A woman has shared a genius hack that will restore your favourite garments back to their original size, after they have shrunk in the wash – and it’s all thanks to a common product
There’s nothing more disheartening than accidentally shrinking your favourite piece of clothing in the wash – especially if it’s a treasured item like your grandma’s hand-knitted jumper.
When this happens, most of us either bin the shrunken garment, donate it to charity, or relegate it to the toy box as an addition to Barbie’s wardrobe. However, just because you’ve shrunk your knitwear, tracksuit set, socks, or even your luxe silk shirt, it doesn’t mean that these items are beyond saving.
The home organisation and space-saving experts at Wellkeptspace on Instagram have shared a brilliant tip for restoring your shrunken clothes to their original size. In a video posted on their Instagram account, they explained: “Next time you shrink a piece of clothing, don’t freak out. This tip will save you and your favourite shirt.
“What happens when you shrink your favourite shirt? I’ve got an easy solution for you. Fill a bowl with water and add about a tablespoon of hair conditioner. Soak your clothing for about 30 minutes in the solution. Take it out and give it a good squeeze, then gently pull on the fabric.”
While some might have tried stretching the fabric while it’s still hot from the wash, only to tear a sleeve or weaken the fibres, adding conditioner makes the fabric more pliable. The demonstration continued: “The conditioner will loosen the fibres in the clothing, and after it dries, the piece will go back to its original shape.”
The post has racked up over 15,000 likes on Instagram, leaving users astonished by the clever laundry solution. Comments have poured in suggesting that while there is method in the madness, the clothing must remain wet and not be dried for the hack to succeed.
One user commented: “It works on wool or cashmere, but only if washed not dried and it’s not perfect.” Many have been amazed by the simple yet effective tip, with one person exclaiming: “What in the world? Where were you the last 40 years of my life?”
Another said: “Definitely need to remember this!” Some suggested alternative methods such as using fabric softener or baby soap to restore your worn-out wardrobe items.
