How to shrink a garment in the washing machine

• Choose the right garment

First of all, you need to check the garment’s label: cotton, wool, silk, and linen, for example, shrink more easily than synthetic fabrics. In short, not all materials react the same way to washing and high temperatures. Compared to polyester, wool, for example, will certainly shrink more.

• Prepare the garment

Take your time: for the best results, you must first properly prepare the garment you want to shrink. The first step, then, is to wash the garment to remove any stains or dirt residue that might get in the way of a good result. It is best to use hot water, because this will begin the process of stretching and softening the fibers of the fabric making them less resistant.

• Set the washing machine to the correct cycle

Choose a hot or even very hot cycle, between 60 and 90 degrees, if the fabric of your garment is among the more resistant types. Obviously, if you opt for a hot and very long cycle, shrinking the garment will be easier. But be careful with delicate garments/fabrics: water too hot could permanently ruin them. Think about food recipes, for example, where you find the “Q.S.” formula, that is “to taste” or “as required” or “just enough”. Here, too, the secret lies in using “Quantum Sufficit” heat to do the job.

• Wash and dry

At this point, you’re almost there: it’s time to take action and definitively find out how to shrink a garment in the washing machine. You have selected the cycle and temperature, everything is ready. Now place the garment in the drum and start the wash. When the wash cycle has ended, remove the garment and lay it out flat in the dryer, which you should run at a high temperature to shrink the fabric even more.

• Check the result

Carefully inspect your garment, put it on, feel it to check the integrity of the fibers. Were you able to shrink it exactly as you wanted? If not – well, we’re not talking about an exact science, but a strictly artisanal treatment – start over and repeat the whole process again. But don’t overdo it, because the treatment is irreversible. Proceed slowly, a little bit at a time, carefully and cautiously, to arrive at the optimal result..

Here are a few little precautions to take during the shrinkage process:

• Place the garment in a bag: when washing, protect your garment by placing it in a mesh bag, especially if the garment is very delicate
• Check, check, and check again: the dryer, as you know, is super convenient, but It is a bit aggressive on textile fibers. So, if you really care about your garment, check the progress of the process several times, stopping the dryer at least once, halfway through the cycle
• Discover cold water: that’s right, if you don’t trust hot water because you’re afraid of ruining your beautiful garment, you can try shrinking it in cold water – this is a less aggressive method, and one that may require more wash cycles

• Cotton: cotton is an easy win; use hot water and choose a hot dryer cycle (just be careful not to overdo it if you don’t want your garment only fit to be worn by your youngest children)
• Wool: a woolen garment requires a lot of care and should be treated with respect and delicacy; lukewarm water for washing and low-temperature drying are the secrets to success
• Linen: shrinking linen is easy, but you run the risk of warping the garment; the best solution is to use hot water and a cycle for delicate fabrics
• Silk: silk, like all precious things, is the most delicate fabric of all. In this case, we suggest you avoid using the washing machine method altogether and try shrinking your garment by hand washing it in warm water; then drying it very gently. You may have to repeat the operation several times, but it really is worth it
  
• Synthetics: synthetics, polyester and nylon garments are very hard bones, it’s not really easy to “convince” them to shrink; they aren’t fazed by hot water. You will have to repeat the treatment several times, dry and re-dry them, obviously at high temperatures, but, if you need to shrink them a lot, you probably won’t be able to achieve the desired result

Thus far we have discussed how to shrink a garment in the washing machine, but if you would also like to know how to take care of your most beautiful and important garments, to make them last longer while respecting the environment as much as possible, visit our website Tonello.com, where you will find lots of information and very useful tips to keep your garments in perfect condition.

Happy browsing, then, and good, indeed great washes! 😉