How to Shrink Shirts in the Dryer

How to Care for Modal Fabric
Published: Apr 15, 2010
Updated: May 25, 2021
1 minute read
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shirt image by dinostock from Fotolia.com

Did you just buy a shirt and realize after a second glance that it should be a size smaller? If the purchase is nonrefundable there are ways to shrink the shirt in the dryer. Make sure that the shirt is not already pre-shrunk, because it will be hard to reshrink the shirt. Some fabrics are easier to shrink, cotton being the easiest and nylon being one of the hardest.

Determine the probability of shrinkage for your shirt. If the shirt tag says pre-shrunk, it will be difficult to shrink the shirt once again. Also, check what fabric your shirt is made of. If your shirt is 100 percent cotton or has a high percentage of cotton, it should easily shrink. If your shirt is made of a synthetic fabric, such as nylon, it will be a bit harder to shrink. High heat can also ruin a synthetic fabric. Decide if you want to risk it.

Wet your shirt before you place it in the dryer. If you do not want to put your shirt in the washing machine, rinse it under warm water in the sink. Water facilitates the shrinking process.

Put your shirt in the dryer, dry it on a medium-high heat setting, and leave it in for the full cycle.

Remove your shirt from the dryer, and try it on for size.

Repeat this process if you want your shirt to be smaller.

Warnings

Do not use the hottest setting when you are trying to shrink a shirt in the dryer, because it could overshrink the shirt. Use the medium-heat setting, and if your shirt is still too big when you take it out, put it back into the dryer for one more cycle on medium heat.

Photo Credits

shirt image by dinostock from Fotolia.com

Julia Kitlinski-Hong

Julia Kitlinski-Hong graduated from Emmanuel College in Boston, majoring in English. She is a freelance writer and blogger, and is currently writing as a social media editor for iTourNow, a travel media website. If she could be anywhere,…

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