How To Unshrink A Sweater

Relax! It is possible to unshrink clothes that someone (not you, of course), popped into the dryer and that are now small enough for little Bruiser to wear.

Here's how to unshrink a sweater. With this step by step guide, you really can unshrink a sweater yourself - and save it from the dreaded rag pile.

Start by soaking the shrunken sweater in lukewarm water and a few squirts of baby shampoo (or another gentle shampoo) for about 15-minutes. And let the resizing process begin.

How to Unshrink a Sweater With Baby Shampoo

Soak the shrunken sweater in warm water and two tablespoons of baby shampoo (which relaxes natural fibers such as wool) for 15 minutes. Gently work the shampoo into the fibers by hand to begin the softening-up process.

Remove the Sweater and Rinse

Remove the sweater from the soapy water, and rinse in cold water to remove the baby shampoo from the sweater fibers.

After rinsing, gently press or squeeze the sweater, moving from the sleeves to the collar area and working your way down, pressing out any remaining moisture as you go.

Don't wring: this can damage - and even break - the very fibers we're trying to gently coax back into shape.

Roll in a Towel to Remove Excess Moisture

To remove any lingering moisture from your sweater, roll it in a towel. It's essential that the fibers contain as little moisture as possible when you begin the resizing process.

Pin Sweater to a Corkboard to Resize

Pin the sweater to a large corkboard, stretching the neck, arms, and sides to size. Return to re-stretch, and re-pin the clothing or sweater every few hours. 

It will take several stretching and re-pinning sessions to return the garment to its original size. But If you adore that sweater, you'll be glad you took the time to pin, pin, and pin again.

Next time, make sure you know how to machine wash sweaters so that you won't need to go through the unshrinking process again. But the good news is: You can if you need to! 




You Might Like These:

  • How to clean leather shoes? Leather is one of the best shoe materials available, known for its durability and flexibility, as long as it is properly maintained.

    How to Clean Leather Shoes

    How to clean leather shoes? Leather is one of the best shoe materials available, known for its durability and flexibility, as long as it is properly maintained.

  • White clothes are more prone to becoming discolored and yellowed than their lighter and darker cousins. Here's how to wash white clothes from start to bright, clean finish.

    How to Wash White Clothes

    White clothes are more prone to becoming discolored and yellowed than their lighter and darker cousins. Here's how to wash white clothes from start to bright, clean finish.

  • Luxury clothes care tips. What good is a cashmere sweater after a waiter spills a glass of red wine on it? It's as good as new if you know the tricks of luxury clothes care.

    Luxury Clothes Care Tips

    Luxury clothes care tips. What good is a cashmere sweater after a waiter spills a glass of red wine on it? It's as good as new if you know the tricks of luxury clothes care.

  • This refresher course on how to wash clothes will have you sorting a load, selecting detergent, and setting the machine like a pro in no time.

    How to Wash Clothes: Laundry 101

    This refresher course on how to wash clothes will have you sorting a load, selecting detergent, and setting the machine like a pro in no time.

  • Summer laundry stains removal tips. Summer is when Murphy's Law invariably comes into play: If something can spill, drip, ooze or run, it will do so. These 8 tips for summer laundry stains can help.

    Summer Laundry Stains Removal Tips

    Summer laundry stains removal tips. Summer is when Murphy's Law invariably comes into play: If something can spill, drip, ooze or run, it will do so. These 8 tips for summer laundry stains can help.

  • Smudges, drips, drops, and smears - no matter what their source, these laundry laundry stain removal tips can keep them from ruining your favorite clothes.

    17 Laundry Stain Removal Tips

    Smudges, drips, drops, and smears - no matter what their source, these laundry laundry stain removal tips can keep them from ruining your favorite clothes.

  • Got kids? These laundry stains cleaning tips can help, while protecting your clothing investment.

    Laundry Stains Cleaning Tips

    Got kids? These laundry stains cleaning tips can help, while protecting your clothing investment.

  • Laundry Temperature hot warm or cold? This laundry refresher course will have you setting the wash water temperature like a pro.

    Laundry Temperature Hot Warm or Cold

    Laundry Temperature hot warm or cold? This laundry refresher course will have you setting the wash water temperature like a pro.

Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.