All fabrics shrink to some degree when washed or dried, but some are more prone to it than others. If you're not careful, you can easily ruin a piece of clothing by shrinking it beyond repair.
Follow our clothing care guide on fabric shrinkage that will help you prevent your clothes from shrinking in the wash or dryer. We'll also show you which fabrics are more prone to shrinking so that you can take extra precautions when washing these fabrics
What Fabrics are Most Prone to Shrinking?
We often get asked here at Cleanipedia, do certain fabrics tend to shrink more than others? The answer is yes. There are quite a few fabrics that are more prone to shrinking and stretching out if not washed correctly.
The three main fabrics that shrink most commonly are:
Cotton
Wool
Silk
With the correct care for clothing, you should be able to avoid any shrinking or damage to your fabrics. Correct washing temperature, cycle, and detergents are essential in fabric care.
Read on to find out more about the best garment care steps and tips to prevent shrinkage.
Steps to Prevent Clothes From Shrinking
When it comes to the essential steps in a fabric care guide, there are a few certain steps to follow to ensure that you get the best results and prevent annoying occurrences like stretched or shrunken clothing.
Always start by checking the clothing care labels of the items you’ll be washing to check for specific instructions on how to wash them. Fabrics like cotton, need to be washed at a particular temperature and on a particular cycle, so be sure to check what the instructions suggest.
Cold water tends to be best for delicate fabrics or those that can easily stretch. Always opt for a cold temperature when washing these types of fabrics.
To prevent shrinkage and any damage to the fabric fibres, you can also choose the most delicate wash cycle on your machine. Most machines have a cycle that is for delicate clothing and also a wool or silk cycle too.
If you can, try not to dry fabrics like cotton, wool, and silk in the tumble dryer, rather opt to dry them on a flat surface outside in the sun. If you have to use a dryer, choose the low-temperature setting on the machine.
Choose a fabric conditioner, like Comfort, that makes use of Pro-Fibre Technology that actually protects fabric fibres and prevents clothes from shrinking.
How Can Comfort Stop Clothes From Shrinking?
The constant cycle of washing and wearing clothing can take a toll on the shape of clothing. Comfort care enlists the use of Pro-Fibre Technology in all of their fabric conditioners which actually helps to deeply nourish the fabric fibres of clothing to protect them while washing. Pro-Fibre Technology also helps too.
Retain the shape of garments
Protect the fibres of clothing to prevent damage, stretching, or bobbling
Not only will you stop clothes stretched after washing, but you’ll also ensure that the vibrancy, colour, shape, and softness of your clothing remain intact when you use Comfort fabric conditioner. Find out why you should use Comfort Fabric Conditioner.
For more clothing care tips such as these, visit Cleanipedia