bad laundry day. The key is to use items that relax the fibers. These include baby shampoo, borax, hair conditioner, and white vinegar. All of those work by relaxing the fibers and allowing the garment to be restored to its previous form.

Soak the item with water and place it in a large container in around a gallon of water. The water itself should be warm but not hot or cold. Adding 1/4 cup of any of the relaxers should get the job done. The sweater should be pressed in the bin and left to soak for 15-30 minutes.

Relaxers Get the Job Done

When the soaking part is over, it’s time to remove the clothes from the bin and rinse them out with water before placing them in another bin with plain water. Pressing the clothes softly should be enough to remove all the sudsy residue. When the rinsing is done, lay the sweater on a towel stretched on a flat surface to remove excess water. Another trick is to slowly roll the sweater in the towel until it is damp.

By now, restoring its shape can begin. The easy way is to pull the ends of the sweater until it gradually returns to its original form. A good way to help with that is to take another shirt that fits the same person who wears the sweater and place it under it to know when to stop stretching it. Once a sweater has been returned to its former shape and size, leave it lying on the table to dry completely. When that’s done, it will be like new. Just be more careful next time you do laundry!