How to de-shrink your clothes when you’ve had a laundry disaster and why your ironing board is key
A CLEANING enthusiast has shared a clever hack to fix clothes that have shrunk.
The woman, who loves ironing, revealed it’s not too late to save your favourite pieces if they’ve accidentally shrunk.
Whether it’s a hoodie, sweater, or top, she claims to have a simple solution.
The woman, known as @theironingqueen on TikTok, posted a video explaining the trick.
She captioned it: “Shrunken clothes hack – works for sweaters, hoodies, or any shrunken item, though shrunken cashmere is nearly impossible to fix.”
The Ironing Queen goes on to explain: “Whether it’s a shrunken hoodie, sweater, or wool sweater – any kind of shrunken clothes, except for shrunken cashmere, which can’t really be fixed – I’m going to tell you a fantastic shrunken hack to fix them.
“Here’s what you do: place the item on your ironing board, making sure around the ironing board, so you don’t place it flat.
“Then, gently steam (the fabric,) you pull it out where you want it to be. Then you steam over the garment, and keep stretching it while you’re steaming to get it back into place.”
Her video gained attention with likes and comments from people thanking her.
We previously revealed how a laundry expert has shared a clever tip for drying your clothes for free, all year long.
While most people know not to leave their washing out in the rain, Sarah Dempsey, cleaning and laundry pro, says putting clothes outside on dry, windy days can actually be a game changer.
In fact, despite 61% of Brits admitting they don’t put their washing outside in the winter, Sarah believes it can often be more effective than drying clothes in the summer.
“Heat is helpful, but it’s not the only factor in drying clothes,” explained Sarah from MyJobQuote.
“High humidity can slow down drying times, so on a cold winter‘s day, you might find your clothes dry faster than they would on a damp summer day.
“The wind can also speed up the process.”
And there’s an added bonus: drying clothes in the wind means fewer wrinkles, reducing the need to iron.
“Wind can also help smooth out creases in your clothes,” she said.
If you’re worried about a clothesline taking up space, there’s an easy solution.
“You can set up a clothes airer outside to dry your clothes more quickly and stop too much moisture building up inside your home,” she added.
More winter laundry tips
Tackling laundry in the winter can be a challenge, but these handy tips can help you stay on top of it:
- Use a Dehumidifier: Place a dehumidifier in your drying area to speed up the drying process and prevent dampness.
- Spin Cycle Boost: Run an extra spin cycle on your washing machine to remove excess water from clothes, reducing drying time.
- Indoor Drying Rack: Invest in a good-quality indoor drying rack and position it near a radiator or in a well-ventilated room.
- Tumble Dryer Balls: Add tumble dryer balls to your dryer to help clothes dry faster and reduce static cling.
- Space-Saving Hangers: Use space-saving hangers or a retractable washing line to maximise indoor drying space.
- Microfibre Towels: Lay microfibre towels over your drying rack to absorb extra moisture from hanging clothes.
- Partially Dry Outside: On dry days, hang clothes outside for a short period before bringing them in to finish drying.
These hacks can help you keep your laundry routine efficient and your clothes fresh, even during the colder months.