If you’ve ever had a garment that shrunk, either from washing it in hot water or not following care instructions, you know how frustrating it can be.
In addition, clothing is one of the types of waste that is found in the largest quantities in the ocean, after others such as plastic, and it increases every year, in part because the culture of consumption causes it to be discarded when it is still in perfect condition.
To re-stretch a shrunken garment and continue wearing it as if nothing had happened, you can use the following tricks:
1. Hair conditioner
If the shrunken garment is wool, the cream rinse you use to detangle your hair can surprisingly help.
The garment must be submerged in a mixture of warm water and hair conditioner. It should then be stretched by hand until it reaches its original size, and finally hung on a hanger to dry. You can also try it with garments made of other materials.
If the garment you have to stretch is a sweater, and it is somewhat more resistant, you can add a splash of white vinegar to the mixture. Do not submerge the garment for more than 15 minutes. It is convenient to try it without vinegar first, so that the garment is not damaged if it is sensitive.
2. Baking soda and vinegar
Baking soda and vinegar have a reputation for being useful for everything… With them you can clean shoes, clean the house and even inflate a balloon. And they also serve to stretch clothes!
You will have to dissolve a pinch of baking soda with 2 tablespoons of hot water and add this mixture to a container containing warm water, in which you can submerge the garment.
In soaking you will have to stretch it so that it returns to its original shape. After this, rinse it in a container with a mixture of water with vinegar and extend it again.
3. Put on the wet shirt
For cotton t-shirts, you can try getting the t-shirt wet, then laying it on some towels to remove any excess moisture, and wear it while it’s still wet. Before you will have to stretch it a little with your arms, being careful not to deform it.
After stretching it out, let it dry on the towel again. It’s not the perfect solution (nor recommended on cold days!), but the shape will stay until you wash it again.