Both synthetic and natural fibers are used to make clothing, with polyester, nylon, and acrylic being some of the most popular synthetic fibers. Cotton clothing is the greatest since it is cozy and long-lasting, but does 100% cotton shrink? Let's move ahead and read more about cotton fabrics and their shrinking.
Do Cotton Clothes Shrink After Dryer Washing?
It is scientifically proven that cotton clothing will shrink when dried. Due to the constant spinning that occurs in dryers, heat is generated which is what causes the shrinkage of cotton fabrics. Try to avoid using the dryer and instead utilize alternate methods that don't include heat to dry your cotton clothing.
Try shopping for cotton clothing or fabrics with a Sanforized label if you still want to use a dryer. Sanforized fabric is created using man-made materials like nylon and polyester that do not contract when dried in a dryer or cleaned in hot or warm water, as indicated by the label. This is moreover one of the explanations for why the less pure cotton fabric is produced by textile factories. The synthetic that interacts with the cotton produces a stronger connection and lessens shrinkage.
Preventing cotton from shrinking
Wash using Cold Water: A wonderful approach to stop shrinkage is to launder cotton clothes in cold water rather than hot water. While hot water might cause the cloth to shrink, cold water aids in maintaining the fabric's size and shape.
Use Soft Detergents: To prevent harming the fibers, use a gentle detergent made especially for delicate materials. Avoid using abrasive cleansers that can promote shrinkage by removing the fabric's natural oils.
Do not overload the Washer: An overloaded washer may handle the cloth roughly, causing the fabric to shrink. Avoid this to make sure that you only launder cotton clothes in small loads.
Prevent Warm Tumbles in the Dryer: Cotton t-shirts can compress if hot tumbles are used in the dryer. Eliminate this by air drying the t-shirts by leaving them up or letting them dry on a lower thermal setting.
Avoid Over-Drying: Cotton t-shirts might shrink if they are over-dried in the dryer. It is better to take them out of the dryer when they are just a little damp and then let them finish drying in the air.
Can You Unshrink a Cotton T-shirt?
You don't have to throw away or give your favorite Pima cotton t-shirts to a sibling if you accidentally shrunk them. Instead, you can make it bigger!
What you'll need is as follows:
calming conditioner
A plastic container or a clogged sink
one gallon of water
Two substantial absorbent towels
Paperweights
aerosol can
Make sure you have everything ready, including the item of clothing you wish to shrink before you start.
Treatment for stains on cotton clothing
To treat stains that could weaken fibers and create holes in cotton fabric, do not use undiluted chlorine bleach. For the purpose of whitening and stain removal, you can use a diluted mixture of cotton fibers without risk. Always carefully adhere to the instructions on the bleach package. Nevertheless, if it is employed too frequently to whiten clothing, even diluted treatments will damage cotton fibers, leading them to tear and quickly wear out.
Final Words
Though cotton is likely to shrink with every wash, you can avoid the scenario by opting for the right washing techniques. If you want high-quality Pima cotton t-shirts that are less prone to shrinking, you can buy from a retailer like Perk, which sells superior quality products that stays true to their shape even after several washes. Keep your cotton clothing away from harsh washing practices and there would be no question as “does 100% cotton shrink”.