How to Shrink a Sweatshirt

Co-authored by Susan Stocker

Last Updated: December 3, 2022 References

If you bought a sweatshirt and later realized it’s too big, don’t worry! You can easily shrink your fabric so your sweatshirt fits better. Try submerging your sweatshirt in hot and/or boiling water, and use a hot heat setting to launder your garment. If your shirt is not shrunk enough after using the washer and dryer, run an iron over top of a wet sweatshirt. With either method, you may be able to shrink your sweatshirt to your liking!

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using the Washer and Dryer

1
Check the tag to review washing instructions and material type. Review the tag on your shirt to see if the garment has any specific washing instructions. Some fabrics easily shrink with heat, while some fabric will not shrink at all. If the tag tells you to wash your garment in cool water, you can wash it in warm water to shrink it.^{[1]
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- For example, cotton easily shrinks, as does cotton and polyester blends.
- Synthetic fabric like rayon and nylon do not shrink.
2
Wash your sweatshirt in hot water as a first attempt to shrink it. To do this, put your sweatshirt in a clean sink, and run hot water over the garment for 5-10 minutes. Let the sweatshirt cool down to room temperature, and then check the sizing.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Susan Stocker
Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.}
- If you are satisfied with the amount your sweatshirt shrinks, you can launder it as normal.
- If you want to shrink your sweatshirt even more, use boiling water, your washing machine, and/or your dryer.
- To check the size, hold the shirt up to your torso and examine it in the mirror.
- Be careful doing this with wool. Wool is going to shrink like crazy with hot water.^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Susan Stocker
  Cleaning Professional
  Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.}
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3
Submerge your cotton sweatshirt in boiling water to shrink the fabric. If your sweatshirt did not shrink enough after using hot water, boil a large pot of water on high heat. When your water comes to a boil, submerge your garments, put a lid on the pot, and turn off the heat. The boiling water helps shrink your shirt even more.^{[4]
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- If you want to shrink your shirt 1 size, leave it in the water for 10-15 minutes.
- If you hope to shrink your shirt 2 sizes, let it cool to room temperature.
- Do not do this if washing a polyester sweatshirt. The high temperatures can make the fabric rough or stiff. Polyester should not be heated above 178 °F (81 °C).
- Alternatively, put your sweatshirt in your sink and pour boiling water over top the garment. Then, let it cool to room temperature.
4
Select the hot water setting on your machine after applying hot water. After you’ve soaked your sweatshirt in hot and/or boiling water, put it in your washing machine. You can wash your sweatshirt with other garments you want to shrink, such as T-shirts. Select the appropriate load size, and pour in 1 cap full of laundry detergent. After you wash your sweatshirt, check the sizing before you put it in the dryer.^{[5]
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- To maximize your shrinkage, use the longest washing size. If you just want to shrink it 1 size, you can use a normal wash cycle.
- If you are washing a small load of laundry, you only need one half of a cap of detergent.
- When checking the size, hold the wet sweatshirt in front of your torso and eyeball the size in the mirror. Once the sweatshirt is dry, you can try it on to check the fit.
5
Put your sweatshirt in the dryer on the hottest heat setting. If your sweatshirt is still not your desired size, use a very warm heat setting on the longest drying time. This can shrink your sweatshirt an additional size.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Susan Stocker
Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.}
- If your sweatshirt is shrunk to your liking, follow the drying directions on your garment tag. Most list a medium heat setting and normal drying time.
6
Check the fit of your sweatshirt after it cools to room temperature. After the dryer cycle is complete, take out your sweatshirt and lay it on a flat surface. Once your sweatshirt is at room temperature, put it on to check your overall fit.^{[7]
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- If your sweatshirt did not shrink adequately, try using an iron to shrink it another size.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using an Iron

1
Wet your sweatshirt if it's not small enough. If you aren’t satisfied with the fit of your sweatshirt, simply wet the garment with warm water from your sink. Wring out excess moisture, and lay the sweatshirt on your ironing board.^{[8]
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- Using an iron can shrink your clothes up to 1 additional size.
2
Lay a cotton cloth on top of your sweatshirt if it is polyester. Polyester can easily get damaged or harden up if exposed to direct high temperatures. To avoid this, place a cotton garment on top of the polyester sweatshirt. You can use a large T-shirt or towel, for instance. Do this if your garment is a blend of fabric with 50% or more of polyester.^{[9]
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- If you are ironing a cotton sweatshirt, you do not need a layer of protection.
3
Use medium heat to avoid burning your sweatshirt. Turn on your iron and let it warm up. If you use a high heat setting, it can burn your sweatshirt rather than shrinking it. If you use a low heat setting, it may not shrink your garment.^{[10]
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Apply moderate pressure to the iron to shrink your sweatshirt. Place your iron on your garment with moderate pressure. Run your iron across the garment slowly, leaving the iron in 1 spot for no more than 10 seconds.^{[11]
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- If the iron stays in 1 place for too long, it can burn your sweatshirt.
5
Iron the sweatshirt until most of the water evaporates away. Since your sweatshirt is wet, there will be steam released when the iron contacts the moisture. This reaction is essentially what shrinks your fabric. Once the majority of the water is gone, your sweatshirt should be thoroughly shrunk.^{[12]
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- If your sweatshirt is still damp, you can hang it to dry or put it in your dryer for 10-20 minutes.

Expert Q&A
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Question

Is it hard to shrink a wool sweater?

Susan Stocker
Green Cleaning Expert
Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.

Susan Stocker

Green Cleaning Expert

Expert Answer

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Absolutely not; wool is one of the easiest fabrics to shrink. I've seen XL sweaters shrink all the way down to toddler sizes with hot water washes. You really want to play it safe and go slow if you're trying to shrink down a wool sweater.