How to Shrink a Sweatshirt

How to Shrink a Sweatshirt
Written By
Amy Davidson
Amy Davidson
Published: Sep 27, 2013
Updated: Jan 10, 2019
1 minute read
Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Getty Images

A beloved sweatshirt is a treasure for comfortable wear, but a fitted one is great for style. A baggy sweatshirt, although comfy, can leave you looking shapeless. With a little help from your washer and dryer, you can shrink baggy sweatshirts to fit your body better and maintain that cozy feel.

Step 1

Place your sweatshirt in the washer by itself. Do not try this using other clothes, as you don’t want other garments to shrink or bleed from the amount of heat this method uses. Use detergent that is color safe to protect the sweatshirt from fading. Wash the sweatshirt on high heat using the regular cycle.

Step 2

Place your sweatshirt in the dryer and set it on the highest heat setting. Make sure the lint trap is clean to prevent dryer fires. Check the sweatshirt after 30 minutes. If it is still damp, continue drying in 30-minute segments until it is completely dry.

Step 3

Try on the sweatshirt. If it is still too baggy, repeat the process until it fits to your liking. Should you shrink the sweatshirt too much, wash the sweatshirt again. Dry it stretched, laying it flat and placing heavy objects on the sleeves, collar and bottom to keep it stretched while it air-dries.

References

Tips

If after three attempts the sweater is still not shrunk to your liking, consider a trip to your local alterations shop. Too many hot washes can leave the fabric faded and damaged. A professional seamstress can alter the sweatshirt to your liking.

Photo Credits

Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Getty Images

Amy Davidson

Amy Davidson is a graduate from the University of Florida in Gainesville, with a bachelor's degree in journalism. She also writes for local papers around Gainesville doing articles on local events and news.

Sponsored
Our Everyday Life Logo

Explore our everyday life, the best source for food and drink tips, health and general wellness, healthy relationships and much more.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.