To prevent shrinking, wash by hand in cold water with a little laundry detergent. If that's not possible, wash in cool water on a delicate setting and set the dryer to a low heat setting or hang them to air dry. Dry cleaning is a great way to prevent shrinking as well.

What causes clothes to shrink in the wash?

There are several reasons why your clothes might shrink in the wash. These include fiber content, excess moisture, and heat and agitation. ... Wool fibers are covered in scales, and when these scales come into contact with heat and moisture, they mesh together, causing fabrics to shrink.

Can clothes shrinkage be reversed?

Cotton shrinkage is not a reason to throw out your favorite t-shirt or sweater, because you can easily fix the problem at home. Reversing the shrinkage by gently blocking and stretching the fabric will make your cotton clothes look like new again. ... Remove from towel and stretch the clothing to its original size.