There's nothing worse than discovering that the pants that go with your brand new dress suit have shrunken to munchkin-size after throwing them in with the rest of your laundry. If they went through the dryer and a hot wash cycle, your dress pants are done for. Some choose to only dry-clean their pants to avoid this situation, but if you want to save money, you just need to remember a few crucial tips when washing at home to prevent your pants from shrinking in the future.
Turn the dress pants inside out.
Fill a washing machine with cold water and a capful of mild detergent for delicate fabrics. Turn the machine setting to delicate if possible. Dress pants best suitable for a washing machine include 100 percent cotton and corduroy.
Remove from the washer when the cycle is finished. Cotton and linen dress pants should always be hung to dry, while wool and cashmere pants should be laid flat to dry. You can use either drying method for silk, polyester, rayon and acetate fabrics.
Tip
You can also hand-wash the dress pants in cool water in a bucket with the capful of detergent if you are concerned with the rough agitation of the washing machine.
Dress pants made of 100 percent linen, silk, cashmere or merino wool should be dry-cleaned only. They are too delicate to risk washing at home.
Invest in a home steamer machine for the safest way to remove wrinkles from your dress pants.
Warning
Never put dress pants in the dryer. There is far too much chance that they will shrink, especially those made out of cotton.
