Does cotton shrink when washed? or does it stretch?
Cotton is one of the most used materials in the textile fiber industry: it accounts for close to 50% of global consumption of this type of fiber due to its multiple advantages. It is a comfortable and soft fabric that does not cause skin irritation, in addition to being hypoallergenic. In fact, its fibers do not generate static electricity or cause dermatitis because they are twisted vigorously when spun.
For these reasons, cotton is widely used to make clothing items in direct contact with the body, such as underwear and T-shirts. As it is a very present fabric in our wardrobe, it is important to know how to wash it correctly, since you have surely heard at some point that it can shrink. So, Does cotton shrink when washed? Does it do it because we use hot or cold water? To find out if cotton shrinks when washed, in what situation, how to avoid it and more, at FoxWiki we recommend that you continue reading this article.
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Does cotton shrink or stretch?
Despite being the most recommended for manufacturing clothing due to the benefits they have in contact with the skin, natural fibers have a main drawback: they can shrink if they are not washed correctly. Does cotton shrink in hot or cold water? You’ve probably asked yourself this question more than once when you’ve put cotton clothes in the washing machine. The answer is clear: cotton is among the fabrics that shrink when washed in hot water and in the dryer.
On the other hand, cotton fibers retain the same shape if you wash them with cold water. To dry clothes made of this fabric, the best option to prevent it from shrinking or deforming is to let it dry in the air. Fabrics containing 100% cotton have been treated using the sanforized method, which is a treatment that prevents garments from shrinking. Without this treatment, they would also shrink when washed with cold water.
At what temperature does cotton shrink?
Cotton garments need to be washed at a certain temperature to avoid shrinking. Those that are from White color You can wash them at a temperature of up to 60 eitherc. On the other hand, only cotton garments that are not 100% of this fabric, but rather contain a certain percentage of other fabrics that are synthetic and that withstand such high temperatures, can be washed at temperatures above 90ºC. Therefore, clothing made only of cotton shrinks if washed at more than 90 degree C. If it is mixed with any other fabric, you must wash it based on the composition, that is, according to the component that requires the greatest washing requirements.
Referring to colored cotton clothes you must wash it at a temperature that ranges from 30-40 degree c so that it does not lose color.
How much does cotton shrink when washed?
If you do not comply with the recommended washing temperatures, it is proven that cotton can shrink when washed. Garments made with this 100% fabric shrink a volume that ranges between 10 and 15%.
The higher the temperature, the more risk cotton clothing will shrink and the more volume it can lose. You should also be very careful when using dryers: try to dry clothes made of this fabric hanging in the air or, otherwise, they may shrink with the heat of this drying appliance.
How to wash cotton so it doesn’t shrink
Something you should always do before washing a piece of clothing, regardless of the textile fiber used to make it, is read the label that it contains inside. By reading these instructions, you will know more exactly how to wash it to avoid the risk of shrinking or losing color and, therefore, to keep it in good condition. To know how to wash cotton clothes in the washing machine at FoxWiki we recommend that you follow these steps:
- Eliminate stains that are more difficult to remove by pouring liquid detergent on them. Rub gently once you have poured the detergent on the surface of the stain and using cold water. In these other articles we explain How to remove stains from colored cotton clothes and How to remove stains from white cotton clothes.
- Put the cotton clothes in the washing machine, add the detergent and fabric softener if you use it, and program it with a gentle, cold water cycle.
- When the washing program ends, take out and shake all the clothes to avoid wrinkles.
- Hang each cotton garment with wooden or plastic clothespins, avoid metal ones because if they rust they can stain the clothes.
- Wait a few hours for the clothes to air dry. Remember to avoid using the dryer at all costs to speed up the drying process of cotton garments, because they will dry faster but will also shrink.
Now that you know everything about whether cotton shrinks, under what circumstances it does so and how to wash it to avoid it, we advise you to find out more details about the care of these garments to keep them in good condition. To do this, we recommend you read these other articles on How to care for 100% cotton clothing, How to wash cotton sheets and How to wash a cotton quilt.
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