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My apt came with a full-size W&D. The brand is GE & I'm sure it's the cheapest models my complex could get.
I wash my clothing on the shortest & coolest temp water setting & dry them on the coolest temps that I can, but this W&D is significantly SHRIKING all my good clothing that I paid good money for!
Does anyone have any tips, tricks, something I can buy & put in with the washing/drying, etc. that will prevent shrinkage? I hate knowing that the new clothing I buy will be ruiined after having to wash them for the first time.
Some clothing is just not suited to be washed in a washer, and the dryer usually does the rest. Dryers are known for ruining clothes.
Also you need to use the right detergent for the right clothes. Cheap usually is not good, and "fabric softeners" are the worst.
I would also consider not to wash them so often. It's really easy to want to wash an item of clothing after having worn it just once. But washing is the fastest way to help the fibers break down. The fewer times you have to wash, the longer it will last.
if these are new your buying too small to allow for shrinkage of materials if cold wash and cool dry. Jeans are perhaps the worse shrinkage with the thick cotton based material. They can loose two inches in waist and two inches in length with some of the thickest material type over several hot washes. Is this your first time washing and drying?
Is this clothing you just bought or older clothing?
BOTH newer & older clothing.
Before I moved into my apt, my parents have this nice, new W&D set that NEVER shrunk clothing. Even the set they had before the new set thry bought never shrunk my clothes. I use the same detergent then that I do now...Woolite, which is supposed to prevent shrinking.
Regarding buying clothes that are already too tight, I do NOT do that. I buy XL or L, which is the largest you can get. I notice considerable shrinkage with this cheap W&D that my apt complex provides in everyone's apts.
elnina, thanks for the link, I'll definitelyr ead it.
I don't wash bottoms (pants/skirts) after each use like I'm sure most people don't. Tops though, I MUST wash after every use, especially in this hot summer weather...can't be stinky at work!
wash your clothes in the coldest setting. and cold water for the rinse cycle. add softener. when you take it out of the washer maschine, instead of putting it in a dryer, hang up the clothing and stretch it back to your liking. thats y u need to add softener. the softener will make the clothes more pliable and easier to maneuver.
once you get the clothing stretched to your liking and it almost fully dry, you can throw it in the dryer for like, less than 5 mins. or if u have an air dry setting, u can just put your clothes in immediatley after the washer but right before u stretched it out pretty good. u may need to get a foldable clothing rack like they have in retail stores. amazon i think sells it for $20-$25 . it has wheels and u can use hangers.
oh and heres another tip. soak your shrunken clothes in hair conditioner for like 5-10 mins. then stretch your clothes. then rinse. i havent done this because i do the above tip i mentioned. but some people swear by this.
also im thinking maybe where u live has extremely hard water and that can have a bad effect with the clothes. also check to make sure that the faucets and hoses are connected rite. because maybe when you put cold, hot water is going in.
Mandy612, I appreciate it. I have so many articles of clothing though that if I did all this for each piece, it would be a full-day job & I don't have room in my apl to hang every piece, but again, I appreciate your info. It sounds logical.
Mandy612, I appreciate it. I have so many articles of clothing though that if I did all this for each piece, it would be a full-day job & I don't have room in my apl to hang every piece, but again, I appreciate your info. It sounds logical.
I guess I'll just do my best!
your welcome! just do what you can. also, if you become friendly with one of your neighbors, see if they have the same model washer and dryer and if they also have that problem. it really could be that you have hard water in your area.
That doesn't solve anything. I'm on a 2nd floor apt (w/ no elevators) & I'm not going to haul all these loads of laundry to/from the laundromat. I'm sure not going to hand wash everything either!
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