Why and how do clothes shrink after washing them?
594297
According to first link below, hot water or hot dryer air - that causes natural fibers like wool and cotton to shrink.\n\nAccording to second link below, shrinkage is caused by the tumbling action as the garments hit the sides of the dryer. \nShrinkage is also caused by the washing process itself. Compared with washing, which can shrink clothes, drying them with heat has the opposite effect.  As a garment loses moisture, the fibers will stretch a bit; as you wear the garment, the heat of your body will increase this stretching. the drying process can damage fabrics made of natural fibers such as cotton, linen and wool, if too much moisture is removed. These fibers have a natural moisture content, even when they feel dry (with cotton it's 5%; with wool as much as 17%).  When the fibers are over-dried, they will reabsorb moisture from the atmosphere.
1180579
Yes. I even washed my husband clothes,hung them on a line in the winter until the water quit dripping from them then brought them in, put on a hanger and hung infront of a  heater so they'd be dry for him the next day for work. It's called roughing it.
326599
No.\n\n\nUnless you put them in the dryer too. But then they might get warped.
220069
Don't put them in the dryer. That's what makes them snug up as the heat makes the fibers on cloth shrink. Hang to dry. If you must put them in the dyer, dry on the lowest heat and remove when they are still damp.
148011
Remove all contaminated clothing. Wash gently and thoroughly with water for 15 minutes. Ensure contaminated clothing is washed before re-use or discard. If contact is more than of minor nature, seek medical attention.\n\nDo not use soap if the skin has been broken.  Seek medical attention.  Strong base exposure can keep occuring even after you think it is over.  Sometimes hours later symptoms will appear.
973684
Bread shrinks in the toaster because of a loss of moisture. A good portion of bread's mass is water.\n\nClothes shrink in the dryer because of a rapid loss of water which causes a more urgent need to fill the space. When you dry clothes gradually this space is replaced by water from the air.\n\nI hope this helps!
954087
Probably the dryer. I always lose my socks in there
593913
After much wear & tear from the washing machine & repeated wearings, the fibers will break off. Some fabrics' fibers break more easily than others.\n\nThe science behind it is that static electricity builds up in the dryer as it tumbles the clothes around. This static helps pull the fibers away from the clothes & hopefully into the lint filter. If it gathers in the actual drier then I would check the lint filter. That is a possible fire hazard.
1067049
It is normal for people to shrink a little bit throughout the course of a day, because of the forces of gravity compress the spongy discs of cartilage in your spine, making you shorter. If you notice a bigger change then a few fractions of an inch your 'shrinking' may be due to fatigue through-out the day causing you to slouch or bow your legs.
15831
keep it in the dryer.
1157329
Because it didn't go through all the cycles. I think it's the spin drying that shrinks the stuff. U got me thinking...the next sheep I see; i'll put him in and let you know the turnout.
602146
The evaporation may make it  worse.\nTry holding a cold damp washcloth on it, provided you do not have a problem with laundry detergent or fabric softener.
182037
It depends on how dirty they are.  Shirts alwas go in the laundry after about 4 hours of wearing them.  Jeans and pants should go back in the closet for atleast one more wear before being washed.  As long as they aren't dirty or have food or anything on them.  Sock... ALWAYS WASH YOUR SOCKS AFTER 1 USE! And do I really have to tell you about underwear??  Use Tide Cold water and save on your hot water bill.. It works really well.
1033356
It is the color of what ever you have been wearing. Some folks that don't take baths or showers too often can almost knit a new sweater with all that lint.
622873
It doesn't shrink when you lose weight, it shrinks when you don't eat. That helps you lose weight, so that's why the two are commonly confused.
72004
mY HUSBAND IS VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT LAUNDRY, SOMETHING TO DO WITH HIS MOTHER!  HE WOULD DEFINITELY SAY "WASH THOSE WHITES IN HOT!!!!!!!!!!"  YOU CAN RINSE ON COLD CYCLE THEN IF SO DESIRED.  USUALLY I HAVE TO PRE-SOAK WHITES FIRST,THEN PUT THEM THROUGH THE CYCLE.  WHY?????????  I STILL DON'T KNOW! AGAIN HAS SOMETHING TO DO W/ MY MOTHER SAID......
528481
Because as they re-absorb the liquid they're cooking in, the cells fill up and get fatter.\n\nSame reason they shrink whey they're dried, but in reverse.