Jeans shrunk after washing, what to do? There is a way out!

Perhaps today it is impossible to meet any person in whose closet would not have been jeans. These pants are practical, comfortable, go with any clothing and have not gone out of fashion for half a century. But many people are concerned about the question: do jeans shrink after washing and what to do with this trouble.

We can find the answer to the first question by looking at the product label:

The “Shrink to fit” label indicates that these jeans shrink a lot once, after the very first wash, and don’t change their shape again. If this is the kind of jean you’re looking for in a store it’s best to get it a size bigger beforehand.
If you’ve got stretch jeans there won’t be any bad shrinkage. The elastane rubber threads are woven into the fabric to keep your jeans from losing their shape.
Classic jeans are usually made from denim, which, like most cotton fabrics, tends to warp after washing. In addition, the material is quite rough and stiff, to work with him hard. Therefore, with such products you have to be as careful as possible.
Also peculiarities of further use depend on whether the jeans are boiled or not. “Boiled” jeans are extremely unpretentious and practically do not change their shape after washing.

But solving the second question requires some effort on your part.

How to wash jeans to make them stretch

So you got your jeans out of the washing machine a size or two too small. The situation is unpleasant, but quite correctable. First of all, let’s try to increase the size of jeans by washing them correctly.

It is preferable to wash your jeans by hand. First, soak them in warm water for 15-20 minutes, and then gently rub the dirt and rinse thoroughly.
It’s best to use regular laundry soap instead of laundry detergent.
If you decide to wash jeans in the machine, watch the temperature mode: the water should not be hotter than 30 ° C.
Do not take too long to wash your jeans: you should be fine for half an hour.
Dry the items in the fresh air or at room temperature. Hot air can cause additional deformation.

Stretch out a shrunken pair of jeans after washing

If the above method did not help, you have to go to more radical methods. Denim fabric is quite elastic and resistant to mechanical damage, so with some effort you can stretch the product to the desired size.

If your jeans are made of natural materials with very little added synthetics, you can stretch them right on your body. To do this, put the jeans on, wet all the problem areas (waistband, lower part of the pants) and actively move around. Keep in mind that your movements should have a large amplitude and, at the same time, be quite smooth, otherwise you can tear the product. For the greatest effect do not take off the jeans until they are completely dry.
You can also iron the item thoroughly and then put it on. A hot iron will soften the stiff fabric and make it easier to stretch.
Wet jeans can also not be put on, but just stretch with smooth movements, taking both hands at the waistband (if the product sat in the waist) or the area at the knees and ankles (if the pant legs turned out to be short). Do not forget to pull on the seams, or the fabric can go in waves. Many hostesses pre-soak the seams with special agents for stretching shoes.
In the fight against shrinkage you can also help the steam generator: the hot steam will soften the fabric and make it more elastic.
If the jeans you purchased are very tight and high quality, you can try using a special belt extender. Freshly washed, wet jeans are buttoned up, and then the device is placed in them. It should be adjusted to the desired width and only then dry the product. Keep in mind that low-quality jeans such an expander can simply tear.

What to do if your jeans have stretched after washing

Very often hostesses have to deal with the opposite situation: favorite jeans after many washes become stretched and shapeless. This situation can be corrected in the following ways:

In most cases, all jeans made of natural materials shrink a little after washing. For maximum effect wash them in hot water. This method is not suitable for synthetics: the threads will be damaged and the whole garment will be deformed.
The washed jeans should be thoroughly wrung out and, without spreading, hang them near a heat source. Or dry them in the machine, setting the most intensive mode of drying.
Often there are situations where you only need to shrink a certain section of the product. To do this, mix clean water and laundry conditioner in a 3:1 ratio. Pour the mixture into a sprayer and soak the problem areas. Then dry the jeans in the machine at maximum temperature and speed.
If none of the above methods worked, you can sew the jeans. To do this, determine exactly where the extra fabric is forming, you will most likely have to do extra stitching around the waist, along the crotch seam or around the hips.
Stretchy stretch jeans will have to be thrown away: damaged elastane can no longer be repaired.

Preventive measures: general recommendations for washing jeans

Preserving the shape of your jeans and prolonging their lifespan is possible by following certain rules of washing and care.

To make it easier to iron classic jeans made of dense fabric, do not dry them completely after washing, and then iron them well.
Don’t put the items in the dryer or throw them over the clothesline so that no creases are left on the fabric.
Be sure to use the delicate mode when machine washing.
Do not wring your jeans in the machine or by hand, just gently squeeze the moisture out of the fabric and then spread out the item, shaping it, on a well absorbent material.
Do not use harsh bleaches or detergents.
Before putting items in the washing machine, button them all up and turn them inside out. This will help preserve the shape and color of the garment.
Do not wash items of different colors together: even high-quality denim can give off excess dye up to the third or fourth wash.
Jeans should not be dry-cleaned.
Never rub heavy soiling, or these areas will become too light. It is better to simply soak the item in warm soapy water for 20-30 minutes.
The recommended temperature for washing jeans is 30-50°C.
Vinegar is added to the water for washing black jeans to fix the color.
To prevent leather patches from cracking and warping on the waistband, they are treated with glycerin before washing.
Items decorated with rhinestones or beads are better washed in a laundry bag.