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Have you ever encountered a situation where you took out your favorite shirt from the dryer and noticed shrinkage in its size? Unfortunately, you are not the only individual who is facing this situation.

If you don’t want to experience a similar problem in the future, reputed dry cleaning professionals have recommended some tips that would prevent the shrinking of clothes.

Common Causes of Shrinking

Agitation and high-temperature Washing and drying often lead to shrinkage. When washed vigorously, fabrics like cotton, Linen, and wool lead to fiber tightening and ultimately shrink your clothes. Hot water washing cycles and setting the dryers on high heat lead to fiber deterioration accompanied by shrinkage.

Effective Ways to Prevent Shrinkage of Clothes

Implement the techniques mentioned below to prevent the shrinkage of clothes:

• Check Fabric Care Label before Purchase & Before Washing Make sure that the laundry instructions mentioned on the fabric are carefully read. Check the care tag not only before washing the clothes but also before buying new clothes so that you know what to expect. Look at the fabric type mentioned on the care tag to get an idea of whether the clothes are prone to shrinkage or the garments are “pre-shrunk.” Specific garments come with instructions like “dry-cleaning” only, so a washer must be prohibited at all costs. Pay attention to the water temperature, laundry cycle, and drying instructions. According to Laundromat experts, follow the general rule of washing the clothes in cold and gentle cycles and dry them on low heat to prevent shrinkage.
• Use Cold Water and Follow Proper Wash Cycles One of the most pragmatic ways to prevent shrinkage is to keep it cool. Clothes are prone to shrinkage only when washed in hot water or high-dryer settings. Soaking them in cold water will keep the size of the clothes intact in the long run. Avoid heavy-duty cycles, speedier spins along with high-heat drying to prevent shrinkage. Instead, wash clothes gently and keep delicate clothes in a mesh laundry bag to protect them in the long run. Also, Ensure that the clothes are dried at low heat or air dry. If you feel stuck anywhere, follow the instructions mentioned on the care tag.
• Set Tumble Dry or Air Dry Settings Drying clothes in a tumble-dry or an air-dry mode will prevent shrinkage by reducing fabric fiber wear. You can get an idea of the optimal temperature and dry cleaning adjustments listed on the care tag.

General Tips

• Avoid Using Excess Detergent Please ensure that an appropriate amount of detergent, solid or liquid, is added before putting it in the washer. The amount of detergent to be used varies per type and the number of clothes you plan to wash. For example, you need to add more detergent while washing heavier loads.
• Sort Your Clothes as Per Colors Certain dyes are highly resistant, while others are not. Clothes made of delicate fabrics must be cleaned via hands using cold water to prevent fading or hand cleaning. To stop dye bleeding, segregate light-colored clothes from dark-colored clothes. The Bottom Line Incorporate the tips mentioned above while performing laundry to prevent shrinkage. Also, give your clothes the care they deserve by giving them to reputed dry cleaning experts at CNP Laundry, who will take extra steps to help them stay intact in the long run.