How to wash clothes without shrinking them

Why sweaters, jeans and tees shrink, which fabrics are risky, and the exact washer and dryer settings that keep clothes their size.

Clothes shrink for two reasons: heat relaxes fibres that were stretched during manufacturing, and agitation (tumbling, wringing, a fast spin) lets them tighten up. Wool also felts: its scales lock together for good. So the rule is simple: less heat, less movement.

The no-shrink settings

	Washer	Dryer
Wool & cashmere	Wool or Hand wash cycle, cold (max 30°C / 86°F), low spin, wool detergent	Never. Roll in a towel, lay flat
Cotton tees & hoodies	Normal, cold, medium spin	Low, or pull out damp and hang
Jeans	Normal, cold, inside out	Low or hang dry
Rayon / viscose	Delicates, cold, low spin (or hand wash)	No. Hang to dry
Linen	Delicates or Normal, cool	Low, take out damp and iron
Polyester & blends	Normal or Permanent press, cold or warm	Low to medium

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Five habits that stop shrinking

Wash cold by default. Modern detergents clean well at 20–30°C (68–86°F). Hot water is for towels and bedding.
Pick the gentle cycle for knits. Delicates or Wool means slower drum movement and a softer spin.
Turn the dryer down or off. Low heat plus the moisture sensor, and take clothes out while slightly damp.
Lay sweaters flat. Hanging a wet sweater stretches it; tumbling it shrinks it. Flat on a towel, reshaped by hand, is right.
Do not trust “pre-shrunk” completely. It means less shrinkage, not none, especially in a hot dryer.

Already shrunk?

Cotton and wool can often be relaxed back out a little: soak for 30 minutes in lukewarm water with a tablespoon of hair conditioner or baby shampoo per litre, press the water out (do not rinse), then gently stretch it back to shape and dry flat. Felted wool usually cannot be saved. For a step-by-step plan for your exact item, try “Can I save it?”

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