Can You Unshrink a Sweater?

You’re putting the laundry away when you realize with horror that the unthinkable has happened: your favorite sweater has shrunk. Whether you left it in the dryer too long, used the wrong heat setting, or accidentally mixed your dry clean only clothes with a regular load, your sweater is ruined — or is it? You may think that a shrunken sweater is beyond repair, but never fear — often, you can undo the damage and restore its original shape. Here’s how.

Step 1: Prep the Cleaning Supplies

Be sure to check your sweater for felting or fibers that have been locked together — as long as it still has some stretch, it can be unshrunk. Fill a clean sink or plastic bucket with lukewarm water and add a capful of any hair conditioner or gentle baby shampoo. This solution will work for most sweaters, including cashmere or cotton. Add an additional 1/3 cup of hair conditioner for wool sweaters to keep the sweater from becoming too dry. 

Be sure to choose a conditioner that smells pleasant; the sweater will retain that odor until the next time it is cleaned. Avoid abrasive shampoos meant to deep-clean your hair — these can be too harsh on the fibers and may cause further harm.

Step 2: Soak the Sweater

Fully submerge the sweater in the cleaning solution and let it soak for 10 minutes before draining. This helps relax the tightened fibers.

Step 3: Squeeze the Sweater Dry

Gently but firmly press your hands against the sweater to remove most of the water. Do not wring out the sweater — doing so may cause it to become more misshapen.

Step 4: Roll the Sweater in a Towel

Lay a clean towel on a flat surface and place the sweater on top. Carefully roll it inside the towel to remove additional moisture. The sweater should still be lightly damp once it is removed.

Step 5: Stretch the Sweater

Lay down another clean, dry towel and place the sweater on top. Carefully and gently stretch the sweater back to your desired size and fit. Don’t pull too hard to prevent the sweater from becoming misshapen or too big.

Step 6: Leave to Air Dry

Once your sweater is stretched to its original size, leave it on the towel to air dry. Once it is completely dry, your sweater should be back to normal.

_{Featured Image Credit: Dmitrii Anikin/ iStock}