We all know how heartbreaking it can be to accidentally shrink a favorite shirt, or a brand new pair of pants. Clothes are expensive, and to damage them is to throw money away. The chief culprits behind ruined clothes are often washing machines, and your laundry processing methods. By following the below laundry tips, you can save yourself further heartaches and a bundle of money by preserving clothes and washing them right.
Always Read Labels
It may seem obvious, but failure to follow guidelines regarding the treatment of garments, including safe water temperatures, correct laundry cycles, and dryer cycle time is the number one cause of clothing shrinkage. Check to make sure you’ve followed all the right steps and separate your batches by similar temperatures, or whether or not they air dry or not. It might mean a few more loads, but you can save money on how many clothes you buy with this method.
Cold Water vs Hot Water
Cold water is considered less damaging to fabric than hot water. Heat has a way of generating tension within tiny fibers and should be avoided. This is the reason so many people keep their 100 percent cotton items out of the clothes dryer. Hard water can also contribute to damaged and shrinking clothing. The minerals in hard water can have the same effect on clothing fibers as high heat, so get a professional to help you check for water filtration.
Wash Your Clothes Inside Out
This simple trick works. Just turn all of your tops, dresses, and other at-risk items inside out before placing them in the washer. This works because it neutralizes much of the damage done to your wearable’s outer appearance during the aggressive spin cycles. This is the washer cycle that inflicts the most wear and tear on your clothes.
Dryer Settings
Some clothing items are not meant to be placed in the dryer, so it might be best to launder all of your hang-to-dry pieces together. In this way, you are less likely to make a regrettable mistake. When you absolutely must use the dryer, try the “cool” or “air fluff” setting to prevent undesired shrinking.
Shop for Preshrunk and Long-Cut Shirts
Preshrunk and longer-cut undershirts are a great way to avoid shrinkage altogether. Buying preshrunk, extra-long shirts, or fitted undershirts for men such as those sold by underfit.com, will save you both money and frustration. Cotton shirts and men’s undershirts with these extra-long tails will not only last longer, but will remain tucked in all day long.
Mesh Laundry Bags
Delicate items can be laundered along with your regular clothes and still remain safe if you put them in a mesh laundry bag first. Claps your bras and put them in here, as well as Velcro gloves, or other delicate items that may be harmed, or harm others during the cycle. This will help protect your delicate and at-risk items from damage and shrinkage.
Even when following all of the suggestions printed on clothing labels, shrinkage and distortion can still occur. The genuine truth of the matter is, how your clothes hold up over time will always depend on your own vigilance and laundry methods. Use these ideas to save you some time and headaches.
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