New parents purchase many clothes for their unborn babies. In excitement, they don’t focus on the type of fabric. The problem arises when the clothes shrink after the first wash. Of course, it’s annoying to watch these cute baby outfits shrinking. So, how to dry baby clothes without shrinking? For washing baby clothes, use cold water and low heat settings for drying. Also, read and follow the wash instructions on the label before you wash baby clothes.If you want to keep your baby’s clothes in tip-top shape, this post is for you. Read it till the end and discover why clothes shrink in a washer and dryer.
What Is the Best Way to Dry Baby Clothes?
Sun-drying is the best way to dry baby clothes because it refreshes and disinfects the clothes. Baby clothes are made of blended fabrics, and each material reacts differently in a washer. The loosely woven fabric of baby clothes is more likely to shrink if tossed in a dryer. Therefore, it is recommended to air-dry such garments and keep them on a flat surface for drying.
Why Baby Clothes Shrink?
Baby clothes are more likely to shrink if you wash them in really hot water. Often baby clothes are made of woven fabric. During the wash, the mothers usually throw all clothes at once. Some mothers think that hot water will disinfect their baby’s clothes. It’s a wrong washing practice. When loosely woven baby clothes get stretched during the wash cycle, the cloth shrinks. In short, hot water is the major reason for shrinking baby clothes.
Is It OK to Put Baby Clothes in Dryer?
Yes, it is OK to put baby clothes in a dryer but make sure to dry on low-temperature settings. Also, check the care labels before putting baby clothes in a dryer. If it is mentioned on the label that you can’t dry these clothes, you should avoid drying them. Otherwise, shrinking may happen. Instead, go for line drying, but it wastes a lot of time.
What Settings to Dry Clothes Without Shrinking?
Set your washer at the cold wash and use a delicate cycle if you want to dry clothes without shrinking. Use low heat or air-dry settings to dry the clothes. Avoid addingclothes that are not recommended to dry in a dryer. Wool clothes are more likely to shrink if washed in hot water. Therefore, identify the fabric before tossing it in the washer. Plus, if your washer has tumble settings, you can use motion settings for drying baby clothes.
Can You Unshrink Baby Clothes?
Yes, you can unshrink the baby clothes. Follow these steps to discover how.
- Add lukewarm water to a bucket of water.
- Add baby shampoo to the bucket.
- Toss in clothes needed to unshrink and gently knead them with hands.
- Stretch the clothes with hands, wash, and rinse.
- Air-dry the clothes.
Tips To Prevent Baby Clothes from Shrinking
Here are the tips for preventing baby clothes from shrinking. Read on to discover more.
Identify the fabric: Before washing, you should be familiar with the type of fabric of your baby clothes. Never wash woolen fabric in hot water because it will shrink.
Read the care label: Almost all the ready-to-wear clothes have a care tag stitched inside the clothes. It mentions the important instructions about washing and drying clothes. Read them carefully before washing and drying clothes. Some kids’ clothes can be tumble-dried on low settings without damaging the fabric.
Remove damp clothes: Remove the babyclothes from the dryer when they’re still wet. Place them in a ventilated area for further drying.
Fold the dried clothes: Don’t leave the dried laundry on the line. It also causes the shrinking of clothes. Instead, remove them from the line and fold them as soon as possible.
Use Sweater Drying Rack: For knitted and woven clothes, use a drying sweater rack that dries clothes using room temperature and adds moisture to the room.
Conclusion
If you want to prevent the shrinking of baby clothes, avoid twisting and wringing them too hard. Use low heat settings in dryer and wash clothes with cold water. Instead of hanging, air-dry the woven fabric by placing it flat on a surface. By following these tips, you can easily dry baby clothes without shrinking.
FAQs
If you want to prevent the shrinking of baby clothes, avoid twisting and wringing them too hard. Use low heat settings in dryer and wash clothes with cold water. Instead of hanging, air-dry the woven fabric by placing it flat on a surface. By following these tips, you can easily dry baby clothes without shrinking.
How to prevent baby clothes from shrinking in the dryer? ›
Checking the fabric labels on your clothing, washing your clothes in cold water, drying on low heat settings and air drying are all ways to help prevent fabric from shrinking.
How to wash baby clothes so they don't shrink? ›
Wash in cold water and dry with low or no heat and shrinking won't be an issue.
What temperature do you dry clothes without shrinking them? ›
Use the Lowest Heat Setting
Not all dryers have a tumble or air dry option, but that doesn't mean you don't have options. Simply turn your dryer's temperature knob to “low heat.” If you can't find that setting, select “delicate” or “gentle” instead.
What can I put in my dryer to not shrink clothes? ›
For best results in your laundry, use the cold water setting on your washing machine. An ideal temperature would be 30ºC, which makes it not too hot when put in the dryer. In addition, make sure to dry your clothes on the lowest heat setting, as heat is the leading cause of clothes shrinking in the washer and dryer.
Why do baby clothes shrink so much? ›
Baby clothes are more likely to shrink if you wash them in really hot water. Often baby clothes are made of woven fabric. During the wash, the mothers usually throw all clothes at once. Some mothers think that hot water will disinfect their baby's clothes.
Should you use dryer sheets with baby clothes? ›
Avoid dryer sheets or fabric softeners. Like with detergent, the chemicals in these products can easily irritate your new baby's sensitive skin. Stick to low heat. While high-heat drying might get the job done quicker, it' a lot more likely to damage clothes.
Is it possible to Unshrink baby clothes? ›
You can unshrink clothes using household items like baby shampoo or hair conditioner mixed with lukewarm water. To prevent future shrinkage, always read care labels and use lukewarm water for washing your garments.
Why can't you put baby clothes in the dryer? ›
Drying baby clothes can be a delicate endeavor as these fragile garments require special care. Using a high heat dryer setting or allowing clothes to over-dry can cause shrinkage, fading and wear.
Can you use dryer balls on baby clothes? ›
Wool dryer balls provide a hypoallergenic option suitable for baby clothes. Wool dryer balls work by physically softening laundry through movement in the dryer. Wool dryer balls win over dryer sheets hands down.
On the other hand, condenser dryers are more likely to shrink or wear out your clothes due to their higher drying temperatures. Heat pump dryers are much better at preserving your clothes, since they avoid putting your laundry in close contact with high temperatures.
Can I unshrink clothes? ›
In most scenarios, all you need is a container full of warm water with a capful of liquid detergent. Next, make sure to add in your clothes and stir them into the solution until they are completely soaked. Gently wring out the clothing to expel excess liquid and gently stretch the clothing back to its original size.
Does fabric softener prevent shrinking? ›
Fabric softener doesn't directly prevent clothes from shrinking. While it can make fabrics feel softer and reduce static, it doesn't influence the fabric's tendency to shrink. Proper washing and drying techniques are more effective in preventing shrinkage.
How to prevent 100% cotton from shrinking? ›
Heat is the main culprit when it comes to shrinking and warping the lovely natural fibers in your 100% cotton clothing. Instead, use a clothing rack (they come in many sizes and configurations) or hang items outside away from direct sunlight. If you must use the dryer, pick a cycle without heat.
How do you reverse shrinking clothes in the dryer? ›
How to Unshrink Clothes in 6 Steps
- Use lukewarm water and gentle shampoo or soap. ...
- Soak for up to 30 minutes. ...
- Gently remove water from the clothing. ...
- Lay the clothing on a flat towel. ...
- Lay the clothing on another dry flat towel. ...
- Let the clothing air dry.
Does cotton shrink every time you wash it? ›
Luckily, cotton typically only shrinks once. The fibers could continue tightening if you keep washing the item in hot water and tumble-drying it on high heat. But generally speaking, most of the contracting will happen on the first laundry cycle.
How do you dry new clothes without shrinking them? ›
Letting your clothes air dry is one of the best ways to prevent them from shrinking. However, if air drying isn't an option, use the lowest heat settings on the dryer. Try to remove your clothes while they're still slightly damp then air dry them to finish.
How can I make my baby clothes dry faster? ›
The most time-efficient way to get your baby clothes to dry faster is to actually fasten them to the drying rack by buttoning them up over the bar, instead of folding them over or using pegs. Your babygros will dry in double the time as they are left to hang freely - just give it a try and you'll see for yourself!