My T-shirts keep shrinking when I put them through the dryer. What gives?!?

Question

I've only noticed it after buying some new shirts. I wear them after a wash and they come out uncomfortable to wear. How do I stop this annoying inconvenience?

Answer 1

Wash them in cold water, grab them by the shoulders after you take them wet from the washer and shake them out to smooth the wrinkles somewhat, them put them on a hanger to dry. I recommend the plastic, thicker hangers so there wont be a crease or pucker in the shoulder area when they dry. If you only have wire hangers, the creased bit could be stretched and gathered up in the hands and rubbed together until it looks normal again after the shirt is dry.

You can hang them on your shower bar or on doorknobs, on the doorframe with the shirts dangling in the doorway, wherever you want.

Answer 2

It depends on the temperature you wash it in AND dry it in. Drying is most important. I would suggest low heat and has soon as it's done, take it out. Leaving clothes sitting in the drier isn't good.

Answer 3

I've noticed some of my clothes doing the same thing. I bought a garmet rack, its not very big, I put it my my bedroom.

I just toss my shirts in the dryer on low for minute or two to

get rid of wrinkles, then I put them on hangers and hang them

on the garmet rack to finish drying. They don't shrink and they

dry by the next day.

Answer 4

I agree with the others in wash/dry temperature.  I wash everything in cold water to save money on electricity (water heaters use a LOT).  It seems to make no difference in how clean my clothes get anyway.  

Next, use a cup of white vinegar in the rinse cycle to disinfect and soften your wash (safe for colors and cheaper than fabric softener) and remove the soap residue that sometimes sticks around.

Next, either hang your shirts to dry on thick hangers (a good place to hang them is the shower bar) or lay them over your shower bar if you only have a few.  A fan works well to circulate air around them and speed up the drying process.  The other option is to put them in the dryer on low heat.  Either way, when buying new shirts, look for "preshrunk" cotton, which will help with the problem in the future.

The ones you have, maybe you can stretch them some while they're wet and let air dry.  If they are a little crunchy when they are dry, pop them in the dryer (low heat) for 10  minutes to soften them up again.

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 5

I think you should stop putting them into the drier, as the temperature may be to hot that is why they shrink, so i would say dry them elsewhere either on a washing line or over a clothes airier, and see if that make a difference, it should do.

Answer 6

Funny you bring it up. i just had this conversation with my husband. he has a ton of shirts that he does not wear and they are brand new. he said because once i wash them the collar gets tight or it gets too short, something just doesn't feel right. OK so tonight i washed a shirt he just bought. 1. he bought it a little big. 2. i offered to air dry ( he said no, it needs to shrink some ) 3. i put it on a low heat in the dryer. so far so good. I would also recommend maybe drying it for a short time then letting it air dry.

Answer 7

Pay a little more money and buy better quality.