A very irritating thing to experience is seeing your favorite shirt shrink after getting out of the dryer. It’s even more frustrating when you intend to wear the shirt to an occasion. The good news is that all hope isn’t lost. This issue can be resolved with a stretch of the shirt. However, how to stretch out a sweater quickly is a task. First, it is necessary to unwind a shirt without damaging the fabric. If you stretch out a cotton shirt and cause a mess on the material, it changes shape and could be damaged permanently. Before we can discuss how to stretch out a shirt properly and efficiently, it is essential to understand why clothing shrinks.

How to stretch out a shirt 

The shirt shrinks due to its structure fabric changes due to the heat of the dryer. The high temperatures created from the drying process cause threads inside the fabric to expand, which loosens the fabric’s weave. The clothes also shrink when washed with hot water. The effect is more severe when the garment is an elastic material that loosely weaves. The cotton and wool soak up a significant amount of water over a short time. This means that they are less likely to shrink more quickly than other materials.

On the other hand, polyester and nylon are more resistant to heat and can absorb less water. Therefore, drying your clothes by tumble drying will cause them to shrink. As you go forward, it recommends careful not to use the dryer on clothes composed of cotton or wool. Now let’s discuss how to stretch out a shirt.

Use baby shampoo or conditioner shampoo 

Make sure to soak your shirt in water thoroughly. It is possible to absorb it into an empty bowl or in a sink. Make sure you use cool water and that each part of the shirt that requires stretching is washed. Remember that you should never apply warm or hot water as it can affect the garment structure. Next, pour one-fourth cup worth of hair conditioner into the water. If you don’t have the product, it is possible to use baby shampoo. Use a comb to mix it.

Make sure that the conditioner completely dissolves in the water. This will relax the fibers inside your shirt, causing them to stretch. Use your hands to move your shirt to its bottom mix inside the bowl. Let it sit for approximately 20 minutes. Drain the water out of the bowl to the sink, then fill the bowl with cool water.

Make sure to squeeze out the water that has been conditioned from the shirt with a gentle squeeze, and then let it soak inside the bowl for another few minutes. Then, you can remove all the liquid from your shirt, gently squeezing it with a gentle squeeze. Repeat this process at least two times to remove the conditioner completely from the shirt. After you press the water from the shirt, lay it on an uncluttered surface. Lay the shirt flat and allow it to dry.

Make your shirt stretch with your hands

Cleanse your shirt by using the washing machine or hands. Rinse the shirt and squeeze out any extra water, but don’t squeeze the fabric. Instead, press the shirt. So, you don’t hinder the design and shape of your garment. Place the shirt onto an even surface. The shirt must spread evenly, and make sure there aren’t any wrinkles or folds on it. Pull across the entire length on your top. The shirt should be stretched, beginning with each sleeve, gently pulling it by about an inch or so. It is possible to stretch the top of the collar and the top of it. Then take both sides of the shirt. Place the shirt outside in shade so that it can dry.

Check out more to learn how to get toothpaste out of a shirt 

Stretch using heat 

Make sure to wet your shirt by dipping it into the cool water. Be sure all the corners are moist. There is no need to soak it. Instead, squeeze out the excess water and place it across a flat surface for ironing. Make sure that the iron’s temperature is set to low to medium. Gradually move your shirt over while applying a small amount of pressure. In one hand, you hold the shirt and in the second hand, start pushing and pulling out the shirt using the iron. Be sure to cover it in every direction. Leave the garment outdoors to air-dry on a smooth surface.

Utilize a cloth hanger 

This technique is ideal for stretching polyester shirts which can be difficult. Soak the shirt that is shrunken in water that has a condition. Take the shirt off the water, and squeeze to get rid of any excess water. The shirt must tuck in to take out the wrinkles and folds. Place the shirt on a hanger to dry.

Stretch with some weight 

To remove a shirt from shrinkage, put it onto a surface after it is dry and apply free weights to adjust the size. Around those edges, you can put something heavy like rice bags or simply free weights. These items must be heavy to keep the shirt from stretching out. For example, if you’d like to stretch your arms, you could use wide water bottles to put them inside your sleeves. Leave your shirt in this condition for 30 to 60 minutes or an hour.

Weights stretch the fiber, making the changes more lasting. If you’ll use one of the techniques mentioned above (1 through 4) and you want to continue, you could apply this method since it can be used in conjunction with these methods. For instance, stretching with heating may not allow the shirt to its size. In this case, you can use some weights or a belt to extend the shirt more.

Conclusion

Utilize the methods above to stretch out a shirt. They’re extremely efficient. Keep in mind that the fabric is a major factor in the prevention of shrinkage. The shirts made of cotton and wool are the most delicate. Don’t use hot water with these types of clothes. The most efficient method to stretch an item of clothing is to use weights. They will help your shirt expand back to its original size without using excessive force.