Hey guys, follow one of the two steps below and learn how to shrink a dress shirt. However, I would advise getting your shirt tailored instead of shrinking it at home.
A dress shirt is made from multiple pieces of fabric sewn together, unlike a t-shirt or hoodie. A tailor or seamstress can specifically alter these pieces, so you only change the exact area needed.
Shrinking your dress shirt will make every single aspect of the dress shirt smaller.
Table of Contents
How To Shrink A Dress Shirt
Total Time: 2 hr 30 min
Cost: $0.53 (one tide pod)
- Buy Tide Pods for $55
1. Check the fabric of your dress shirt
Being aware of the fabric type your dress shirt is made from will help you to avoid over shrinking or damaging your clothes. Some dress shirts are also “pre-shrunk” which means they have been specially treated during the production process and will have almost no ability to shrink.
2. Put dress shirt into the wash
Put your dress shirt into the wash with like colored clothing that is light and wont leave any fluffy residue on the dress shirt.
3. Wash dress shirt on high heat
Set the washing machine to the highest water temperature possible and run the wash cycle for your dress shirt.
3. Remove dress shirt when finished
Once the washing machine has completed its cycle, remove the dress shirt and place it into the dryer.
4. Dry dress shirt on highest setting
Turn your dryer onto the highest heat setting and run the machine for your dress shirt.
5. Periodically check your dress shirt
Periodically check on your dress shirt to make sure you do not shrink it too much, especially if it is a linen or cotton dress shirt as shirts made from these fabrics will shrink up to 20%.
6. Remove and hang the dress shirt
Remove the dress shirt from the dryer when you have found the right size for you. You can wear it right away or hang your dress shirt.
How to shrink a dress shirt: quick tips
- If your washer has that option, it may help to add the extra rinse cycle. This will give your shirt more exposure to hot water, which will help the shrinking process.
- Agitation – or vigorous motion – will help your dress shirt shrink. Agitation may help some fabrics shrink more than just the heat itself.
Shrink A Dress Shirt In Boiling Water
Total Time: 2 hr 00 min
Cost: $0
1. Fill large pot with 3/4 water for your dress shirt
Pour water into a clean pot big enough to hold the dress shirt. Fill the pot about 3/4 full with water to submerge the dress shirt. Be sure to choose an old pot that you don’t want to use for cooking anymore.
2. Bring the water to a boil before adding dress shirt
Set the pot on a burner and turn the stove on high heat. Let the water come to a boil. Once boiling, take the pot off the heat.
3. Add the dress shirt to the water
Put the dress shirt in the water to soak. Use a spoon or tongs to push any part of the shirt that you want to shrink beneath the water – for example, the cuffs, the collar, or the entire thing. Leave it in the water for at least 5 minutes.
4. Carefully remove the dress shirt from the boiling water
Once completed, carefully remove the dress shirt from the boiling water and gently wring the dress shirt out to remove excess water. Use a pair of tongs to take the shirt out, or simply dump the pot into a clean sink. Be careful not to re-stretch the dress shirt.
5. Hang dry the dress shirt if shrunk enough
Hang dry the dress shirt or put the dress shirt into the dryer if you want to further increase shrinkage. Allow the dress shirt to dry and repeat as necessary until you achieve a satisfactory level of shrinkage.
Shrink a dress shirt in boiling water: quick tips
- Boiling your dress shirt could cause it to bleed, so don’t try it on a dress shirt you’re very attached to. You can take steps to prevent it from bleeding, like adding a dye fixative to the hot water before you add the shirt.
- If you want to shrink part of your dress shirt, just put that part in the water and leave the rest out. You could even put the rest in cooler water to prevent the heat from transferring to other areas.
- Leave it in for up to 20 minutes if you want it to shrink significantly.
FAQ
You can make your dress shirt tight by tailoring it or shrinking it. I suggest you tailor your dress shirt to get the best fitting and looking outcome.
Yes, dress shirts do shrink in the dryer. If you do not wish to shrink your dress shirt, hang it dry.
Yes, you can make a dress shirt smaller. The best way to make your dress shirt smaller is to get it tailored, not shrink it.
