Quite often, housewives do not look at the labels of things, which indicate their composition and care rules, the clothes are simply laid in the drum of the washing machine, where they are washed in the usual way. As a result, things are deformed, shed and sit down. Is it possible to do something if the coat shrinks after washing or if you have to part with the thing? To answer this question, you need to consider what recommendations experts give.
Why wool shrinks after washing
In the wardrobe of every person there is a woolen sweater or jacket. And if this article is being studied, then we can conclude that the washing regime was violated and the thing sat down. What to do if a coat or a sweater made of pure wool has worn down, how can you restore an attractive look to the product and stretch it to its previous size?
To decide what to do next with a shrunken thing, you must first figure out why woolen things shrink so much and sometimes shrink by a couple of sizes. Woolen things are negatively affected by such factors:
- Washing water temperature too high. Wash such clothes in cool water, the temperature of which does not exceed 30 degrees. Only in this case it will be possible to preserve the original appearance of clothing.
- Aggressive detergents.Ordinary washing powders contain different chemical elements that have a bad effect on wool fibers. For washing such things, only soft products that have a mark should be used. They are meant for delicate fabrics.
- Washing woolen clothes in the wrong mode. Modern washing machines are equipped with a delicate mode of operation.Therefore, wool and silk should be washed at low speeds and not squeezed hard.
If a woolen jacket or coat was washed at temperatures above 30 degrees, then it is quite understandable that they sat down.
Before washing delicate fabrics, be sure to read the instructions on the label.
How to restore a shrunken thing
If the clothes were washed in compliance with all the recommendations, but their size still decreased, then you can try to restore the thing. There are several methods that help stretch shrunken clothes. You need to understand that in some cases it is not possible to return the original appearance of the product, although it is worth trying.
If the coat has shrinked after washing, then you can try to stretch it in this way:
- The thing is rinsed again in cold water and the water is squeezed out of the product a little so that it does not drain in a stream.
- A large terry towel is spread on the table, on top of which a wet coat is laid.
- From above, the clothes are blotted with another towel.
- The thing is gently straightened and stretched to its original size. Pay special attention to the length of the sleeves.
The thing is left to dry in a horizontal position, only the towel is periodically changed. Woolen things cannot be kept on a damp surface for a long time, as they acquire an unpleasant, rotten smell.
Stretching clothes with an iron
If the village is a woolen coat, then you can use an ordinary iron. A bedspread and a cotton sheet are covered on an ironing board or table. Next, a wet coat or jacket is laid out on the surface and ironed through a cotton napkin. At the same time, the clothes are stretched to their original size.
If the iron is equipped with a steam function, then it is also turned on to increase efficiency.This method of restoring a shrunken item is more suitable for fabrics of a mixed composition, but if the wardrobe item is made of pure wool, then there may not be an effect.
Ironing shrunken clothes should be done with great care so as not to burn yourself. It should be borne in mind that a lot of hot steam will form.
radical method
This method of stretching woolen fabric is considered the most effective. It allows in almost all cases to return woolen clothes to their original size. To restore the size of a coat or sweater, you need to follow these tips:
- Clothes are soaked in cold water with the addition of a tablespoon of vinegar for 10 minutes.
- After that, the thing is squeezed out a little so that the water does not drain much, and they put on clothes. Tighten the bottom of the product and sleeves well and walk until completely dry.
This is an unpleasant procedure, but it is quite effective. In order not to be cold and damp, you can put on a raincoat under the bottom. If there is a mannequin in the house, then put clothes on it until it dries completely.
How to prevent fabric shrinkage
In order not to spoil expensive wool clothes, you must follow these rules:
- Before washing, carefully read the label, which contains all the necessary information.
- If the label indicates that the item cannot be washed, you need to abandon such an undertaking and use the services of dry cleaning.
- Wool products can be washed at a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees.
- Wash such clothes only with special detergents for delicate fabrics.
- Wool coats cannot be twisted; such products are dried only in a horizontal position.
If a woolen coat or jacket has worn down, you should not be very upset, you can try to correct this oversight. There are many ways to stretch shrunken things, so you can choose the one that is right for this particular case.
