How to stretch a shrunken woolen sweater and other clothes after washing?
In some situations, it is useful to know how to stretch a wool sweater after washing. The most accidents happen with things made from this natural material, because it requires special care. So if you think about it and wash such clothes in the usual way in a machine, the sweater or shirt will probably shrink by several sizes. But don’t despair and rush to throw it away. It is quite possible that it will be possible to return it to its original appearance.
Simple ways to stretch slightly shrunken clothes
It happens that the size of the product has changed slightly and it just feels a little tight, for example, at the waist. In this case, you can try to put it on yourself and walk in it for 5-6 hours. An even better result can be achieved if you wear something that is still damp for a while. This method has a clear drawback: walking in wet clothes is simply unpleasant. And it’s even risky, because you don’t want to catch a cold. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to other methods.
One option is to dry the item on a hanger. But here you can overdo it. Water flows unevenly, so you may find that your wool dress is larger than it should be or has sleeves of different lengths. To prevent this from happening, excess water must be removed during the drying process.
You can also try ironing the outfit through gauze moistened with water. Or turn on the iron on low power and use the steam function.At the same time, the thing must be pulled tightly, so it is difficult to do without an assistant.
How to return a wool sweater to its normal appearance?
To revive a wool sweater or dress that has lost its appearance, you should wash it again. The goal is to soften the fibers so that they become elastic. Then they will be able to give the desired shape. To do this, dissolve a special detergent for delicate washing in warm, but not hot water. Then they wash the shrunken item, after which it needs to be rinsed with conditioner.
You cannot twist the product, this will deform it even more. You need to gently squeeze it with your hands, then wrap it in a large terry towel - it absorbs moisture well. If the item is bulky, you should take two towels. After this, the sweater is laid out on a flat surface and the desired places are pulled out. It is important not to extend one sleeve more than the other, and to trim the bottom edge.
Advice
Hydrogen peroxide softens fabric well. It is added at the rate of two large spoons per ten liters of water. The product is soaked in the resulting mixture.
Vinegar will help save a woolen item (or even a T-shirt and dress). It is mixed with water (there should be twice as much water) and a wool sweater is immersed in this mixture for several hours. Can be left overnight. Then you need to boil the product in the same solution. And only then dry it, stretching it from time to time.
Sometimes, due to poor quality washing, a knitted dress may suffer. You can try to give it a normal look in a simple way: wash it again in cold water and leave it to dry on a flat surface.
How to change T-shirt size?
Not only a sweater, but also a cotton T-shirt may need to be stretched after washing.For example, if the size turns out to be inappropriate. You need to soak the item in warm water for half an hour, after adding hair conditioner or baby shampoo to it. Before putting it in a container, it should be leveled. This will ensure that the moisture is absorbed evenly, so that the fibers stretch equally. Then you need to rinse it thoroughly. If this is not done well enough, a sticky residue will remain.
Next, lay the T-shirt on a flat surface, squeezing it a little to get rid of excess moisture. If there is a pattern on it, it must be dried with an iron. Dry fabric will not stretch much, so it will not become deformed. Now you can start stretching. If you need to make the T-shirt longer, you just need to pull the top and bottom. If it needs to become wider, then you need to put your hands into it and spread them in different directions. Finally, you can place weights on the edges of the T-shirt to allow it to dry in a stretched position. You can also stretch the dress in length or width.
What to do if your jeans become tight?
Sometimes you need stretch jeansshrunk as a result of washing. They do this according to the following algorithm.
- Most often, in order for the trousers to return to normal shape, it is enough to simply put them on and walk around for a while.
- If this does not help, then they should be removed and sprayed with water mixed with a softener from a spray bottle. The pants should become a little damp. After which you need to put them on and move them a little with your feet. Softened fabric has better stretch.
- If the trousers have become tight in the waist, then you need to pull them over yourself, move the elastic band aside and keep it in that position. Of course, holding it is awkward, so you can use a small bottle or other object.The pants should be damp.
- Ironing will also help stretch a shrunken item. The fabric will soften, become more pliable and stretch when worn. Pants will no longer cause discomfort.
Of course, a problem such as a wool sweater that has been damaged due to improper washing can be dealt with by dry cleaning professionals. But they are not always ready to take on such work. Plus it's not cheap. Therefore, it’s good to know in advance what to do if the item shrinks or you just need to slightly increase your pants or T-shirt. A little patience and everything will work out.