Stretching Out Shrunken Tees: A Simple Guide To Resizing

It's happened to the best of us: that favourite shirt has emerged from the wash a good few sizes smaller. But fear not, because there are ways to restore your beloved item of clothing to its former glory. The secret ingredient? Hair conditioner.

Soak in lukewarm water and conditioner

So, you've accidentally shrunk your favourite t-shirt in the wash and are now looking for a way to stretch it back to its original size. Well, you're in luck! There is a way to do this using lukewarm water and conditioner. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Prepare the Mixture

Firstly, you will need to fill a sink, bucket, or tub with lukewarm water. The water should be at or a little warmer than room temperature. This will help relax the fibres in the fabric. Then, add a tablespoon of hair conditioner for every 1/4 gallon (950ml) of water. Stir the mixture until the conditioner is fully dissolved.

Step 2: Soak the T-Shirt

Completely submerge the t-shirt in the mixture and leave it to soak for at least 10 minutes, or up to 30 minutes. If you are stretching a shirt, try lightly pulling on the fabric underwater to start reshaping it.

Step 3: Remove Excess Water

After soaking the t-shirt, gently remove it from the mixture and hold it above the bucket to allow excess water to drip out. Do not wring out the t-shirt, as this could damage the fibres.

Step 4: Roll the T-Shirt in a Towel

Place the t-shirt on a clean, dry towel and roll it up gently to remove any remaining moisture. Leave the t-shirt inside the towel for up to 10 minutes.

Step 5: Stretch the T-Shirt

Place the t-shirt on a second dry towel and begin stretching it gently by hand. Focus on the areas that feel tight and try to get the t-shirt as close as possible to its original shape. If you are stretching a shirt, grasp the side seams near the bottom hem to stretch the waist.

Step 6: Weigh Down the T-Shirt

Once you have finished stretching the t-shirt, place heavy objects such as books or mugs on top of it to weigh it down and help it retain its shape. Leave the t-shirt to air-dry completely.

Step 7: Try on the T-Shirt

Once the t-shirt is dry, try it on to see if it has stretched enough. If it hasn't, you may need to repeat the process.

Additional Tips:

• Be careful what type of conditioner you use. Avoid colour-safe conditioners, as these could discolour your clothes.
• You may want to wash the t-shirt after soaking it to remove any oily residue.
• Do not put the t-shirt in the dryer, as the heat will cause it to shrink again.
• This method works best on knitted fabrics such as cotton, wool, and cashmere.

Rinse and stretch

Step 1: Rinse

First, fill your sink with lukewarm water. Make sure the water is at or a little warmer than room temperature so that it relaxes the fibres in the fabric. Avoid using cold water as it will make the fabric fibres shrink and become harder to stretch.

Step 2: Rinse

Next, add a capful of liquid laundry detergent, baby shampoo, or hair conditioner to the water. You can also use a tablespoon of Borax or white wine vinegar if you are rinsing wool or cashmere. Stir the mixture until it is well combined. Avoid using harsh chemicals, especially on animal-based fabrics.

Step 3: Rinse

Completely submerge your t-shirt in the water and let it soak for at least 10 minutes, or up to 30 minutes. If you are rinsing a shirt, try lightly pulling on the fabric underwater to start reshaping it.

Step 4: Stretch

After rinsing, gently squeeze your t-shirt to remove excess water. Do not wring out the garment as it could damage the fibres. Instead, lay the t-shirt flat on a clean, dry towel and roll it up to remove the remaining moisture.

Step 5: Stretch

Now it's time to stretch your t-shirt back to its original shape. Place the t-shirt on a second dry towel and gently tug at the edges of the damp fabric where it feels tight. Be careful not to damage the fabric's fibres by pulling too hard. Try to get the t-shirt as close as possible to its original shape.

Step 6: Stretch

Once you have finished stretching a section of the t-shirt, place a heavy object such as a book or a mug on top of the fabric to hold it in place while it dries. Repeat this process for each section of the t-shirt until it is completely stretched out.

Step 7: Stretch

Finally, let the t-shirt air-dry completely. Check on it every 30 minutes to ensure that it has held its shape, and adjust if necessary.

By following these steps, you should be able to successfully unshrink your t-shirt and get it back to its original size!

Air-dry

Step 1: Prepare the T-shirt for Air-drying

Before air-drying your T-shirt, it is crucial to ensure that it has been adequately prepared. Here are the steps to follow:

• After soaking the T-shirt in a solution of lukewarm water and a gentle detergent, baby shampoo, or conditioner, gently remove it from the mixture.
• Hold the T-shirt above the container and allow any excess water to drip off. Avoid rinsing or wringing out the garment at this stage, as you want the relaxing agent (baby shampoo, conditioner, or gentle detergent) to remain in the fabric.
• Lay the T-shirt flat on a large, clean bath towel. This step helps to absorb the remaining moisture from the T-shirt.
• Roll up the towel with the T-shirt inside and let it sit for about 10 to 15 minutes. The T-shirt should still be slightly damp after this step.

Step 2: Stretch the T-shirt

Now it's time to stretch your T-shirt back to its original shape. Here's how:

• Grab a second dry bath towel and lay it on a flat surface.
• Place the T-shirt on top of the towel.
• Focus on one section of the T-shirt at a time and gently tug at the opposite sides to stretch it back to its original size. For example, if you're stretching the waist of the T-shirt, grasp the side seams near the bottom hem and gently pull.
• Be careful to stretch the T-shirt proportionally to maintain its original shape.

Step 3: Weigh down the T-shirt and let it Air-dry

Once you've finished stretching the T-shirt to your desired size, it's time to let it air-dry:

• Place heavy objects, such as books or paperweights, on top of the stretched-out T-shirt to hold it in place.
• Alternatively, you can use clothespins to hold the T-shirt in place.
• Leave the T-shirt to air-dry completely. This step is crucial, as it allows the fabric to set in its stretched state.
• Check on the T-shirt every 30 minutes to ensure it hasn't lost its shape. If adjustments are needed, gently tug on the edges and weigh the T-shirt down again.
• You can also try hanging the T-shirt up to help it dry. The weight of the water will pull the fabric down slightly, aiding in the stretching process.

Tips for Effective Air-drying:

• Avoid using a dryer or direct heat to dry the T-shirt, as this can cause shrinkage again.
• Be patient and gentle during the stretching process to avoid damaging the fabric.
• If you're not satisfied with the results, you can repeat the entire process or try a different relaxing agent, such as vinegar or fabric-stretching sprays.

Re-wash and dry

Re-washing and drying your T-shirt is an important final step in the unshrinking process. After you have stretched your T-shirt to the desired size, you should re-wash it to avoid any residue from the conditioner or baby shampoo setting in. This will also ensure that your T-shirt doesn't shrink again in the dryer.

When re-washing your T-shirt, be sure to follow the care instructions on the label. Use cold water and tumble-dry settings, and avoid high temperatures in the washing and drying cycles. If possible, air-dry your T-shirt to avoid the heat of a dryer altogether.

Once your T-shirt is dry, try it on to see if it has stretched out enough. If it still hasn't stretched to your desired size, you can repeat the entire process again.

It's important to note that this method of unshrinking clothing may not work on all fabrics. It works best on cotton, wool, and other knit fabrics that are easily stretchable. For synthetic materials, such as polyester, be careful not to tug too hard to avoid over-stretching the garment. This method may also not be suitable for tightly woven or delicate fabrics such as silk.

Additionally, keep in mind that this process may weaken the fabric, so be careful when stretching to avoid tearing the garment.

Use a mild detergent or vinegar solution

To stretch a T-shirt that has shrunk, you can use a mild detergent or a vinegar solution.

First, fill a sink or a bucket with lukewarm water. Then, add a capful of mild detergent or a tablespoon of white vinegar. Stir the solution to combine the ingredients.

Next, fully submerge the T-shirt in the mixture and let it soak for 30 minutes to an hour. After that, gently remove the T-shirt from the solution and let the excess water drip off. Avoid wringing out the T-shirt, as this may damage the fibres.

Now, lay the T-shirt flat on a large, clean towel. Roll up the towel with the T-shirt inside and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. The garment should still be slightly damp after this.

Finally, stretch the T-shirt gently back to its original shape. Place a heavy object on top of the stretched section to hold it in place, and let it air dry completely.

If you're using a mild detergent, you can wear the T-shirt right away without washing it again. However, if you've used vinegar, you may want to wash the T-shirt as you normally would before wearing it to remove the smell.

Frequently asked questions