Shrinking clothes with washing

[lurkingaround]

Do all clothes shrink a bit after washing? And no, I haven't put on weight.

I'm a careful washer, wash mostly at 30 degrees, and careful about detergents. Fine, I can accept H&M etc T shirts shrinking a bit, but I have a Maxmara dress, silk jersey I think, washed at 30, on a silk wash, and it has shrank. It still fits, but it's just not as it was.

Is it my washing technique or is it to be expected?

This might sound a bit random but do you have a cold fill washing machine or an older one? I lved in a rented house where all my clothes shrunk and it turned out to be because the cold and hot connectors on the washing machine were the wrong way round so everything was being boil washed. Won't apply if you've got a new one, most are cold fill these days apparently.

cotton, especiall cheap things, tend to shrink a bit over time.
silk shouldn't shrink, but I would never wash silk at 30, always with cold water and with shampoo instead of powder.

oh, and never spin silk. to dry roll the garment between two towels and roll up gently. then lay flat to dry.

Thanks for replies. So does cotton continue to shrink or is it just the first wash? So is the answer to buy a bit big?

I have a great washing machine (am a little bit in love with it), a Miele one. It's fab.
Connectors are fine.

For my dress I went exactly as the label said, used Woolite, a silk wash, fabric is 55% silk, 45% cotton, so it has a jersey feel.

Just thinking about it, I have washed silk before and it was fine. I think it must be the cotton component of the fabric that shrank. A pain. Like I said, it's wearable, but just not quite as nice. Grrr.

But seriously, is it a good idea to buy cotton on the big side, to allow for shrinkage?

I always do, especially with 'basic' things that I like to keep for years.

Thanks Mousy. Will buy big. Must remember that.

Is there a certain quality of cotton that shrinks or is it all cotton? you know, if I buy a more expensive cotton tee, is it any less likely to shrink?