Control Jean Shrinkage When Washing & Drying | Clorox® (2024)

FAQs

How do I keep my jeans from shrinking in the dryer? ›

Exposing your jeans to direct heat in the dryer can shrink, fade or yellow denim, and it can also cause damage to stretch denim fabrics that contain spandex or Lycra. If you need to use a dryer, select a low or no heat cycle and use dryer balls to keep your jeans tumbling.

First, to get technical, that tightening phenomenon is called "consolidation shrinkage." Think of denim fibers as a long chain. When fabric is agitated during the wash and heat cycles, it causes fibers to break their bonds so the cloth gets smaller.

Do jeans shrink every time you wash them? Jeans always shrink the first time they are washed but won't shrink significantly after the first wash. While they shrink a little after washing, they will then stretch out again as you wear them.

Soak the jeans in water and baby shampoo.

Immerse the jeans into the water and allow them to soak for at least 30 minutes. Then, remove the jeans and squeeze the excess moisture out. Hang them on a clothes line, which will help stretch them out.

"Jeans by nature actually do stretch. The fabric is meant to morph and form to the body which is why we love them," he says. But just how much they'll loosen after purchase is harder to pin down. It depends on how much you wear and wash them, as well as the fabric they're made from.

Jeans should be comfortably tight at first. If the jeans your trying on are really uncomfortably tight then they will probably only stretch a few inches. The best way to see if the jeans are going to be good for you is to do the sitting test. Sit down as you would in a car, and see how it feels.

A good rule of thumb is to wash your jeans after every 3-10 wears, or when they start to smell. If you're regularly active in your jeans (think: manual work, anything where you work up a sweat), wash them every 3 wears, but if you're working at a desk, you can probably go through multiple wears without washing.

Favorite Jeans

Jeans that are 100 percent cotton can go through the dry cycle on the high heat setting since they're heavier and take longer to dry. However, time the dry cycle so you pull them just as they get close to finishing drying to prevent over-drying and shrinkage.

Hot Water Method

"The easiest, quickest way to shrink denim is to wash and dry them on the hottest temperatures possible—similar to the way that washing your favorite sweater in hot water and putting it in the dryer is something you try to avoid because it will shrink."

What causes clothes to shrink? Agitation and high temperatures in the washing and drying cycles can distort fabric and cause clothes to shrink. Washing fabrics, such as cotton, linen or wool, too vigorously can cause the fibers to tighten together and yield a shrunken garment.

Does hot water stretch denim? ›

Sit in a warm bath while wearing the jeans.

Put on the jeans that are too snug, fill a bath with warm water, and sit in it. The warm (not hot!) water will help loosen and stretch the threading a bit. You obviously need to do this one in advance, and allow the jeans to hang dry when you're done.

Keep in mind, 100% cotton jeans will shrink up to 20%. Throw your jeans into the washing machine on the hottest setting, then tumble dry on high heat. Remove quickly, and hang them to avoid any wrinkles or folds. Don't worry about damaging the fabric—cotton can withstand high temperatures.

Fill a spray bottle with three parts hot water and one part liquid fabric softener. Shake to mix the solution. Spritz the solution onto the areas of your jeans that you would like to shrink until they are well saturated.

Turn up the heat setting on the washer and dryer.

We've all shrunk jeans by accident in the wash, now you simply do it on purpose. Wash and dry your jeans on the highest setting possible. Repeat as needed to get the fit you want.

No problem. Brown tells InStyle a blow dryer can do the trick, too. "Simply blow heat directly onto the areas you want to stretch," she says, and once your jeans are nice and warm, use your hands to pull and stretch tight areas.

To avoid shrinking jeans in the wash the main thing that you want to avoid is the usage of heat. Use cold water in the washing machine and use either tumble dry low in the dryer, or choose to air dry your jeans after you have finished washing them so that your jeans do not suffer any shrinkage.

Any good denim expert worth their weight in gold will tell you to “always take the smaller size when you can”. The reason is that denim stretches up to half a size, even if it says otherwise on the label.

In general, expect up to 3–4% shrinkage, which on a pair of jeans with a 32″ inseam would mean shrinking about 1″–1¼” in the length. The width is much less prone to shrinkage because there is less applied tension in that direction during fabric construction. This can vary from brand to brand and style to style.

Generally, jeans should be long enough to reach the tops of your feet with a little extra fabric, but short enough that the hems aren't dragging on the ground.

Dry your jeans in the dryer for only 10 minutes.

Leaving them for much longer could cause them to shrink. You can skip putting your jeans in the dryer if your washer spins out most of the water from them, but putting jeans in the dryer for a few minutes can get rid of any wrinkles or creases.

Can you put denim in the dryer without shrinking? ›

Too much heat is the biggest culprit when it comes to jeans shrinking so steer clear of any high heats during washing and drying. This means putting your jeans on a cold wash and air-drying them or on a low-heat cycle in the dryer. Try to avoid any heavy cycles and keep it on a delicate wash too.

You can get past the major bleeding stage faster by washing and drying the denim 3-4 times before wearing. The hotter the water, the more the dye will come off—using a little detergent will also help.

When it comes to drying jeans, be sure to turn your pair inside out and tumble dry them on a delicate cycle and low heat setting, unless the care label directs otherwise. Toss in a few dryer balls to help keep them tumbling so they'll dry more evenly.

"The easiest, quickest way to shrink denim is to wash and dry them on the hottest temperatures possible—similar to the way that washing your favorite sweater in hot water and putting it in the dryer is something you try to avoid because it will shrink."

Add Vinegar to Your Cold Water Rinse

Vinegar will help seal the dye within the fabric of dark denim jeans, reducing the chance that your jeans will continue to bleed (and potentially stain other fabrics) when you wear or wash them in the future.

For a thorough and effective washing routine, it is important to turn your jeans inside out before putting them in the washing machine. This simple action can help protect against potential damage caused by fasteners snagging on other pieces of clothing or the jeans themselves.

Usually after 5 wash cycles, shrinkage is complete and clothing won't shrink anymore over time.

You can, of course, dry your jeans in the dryer. Especially if your jeans stretched out during wear, throwing them in the dryer for a few minutes will help them regain their shape. Just don't dry them for too long or at too high of a temperature.

If you're in a pinch and need to speed the process along, run your jeans through the dryer on low heat until they're nearly dry, but not overheated. Then, remove from dryer and lay flat until they're completely dry.