3 DIY hacks to unshrink your sweaters (2024)

For sweaters made of wool, you can use baby shampoo or fabric softener to return shrunken sweaters to their original size. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Fill a bucket with lukewarm water and add one teaspoon per litre of baby shampoo or fabric softener; mix well.
2. Soak your sweater in the solution for at least 30 minutes (but ideally, up to two hours)
3. Drain the liquid but do not rinse the sweater. Gently squeeze out excess liquid in the bathtub or in a towel; do not wring it.
4. Lay your sweater atop a dry towel or flat surface and gently stretch it out as much as you can. Place weights on the ends of your sweater to keep it in place.
5. Repeat this stretching-process several times until your sweater is dry and you can’t stretch it out anymore.

If you have shrunken a cashmere or wool sweater, try the following to return it to its former glory:

1. Fill a bucket with lukewarm water and mix one part white wine vinegar for every two parts water (i.e. 1/2 litre of vinegar and one litre of water).
2. Soak your garment in the solution for 20 to 30 minutes.
3. Remove the garment and like the previous hack, do not rinse but gently squeeze out the remainder of the liquid.
4. Used rolled-up towels to stuff your sweater and help absorb the excess vinegar-water solution.
5. Hang your sweater to dry.

If you don’t have baby shampoo on hand, you can use hair conditioner to unshrink rayon sweaters and even denim.

1. Combine one tablespoon of hair conditioner with one litre of lukewarm water in a large bowl or bucket.
2. Let your garment soak for a few minutes to loosen up the fibres.
3. Take out the sweater and gently squeeze it to draw out excess liquid.
4. Lay your sweater flat on a large towel or clean, dry surface. Dab it with a dry towel to further remove the water-conditioner solution.
5. Gently stretch out the garment to its original shape.
6. Lay flat to dry and using weights or clothespins, secure the edges so it drys to your desired shape.