Clothes shrinking in the tumble drier?

Question

My 19 month old son's clothes keep shrinking in the tumble drier! I've shrunk his little vests, T -shirts, babygros. . . I'm getting too scared to tumble dry his clothes in case I shrink them!

My drier only has two heat settings - low and high. I try to use the low one but it doesn't seem to dry very effectively.

Is there any way I can avoid this?

And when they shrink is there any way to restore them? A friend said that soaking them in warm water with hair conditioner helps - anyone tried this?

Answer 1

It's not always practical, but sometimes I hang washed clothes on a garment rack or the shower curtain rack and let a fan blow on them.

Answer 2

it doesn't help, just makes them feel funny. Anyway, when you soak them you need to dry them again somehow.

Just use the low heat or as it's summer dry them on a wire rack.

Answer 3

Most cotton shrinks in the tumble dryer, especially the first time.  Try to dry his clothes on a clothes horse in a warm room or on the line if its the right weather for it.

Answer 4

Check the lables, if they are shrinking but the lable states that they are tumble dryer safe then take them back to the shop even if you have no receipt.  Tell them that it is faulty as you are following manufacturers guidance and still they shrink.  You should be offered an exchange at least.  If you are not checking the labels, then make sure you do in future.

Answer 5

Too hot in tumble drier so bin them or give to somebody smaller.

Answer 6

There is no way to un-shrink anything.  You are either washing or drying things too hot.  Many clothes are 100% cotton.  They shrink really bad, wrinkle too.  Wash your clothes in cool water & air dry, no heat.  That should help for the future.

I keep telling my grandson that if he doesn't stop growing, I'm gonna wash him in hot water to shrink him.  Maybe that is a part of your problem too.

Answer 7

your friend is right sometimes it does work but not always. i must be honest and say that ive never shrunk t-shirts vests and babygros could you be washing them all on a boil wash that would shrink them

Answer 8

There is no way to avoid this apart from not tumble drying these items.

Answer 9

most clothes are not suitable for tumble driers even if it says so on the labelif its a wet day invest in a clothes horse and put clothes on there to dry it takes about 24 hours.the only things i put in the drier are towels flannels bedding etc.

Answer 10

check the washing label, if you cant tumble dry then you can only dry these items on the line or a clothes horse.

Answer 11

Cotton shrinks in the tumble drier, as far as I know you cannot make clothes bigger again. dry them on a drier in front of a radiator or outside.

Answer 12

I always washed my sons clothes separate from ours and just layed them flat to dry unless it says its ok to dry and when you there should be a setting for a low heat when you dry them.

Answer 13

Just stop tumble drying them would be the best option.

Tumble dryers like to shrink things, mybe try one of those clothes horse things.

My mum like to uses those.