Naturallybreathable, comfortable, and durable, cotton is one of the best fabrics outthere when it comes to clothing. Cotton naturally wicks moisture away from theskin, which helps keep you cool no matter the season. But like all clothing,cotton requires proper maintenance to keep it in top shape. Before laundry day,make sure you understand the effects of washing and drying on your favoritecotton garments. Cotton can be prone to some shrinkage but there are a fewstrategies you can adopt to prevent your favorite shirt, pants, or dress fromlosing that ideal fit.
Howto Avoid Cotton Shrinking
Cottonis a natural fiber, which gives it the soft, breathable qualities we love, butalso means that it’s more susceptible to shrinking than synthetic fibers likepolyester. When raw cotton is spun into thread, the fibers are stretched, whichcreates a tension needed to weave the fibers into cotton fabric. However, once cotton fabric is heated - say,tumbling in a dryer - the fibers lose that tension, which causes cotton’sslight shrinking after a first wash.
Butdon’t despair — with just a little extra care, it’s easy to make sure yourcotton clothing maintains that perfect fit. When you buy new clothing made ofcotton, you’ll want to initially hand wash and air dry it to minimize anyshrinkage and help the garment settle, so to speak.After that first hand wash,there are a few rules to follow when washing your cotton clothing:
- Hand Washing When time allows, hand wash your cotton clothing. Using a very mild detergent and cool water, lightly scrub and then soak the clothing in thewater. Five minutes should be enough for normal washes, with up to thirty minutes recommended for more soiled clothing.Once they’ve soaked, rinse the clothing thoroughly in cool water.
- Using a Washing MachineIf you don’t have time to hand wash, it’s fine to use the washing machine.To prevent the clothing from shrinking, wash your cotton clothing on adelicate cycle and in cold water. This will reduce the risk of excessivefriction and agitation, which can not only cause shrinking but also pilling and other unwanted wear.
- Air DryingWhether you hand wash or use the washing machine, you’ll get the bestresults by drying your cotton clothing without heat. High temperatures arethe quickest way to shrink your cotton clothes. Avoid popping yourgarments in the dryer and instead dry them on a clothes rack or clothesline in indirect sunlight. You can use hangers to maintain the shape ofthe garments.
Theserules apply specifically to 100% cotton clothing items. If the label of yourclothing says it is a cotton and polyester blend, then you don’t need to worryas much about shrinkage. Polyester is a synthetic fiber, which means it is aman-made polymer made of petroleum-based chemical chains that don’t shrink whenthey interact with heat. Fors a blend of cotton and polyester, you can wash theclothing in a cool or warm water and dry it at a low setting in the dryer.Follow this rule of thumb: the more cotton your clothing contains, the lessheat you want to expose it to when washing and drying it.
How to Unshrink Cotton Clothes
Ithappens — your new 100% cotton shirt gets mixed up in the laundry and goesthrough the washer and dryer on high heat. And realizing you’ve shrunk afavorite garment is an awful feeling, but don’t give up hope - you can oftenstretch it back to its original size. Follow these steps to bring your cottonclothing back to that perfect fit:
- Fill your sink or a clean bucketwith lukewarm water.
- Add two tablespoons of babyshampoo to the water.
- Add the clothing to the water.
- Soak clothing for 30 minutes
- Drain the sink or bucket andgently squeeze excess water out of the clothing.
- Lay the clothing on a towel andgently stretch it in order to reshape to the correct size
- Gently stretch the clothing every couple of hours as it dries (feel free to use a fan to speed up thedrying process!).
Itmay seem like a bit more work, but it’s worth it to keep your cotton clothingas perfectly-fitting as the day you bought it. These washing and dryingtechniques also apply to cotton sheets and towels. If you’re looking forquality, 100% cotton sheets, take a look at our HomeGrown Heartland brand here. All products are exclusivelyavailable at Bed Bath & Beyond.
