How to Shrink Clothes in the Wash—On Purpose

Everyone has unintentionally shrunk a shirt or two—and it’s usually near devastating. But what if that’s exactly the goal? If you’re trying to get a more tailored fit, rescue a thrift store find, or experiment with your laundry skills, intentional shrinkage can be a handy trick. But before you toss anything in hot water and hope for the best, it’s good idea to have a game plan in place backed by the science of fabric and fibers. 

We consulted a laundry scientist for expert-backed tips to help you shrink your clothes on purpose (without destroying them in the process).

A Word of Warning

Shrinking clothes on purpose is definitely a “try at your own risk” situation—but with the right technique and some expert guidance, like from laundry scientist Sammy Wang, you can take control of your fit. Just be prepared for some trial and error.

“Because there are so many types of fabrics, fibers, and construction variables in clothing, there’s no way to fully predict how a garment may shrink and change,” explains Wang. “We don’t recommend intentionally shrinking clothes. But we do understand there can be scenarios where you’d want to shrink items for a better fit.”

The Risks Involved

The main risk here is fabric damage, our expert shares. “For natural fibers like cotton, over-drying them in the dryer could cause excess abrasion, pilling, fuzzing, and fading.” Some fabrics just aren’t cut out for this method at all. “We don’t recommend this method for synthetic, stretchy fabrics (like spandex or elastane) because heat and over-drying can cause them to become brittle and potentially lose their elasticity,” Wang explains.

“Additionally, woven polyester (like a machine-washable satin) is unlikely to shrink using this method, so you will need to get something like that tailored.” Wool garments can also easily be ruined through this method. “Exposing wool to high amounts of water will cause excessive shrinkage, making it pretty much unwearable,” says Wang.

When in doubt, simply follow Wang’s golden rule: “To take the best care of your garments, always follow the care instructions.”

What Clothes Are Shrinkable?

Wang explains that natural fibers are the most prone to shrinkage. “Clothes made with natural fibers such as cotton are more likely to shrink because they are more hydrophilic or ‘water-loving,’ meaning they tend to absorb moisture and swell.” As fibers absorb moisture, they expand in width but contract in length, which causes the fabric to shrink. When the garment is then over-dried, that shrinkage can become permanent.

Synthetic materials are usually tougher to shrink. Wang explains that clothes made with synthetic fibers, such as polyester and nylon, are less likely to shrink because they do not tend to absorb moisture and swell, thereby maintaining their length.

The way a fabric is constructed matters, too. “Knit fabrics such as t-shirts and sweaters will shrink more, but they also have more elasticity so they can regain their shape more easily than a woven fabric such as dress pants,” Wang says. “A garment that has a lot of open space (like a knit) will be more likely to shrink than something like a woven, which doesn’t have a lot of open space between fibers.”

How to Shrink Clothes on Purpose

Here’s exactly how to shrink clothes in the wash if you’re ready to take the risk (and have determined your fabric is suitable). Follow the steps below carefully and heed Wang’s advice for best results.

1. Launder the Garment: Wash the garment following the care label instructions, avoiding the delicate cycle. While many people think hot water is essential, Wang clarifies, “The water temperature is not a huge factor in shrinkage. It’s typically caused by the water itself and the agitation experienced in the washer, so any wash temperature should work.”
2. Over-Dry: After removing clothes from the washer, Wang says to ‘over-dry’ clothes in a dryer using a standard heat setting. “Contrary to what you may think, higher temperatures do not necessarily shrink clothes more,” Wang explains. “It’s actually the level of dryness that you achieve which will lock in shrinkage.”
3. Ensure Target Moisture Level: How dry is dry enough? According to Wang, the target moisture level for over-drying is less than 20 percent moisture. A typical sensor dry cycle will not achieve this, so to purposefully achieve this level of over-dry Wang suggests using a timed cycle set for much longer than a typical dry cycle. Another option is to run clothes through multiple dry cycles consecutively. 
4. Repeat as Needed: You can repeat the wash/dry cycle until the garment reaches the size you want, but proceed cautiously.

What If You Shrink Something A Little Too Well?

If your clothes came out of the dryer a little snugger than you hoped, Wang offers some hope, at least for natural knit fabrics. Here’s how to reverse accidental shrinkage.

1. Mix Your Solution: Fill a bucket with room temperature water and add half a cap of Downy fabric softener, mixing thoroughly. “The fabric softener will lubricate and condition fibers, allowing them to shift more easily,” Wang explains. 
2. Soak and Rinse: Saturate and soak the garment in the solution for 15 minutes, then gently rinse with cold water and wring out any excess moisture.
3. Stretch the Garment: Gently and carefully stretch the wet garment out on a flat surface or drying rack to the desired size and shape. (You can use household items like clean jars to weigh the edges down.)
4. Allow to Dry: Air-dry the garment thoroughly.
5. Adhere to the Care Label: For future washes, wash and dry according to the care label, being careful to avoid over-drying.