Expert tips to avoid laundry shrinkage from start to finish.
Your outfit plans have suddenly gone astray and you don’t even know who to blame.
Wheredid laundrysomething youve done a million times beforego so wrong?
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Sadly,clothing shrinkingin the laundry is an all too commoncommon mishap.
Morgan LaLonde is a brand manager forWhirlpool, an American home, kitchen, and laundry appliance company.
Why Do Clothes Shrink?
Shrinking can happen at any point in the laundry process.
Both the washing machine and dryer can warp your clothes, leading to distortion and shrinkage.
If shrinking is a concern, avoid particularly hot and aggressive options.
For even more protection, place extra delicate items in garment bags that may act as a barrier.
A good general rule of thumb is to stick to cold and delicate cycles, says LaLonde.
Cold cycles are the way to go to prevent shrinking.
Most fabrics are much more susceptible to shrinking when exposed to high heats.
The tumble- or air-dry prefs are your best bet for all clothes to make it through the dryer unchanged.
Instead of setting a timer and hoping for the best,dry your clothesin shorter increments.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is possible to unshrink clothes after a laundry mishap.
As always, check the tag of your clothing item before washing.
If it says hand-wash, then youshould be hand-washing.
Some dry-clean-only items can also be hand-washed, but use proper discretion.
