The Laundry Speed Mistake That's Shrinking Your Clothes

Many people have lost their favorite clothing to a ruthless killer: shrinkage. However, despite the grief that shrinking clothes can lead to, there are still a lot of myths circulating about what causes it. Contrary to what you may think, laundry products and detergents aren't the cause of clothing shrinkage. It's more likely due to how you're using your washing machine and dryer. The wrong laundry machine settings can wreak havoc on your clothes and cause them to shrink, making them much harder (or impossible) to wear.

A major mistake that leads to shrunken clothes is running them on a fast-spinning cycle. When you run your clothes in a fast spin setting, you'll be agitating your clothes too much, and this could lead to fabric getting distorted and shrinking. It can cause the fibers to tighten together more closely, particularly if the clothing is made of cotton, linen, or wool.

In addition to fast cycles, shrinking can also be caused in other ways. Other than fast spinning settings, high washing and drying temperatures are the primary cause of shrinkage. Excessive heat can cause the individual fibers in your clothes to shrivel up and lead to an entire garment shrinking down to a smaller size. If you want to avoid this shrinkage, be mindful of both the speed and heat settings you use and avoid causing any unnecessary agitation.

Understanding which speed setting to use when using your washing machine is essential to prevent issues with your laundry. Not only will this help prevent shrinking, but it can also prevent other problems, such as tears and rips as well. Choosing slower-speed spin settings will be the safest option for your clothes and will minimize the damage done. Look for a gentle cycle on your washing machine and use it to cause less agitation. The wash cycle will also be shorter overall, so your fabric won't be stressed for as long of a period while washing.

It may be best to avoid using your dryer entirely if you want to prevent shrinkage and damage. Air-dry your clothes whenever possible, or choose a gentler air-dry setting on your dryer rather than a faster one. The less time your clothes spend in a dryer, the better — since, like washers, they're guilty of using a lot of movement and agitating clothing.

Remember that it's not just tumbling and movement that can lead to shrinkage. You should also understand what washing your laundry in warm water will do to your clothes. High temperatures are a major cause of shrunken clothes, so consider washing them in cold water rather than in warm or hot water. This is especially important with clothing made of certain materials, such as cotton and wool.

Avoid the high heat setting when drying your clothes as well. As mentioned previously, choosing to air-dry your clothes is the safest choice. If you need to dry your clothes quickly and use a machine dryer, consider avoiding the high heat setting. Your clothes will be less likely to shrink if you opt for a setting on your dryer that doesn't use as much heat. For the safest bet, use low heat, tumble, or air dry settings on your dryer.