Clothes And Frustration

[radgirl]

Maybe it's me, but I'm finding huge issues with clothing and quality, especially pants (sometimes shirts). I go to try pants on and at that time, they fit. No problems. They fit everywhere, I can move in them, etc... Then after the first washing/drying or dry cleaning, they no longer fit "right". They've shrunken all over by a good 1/2 inch. I know it's a shrinking problem because I will try on the same exact pant (usually I end up buying 2) that is brand new, sitting in my closet. Is this a common trend with clothes? Do I need to buy everything one size up to account for what's going to happen when I go to wash them? Are fabrics and clothing in general just poorer quality, no matter what price you pay?

[missy'smom]

I have the opposite problem. I end up with pants that are too big. I think its from all those years of having the celiac belly. I think I'm afraid to buy stuff that actually fits! and find myself thinking that they'll hurt my tummy if they're too tight.

[dbmamaz]

Natural fabrics (cotton, esp) will shrink more than man-made fibers like polyester. Some cotton items will specify 'pre-shrunk' somewhere on the label. Most pants will stretch back out after you wear them a bit. Also, try using a lower temperature setting on your washer and dryer to minimize shrinkage.

Just wondering how old you are, if you are just noticing this?

[blueeyedmanda]

I am having the same trouble with pants, and some are pants I buy 2nd hand at the thrift store...which should have shrunk. My main area of problems is my thighs, everything seems to shrink in that area so it looks like I am poured into my pants....it is very embarressing. Plus I have been excerising and eating better (cause I did gain weight in the last year which is 1/2 the problem but have maintained the same weight for the last 6 months)

[radgirl]

Natural fabrics (cotton, esp) will shrink more than man-made fibers like polyester. Some cotton items will specify 'pre-shrunk' somewhere on the label. Most pants will stretch back out after you wear them a bit. Also, try using a lower temperature setting on your washer and dryer to minimize shrinkage.

Just wondering how old you are, if you are just noticing this?

May I ask why my age matters?

I usually wash on cold and use low heat for drying. However, I've noticed problems when I take my clothes to the cleaners. It's upsetting because I know they fit I tried them on. They fit great. Then I wash them or take them into the cleaners, and BAM, they've shrunk. I know it's not a weight gain issue because I own 2 pairs of the same pant and I try on the brand new pair and they fit excellent.

[radgirl]

I am having the same trouble with pants, and some are pants I buy 2nd hand at the thrift store...which should have shrunk. My main area of problems is my thighs, everything seems to shrink in that area so it looks like I am poured into my pants....it is very embarressing. Plus I have been excerising and eating better (cause I did gain weight in the last year which is 1/2 the problem but have maintained the same weight for the last 6 months)

Same here. They will fit fine all over and once they have been washed or taken to the cleaners, they have shrunk considerably in the thighs. It's very frustrating. I think I need to learn to buy clothes one size up so that I give them room to shrink. Cotton is by far the worst. I washed 2 pair of pants yesterday. As it is, they were fitted (and looked fine) but once I washed them, they shrunk. Game over. I don't have money to keep wasting on clothes (especially pieces that I love) that shrink.

[Darn210]

Same here. They will fit fine all over and once they have been washed or taken to the cleaners, they have shrunk considerably in the thighs. It's very frustrating. I think I need to learn to buy clothes one size up so that I give them room to shrink. Cotton is by far the worst. I washed 2 pair of pants yesterday. As it is, they were fitted (and looked fine) but once I washed them, they shrunk. Game over. I don't have money to keep wasting on clothes (especially pieces that I love) that shrink.

Don't happen to have a new (& hotter) dryer, do you? I know my mom's old dryer shrunk everything 'cause every setting ran hotter than my dryer. I could have something for a year, be at her house for a long visit, do laundry while I'm there and have things shrink!!! Of course, when you want them to, they don't!

I have a friend who line dries all of her stuff to prevent shrinkage and just the extra wear and tear from the tumbling process . . . but what a pain!

[radgirl]

Don't happen to have a new (& hotter) dryer, do you? I know my mom's old dryer shrunk everything 'cause every setting ran hotter than my dryer. I could have something for a year, be at her house for a long visit, do laundry while I'm there and have things shrink!!! Of course, when you want them to, they don't!

I have a friend who line dries all of her stuff to prevent shrinkage and just the extra wear and tear from the tumbling process . . . but what a pain!

My dryer will only be 5 y.o. and I usually use the low setting. With the dry cleaners, they've messed up a couple of my pieces so I can see shrinkage coming from them as well. I use to be the person who always washed everything on cold and line dried them. But then I had to iron everything, yet another pain. I'm trying to find good clothes, that are very low maintenance.

[kbtoyssni]

I've started air drying a lot of my clothes for the same reason. I live in an apartment so I don't have any control over the dryers - even the cold cycle leaves the clothes almost too hot to touch when they're done! Yes, I have to iron, but I have a place where I can always leave the iron out so it's not such a big deal anymore. Do you have kids? If so, why not assign one of them to iron? My mum and dad used to have me iron when I was growing up - they claimed it was so I could learn how, but I really think it was because they didn't want to do it!

[jerseyangel]

What I do for things that I'm afraid might shrink is to dry them in the dryer for just a few minutes until they are very warm and the wrinkles have been "steamed out". Then I hang them to dry the rest of the way.

I even do that with washable sweaters, too. After they're completely dry, I then fold them.

I have noticed that more things tend to shrink after washing than before. Due to moving, I've had several new washer/dryers over the last 10 years, so as Janet suggested, maybe my dryers are too hot. Who knows....

[ravenwoodglass]

Another thing I find helpful with pants and jeans is before I put them in the dryer I grab the hems and waistbands at the seams and stretch. Then I try to remember to remove them before they are totally dry. It seems to help for me, at least with my jeans, it seems the seams often 'shrink' or wrinkle. My Mom sewed a lot and she always made sure the fiber of the thread and the garment were the same to help prevent odd shrinkages. I wonder if the factories take this extra step?

[radgirl]

What I do for things that I'm afraid might shrink is to dry them in the dryer for just a few minutes until they are very warm and the wrinkles have been "steamed out". Then I hang them to dry the rest of the way.

I even do that with washable sweaters, too. After they're completely dry, I then fold them.

I have noticed that more things tend to shrink after washing than before. Due to moving, I've had several new washer/dryers over the last 10 years, so as Janet suggested, maybe my dryers are too hot. Who knows....

Jersey, I'm definitely finding that clothes are shrinking a lot more than before as well. In fact, clothes seem to be shrinking a good one size. This is why I brought up the quality issue in my OP. I'm beginning to question the quality of the clothes/materials we buy and what happens to them after they are washed or taken to the cleaners. My dryer isn't crazy hot, especially on the low setting, but perhaps it's hot enough. I've also read that the tumbling of clothes in the dryer can wreck havoc on your clothes as well. For as much as we spend on clothing, keeping them clean and cared for shouldn't be a full time job and that's what it's turning out to be.

[JNBunnie1]

Jersey, I'm definitely finding that clothes are shrinking a lot more than before as well. In fact, clothes seem to be shrinking a good one size. This is why I brought up the quality issue in my OP. I'm beginning to question the quality of the clothes/materials we buy and what happens to them after they are washed or taken to the cleaners. My dryer isn't crazy hot, especially on the low setting, but perhaps it's hot enough. I've also read that the tumbling of clothes in the dryer can wreck havoc on your clothes as well. For as much as we spend on clothing, keeping them clean and cared for shouldn't be a full time job and that's what it's turning out to be.

I'm cheap, so most of my clothes are hand-me downs from stylish friends who are generous or purchased at thrift stores, but for what I do buy new, I actually prefer that thigh shrinkage thing. Apparently, it hasn't occured to most clothing manufacturers that some women have big butts and skinny legs. I hate it when I try to buy tailored-looking jeans and there's too much extra material in the thigh but my behind looks like it was shrink-wrapped. Maybe you could tell me the brands you usually get?

(sorry this isn't any help.)

[BRUMI1968]

Do the pants have any spandex in them?

It used to be we would buy pants that were too big, knowing they would shrink (I'm 40 y.o. - so think levis, and other pants as well). Nowadays, lots of pants have spandex, so they stretch when you wear them.

I have pants that for the first hour out of the dryer are miserable, but by the end of the day might seem too big.

If they have spandex in them at all, and it should say on the label, that may well be what is happening. If so and it disturbs you, look for pants w/o any spandex in them at all.

[radgirl]

Nope, no spandex in the pants. Straight 100% cotton.

[celiac-mommy]

I've found that it really depends on the brand. I agree that the first hour after the dryer is a little too tight, but after that it's usually perfect. If they fit perect right out of the dryer then they're usually too big after that hour. If you're buying the same brand and it's happening every time, maybe go up a size. You have to try to fit the widest part of your body, so if it's the thighs, you have to get a size for the thights and then tailor the waist if need be. If you like a little give in your jeans, look for ones with a little spandex in them, it really does make a difference. But brand DOES matter as far as fit goes. I'm a Lucky Brand fan, and for those, they always have you buy a pair that feels really snug--not cut off your circulation tight, but snug. They stretch out soooo much after the first washing even with no spandex. What brand are you buying? If they are a lesser expensive brand and you're having problems, you might want to consider going to a more specialty store so someone can fit you and invest in 1 great pair than 2 that don't work as well. Levi's stores do this too and they're a little less expensive than the Lucky's.

[tarnalberry]

I haven't had the problem, but I don't tend to dry on high....

I wish most of my clothes *would* shrink... They don't make my size, really... :/

[nikki-uk]

What I do for things that I'm afraid might shrink is to dry them in the dryer for just a few minutes until they are very warm and the wrinkles have been "steamed out". Then I hang them to dry the rest of the way.

I even do that with washable sweaters, too. After they're completely dry, I then fold them.

I have noticed that more things tend to shrink after washing than before. Due to moving, I've had several new washer/dryers over the last 10 years, so as Janet suggested, maybe my dryers are too hot. Who knows....

I do it the other way round - line dry ,then put the clothes in the dryer for 5 mins just to lessen the creases

But why does nothing shrink when you want it to??