Woolen things are very delicate and sensitive to high temperatures. Washing in hot water, drying near a heater or ironing may result in shrinkage of the material. But you should not despair, even if the woolen item sat down after washing, there is still an opportunity to return it to its original appearance.
To solve the problem, there are no special tools that can be bought at the nearest store. Only folk methods tested by resourceful housewives will help to solve it. Therefore, it should be remembered that any of the described methods can both help stretch a woolen item and irreversibly spoil it.
Why does wool shrink after washing?
As already mentioned above, wool is a delicate material, so it requires a gentle approach. Do not wash in hot water (maximum 30 degrees) or use aggressive detergents (only powders or gels for wool). Violation of washing technology is permissible only if you want to wash the wool so that it actually sits. This may be necessary when, for example, a sweater has stretched over time or after improper care .
In addition, shrinkage can occur with improper drying, when additional heaters are used for this purpose or clothes are hung in direct sunlight. It should be dried only in natural conditions and horizontally. Due to intolerance to high temperatures, wool is also prohibited to be ironed.
If you want to avoid accidents, then you need to wash woolen things correctly, which is explained in this article . But it happens that all the rules are followed, but the clothes still fit. In this case, it is probably time to resort to folk experience.
How to stretch a woolen thing?
- If the wool did not shrink much after washing, and ideally you noticed it while it was wet, then you can try to turn everything back. To do this, pour cold water into a bowl or bathtub. Dip a woolen thing into it so as to straighten it as much as possible and let it soak for 10-15 minutes. Taking it out of the water, carefully squeeze out the water, preventing the clothes from bending under the weight of the water. Next, quickly transfer to an absorbent cloth (a terry towel is ideal) and wait until the remaining water soaks into it. Change the towels to dry ones, and at the same time stretch the thing slightly with your hands. If you need to stretch the cap, then put it on a can of the appropriate size.
- This method is suitable only for woolen items with the addition of synthetic fibers and with a smooth texture. It is not suitable for 100% wool, as it will only worsen the situation. You will need an iron, preferably with a steam function. Spread slightly damp clothes on the ironing board (if dry, spray with water from a spray bottle), cover with damp gauze or a thin cloth. Gradually iron, stretching the clothes in the right directions.
- If you noticed that the wool sat down after washing, too late, and it has already dried, then the first two methods may not help. Now you need to connect heavy artillery. Do the same as in the first option, but add 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide to the water. spoons per 10 liters of water. The thing should soak in this solution for about one and a half hours. Next, dry horizontally on a terry towel, stretching with your hands.
- If you have the time and desire to fix the fact that the wool settled during washing, then you can build a special mold for the original size of the damaged item. Next, the clothes are soaked in cold water, laid out on the form, stretching according to its parameters, and fixed in this position by any available method (threads, nails, pins). After drying in this way, the wool can regain its volume more evenly than it would be done by hand.
As you can see, there are many ways to deal with the fact that a woolen item has settled after washing. Of course, you will need to make an effort, and it is not a fact that the result will be worthy, but at least you will try to restore the shape of your favorite clothes, and not just throw them in the trash with sadness.
But even if nothing happened, do not despair. You can always give the same thing to a petite friend or sew it for your dog or cat as another outfit for the winter or a rug.