Underwear that is too large is certainly not comfortable to wear. Instead of being thrown away, loose underwear can be reduced with tools at home. To shrink underwear, you can use hot water when washing it by hand or in the washing machine. After that, dry the underwear with a clothes dryer. Once dry, the underwear will shrink and the size will fit better.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Washing Underwear in Hot Water
Step 1. Try on underwear to see how it fits
Observe how loose the rubber and underwear material when worn. Underwear with the right size will feel a little tight at the thighs and waist, but still comfortable when worn.
- Generally, underwear can only be reduced to a size that fits the body. For example, if you've just bought a medium-sized piece of underwear and it doesn't fit properly, water and hot air can only shrink the underwear to a medium-sized fit.
- It's best to return your newly purchased underwear if it's too big for your body. If you still have the receipt for your underwear purchase, try visiting the store where you bought the underwear to return it or exchange it for a more fitting size.
- If the underwear has been worn or washed frequently, the material may not shrink drastically.
Step 2. Read the underwear label to find out the material
Look for underwear labels, which are usually located on the rubber part of the underwear. After successfully finding the label, read and know the material of your underwear. Generally, underwear is made of cotton, spandex, or silk.
- Underwear made of cotton, wool, rayon, silk, and linen will usually shrink when washed in hot water and tumble dried.
- Underwear made of polyester, nylon, and spandex may not shrink drastically. In addition, the underwear material may shrink or melt when exposed to very high temperatures.
Step 3. Separate underwear from other clothes
Avoid washing underwear with other clothes because it can make the clothes shrink. In addition, it can also damage underwear made of soft material. Therefore, make sure you only wash underwear that you want to shrink.
Make sure your freshly laundered silk or rayon underwear is the same color. The silk or rayon color may bleed slightly the first time you wash it and can stain other clothes
Step 4. Use a washing machine to make the washing process faster
Use a washing machine if you want to shrink a large amount of clothes. The washing machine can speed up the process of soaking and washing underwear. In addition, you can also wash a large number of underwear at once.
- Put the underwear in the washing machine and then add the detergent. For silk or rayon underwear, use a mild detergent. After that, close the washing machine door.
- Select the light load option, set the temperature setting to the hot option, then select a gentle wash cycle. Hot water can help shrink underwear, and a gentle wash cycle can keep underwear from creasing.
- Press the “start” button to start the underwear washing process. Generally, the washing and rinsing process with a gentle wash cycle takes 10-15 minutes.
Step 5. Wash underwear by hand if the quantity is small to save water and electricity
Choose this method if your underwear is made of a soft material and can be damaged in the washing machine. Washing by hand can gently clean and shrink underwear. In addition, you can also save water and electricity.
- Fill a basin or bucket with hot water and put your underwear in it.
- Let the underwear soak for 3-5 minutes or until it is completely submerged in hot water.
- Add a few drops of mild detergent. Use a rubber spatula to stir underwear that is soaked in hot water and detergent. Let the underwear soak for a few minutes.
- Gently remove the underwear from the basin or bucket. After that, rinse the underwear with warm water.
Step 6. Dry the underwear and then try to put it on
Hang your underwear in the closet or lay it on a clothesline. By doing this, you can determine whether the underwear needs to be reduced again or not. When worn, underwear will feel tighter and fit.
- If you are not satisfied with the results, you can wash your underwear again with hot water. You can also try other methods.
- Don't dry your underwear in a dryer if it's not the right size and needs to be shrunk again.
Part 2 of 2: Drying Underwear
Step 1. Put the washed underwear in the clothes dryer
After washing your underwear in hot water, a tumble dryer can make it shrink even more. If the underwear is washed in cold water, the material may not shrink significantly when tumble dried. Do not dry underwear made of polyester, nylon, or spandex in a tumble dryer. The heat generated may damage the underwear and cause it to wrinkle.
If the underwear is hand washed, dry it with a towel before putting it in the dryer
Step 2. Set the tumble dryer temperature to the highest and select a tumble drying cycle of 20 minutes
Set the drying temperature to the “cotton” option. In most tumble dryers, this mode is the hottest drying cycle. After that, choose a tumble drying cycle with a duration of 20 minutes. This drying cycle can dry a small load of underwear without damaging the material.
Check underwear after 20 minutes. If it's still not dry, tumble dry for another 5 minutes or let it dry on its own
Step 3. Try on your underwear to make sure it's the right size
Underwear material will be tighter when worn, but still feel comfortable when you move. If the size is still too large, repeat the process of washing and drying the underwear 1-2 more times so that the material shrinks even more.
