Why do my tops stretch and get wide and short?

[AluckyEllie]

Hi!

So, I’ve noticed before with a couple of tops from Zara that after a few washes they get shorter in length and wider. I thought it was just bad luck but I recently bought a lovely sweatshirt/long sleeved top from hush and after two washes it’s unwearable! The neckline has stretched so much it shows off my bra and is practically sliding off my shoulders, I have to keep hoiking it up. It’s also became super baggy. I wash at 40 and airer dry.

What mistake am I making that is ruining all my clothes?! 😂

Dry on a hanger. Put the hook up through the neck don't wangle it down. Hang to dry. Careful of shoulder marks, reposition of needed.

Use a hand wash programme and short spin.

Are these viscose tops? I've had to stop wearing them as a rule as this always happens. Dresses too.

I find this happens with some pure cotton t shirts too. If they have 5% or so of elastane or Lycra,, they hold their shape much better

I’ve not had a problem with viscose - for me that can occasionally shrink, but when it does, it shrinks all overl, proportionately. The getting wider bit only happens with pure cotton for me.

Cheap fabric?

This has happened to a few of my tops recently. I'll now never buy 100% viscose again. Also I'm starting to return things because it's just shoddy quality really - I wash at 20 degrees usually and don't own a tumble dryer. It's happened to both cheap items (H&M) and more expensive (HUSH). So, so sick of paying good money for crap quality!

Agreed, it often happens with 100% cotton. Isn't it something to do with not washing the fabric before cutting?

Seems to be a cotton thing then, I’ve checked and it’s 100% cotton. I’ll try drying on a hanger and using a more delicate wash. I’m trying to move towards less polyester etc fabrics so I’ll do some research testing.

Thanks very much for the tips

I’ve found this with Hush. The quality of the fabrics is terrible. Mint Velvet also uses cheap fabrics that don’t wash well.

My T-shirts did this. My aunt advised hanging from the armpits on the line rather than upside down - stretches them less.

It's rare that I suggest this but sometimes ironing can help, especially if you iron up and down rather than across.

My t-shirts do this... but only if DH irons them. He moves the iron from side to side, which seems to pull them widthways and makes them shorter. When I take them out of the machine I pull the fabric lengthways from top to bottom and hang them on a hanger to dry. Then if they do need ironing, I use the iron up and down, pulling the fabric lengthways. That seems to do the trick.

Zara tops always do this ! I don't buy anymore !

You need to wash at 30 at slower speeds, and make sure you tumble dry to the ‘iron’ setting. This keeps clothes slightly wet and so they retain their shape a bit better. I just hang them up at that point to dry completely.

@Honeywort

I find this happens with some pure cotton t shirts too. If they have 5% or so of elastane or Lycra,, they hold their shape much better

I came on to say this. I've given up on 100 cotton t shirts.

Please don't tell me Hush and Mint velvet are rubbish fabrics, I've just started to buy these brands after no more oasis and wearhouse, thinking I'm buying better quality.

If they're viscose you have to iron them to get them back to their original shape.

I've started washing lots of 'good' clothes at 30c on a delicates cycle with a 600 spin. Seems to help. It's so frustrating though!

Please don't tell me Hush and Mint velvet are rubbish fabrics, I've just started to buy these brands after no more oasis and wearhouse, thinking I'm buying better quality.

They are like The Emperor's New Clothes.
They are slightly better quality but not much better sadly. Bafflingly hey pluck their prices from thin air.

I've had this with a Weird Fish dress which after its first wash has gone from a perfect knee length to above the knee. I have okay legs but fat knees which I'd rather not show. Hopefully I can resolve it by more careful washing and following some of these tips (thank you everyone). I was gutted as I have three of these dresses and I thought they were perfect. Boo!

I think it's mainly the manufacturers not pre-shrinking the fabric before cutting it out. I don't have this happen with tshirts I've made myself, but I do take the extra time to pre-wash and dry the fabric.

Next clothes do the same! On another note, my mind is blown that people iron from side to side 😵.

I hate this too. I saw this tip on a Martha Stewart home-making type programme (I can only assume I was doing some industrial strength procrastination/displacement activity to be watching this!). She says you should lay out and measure the garment you are washing - measure across chest, nape to hem and across hem eg. You then wash garment appropriately, then lie it flat and stretch/ease it to the measurements while damp.

It’s a good way of doing it although I have only ever done it with expensive tops I have hand washed - couldn’t be bothered with tee’s. (I think on the show she had a special notebook in which she jotted down the proportions of her favourite tops )

(DH’s view was that a spell in prison gives you plenty of time to come up with faffy ideas like that!)

I've also found that if you give your clothes a shake before you put them on an airer then it helps to keep their shape

@TawnyPippit

I hate this too. I saw this tip on a Martha Stewart home-making type programme (I can only assume I was doing some industrial strength procrastination/displacement activity to be watching this!). She says you should lay out and measure the garment you are washing - measure across chest, nape to hem and across hem eg. You then wash garment appropriately, then lie it flat and stretch/ease it to the measurements while damp.

It’s a good way of doing it although I have only ever done it with expensive tops I have hand washed - couldn’t be bothered with tee’s. (I think on the show she had a special notebook in which she jotted down the proportions of her favourite tops )

(DH’s view was that a spell in prison gives you plenty of time to come up with faffy ideas like that!)

I think it's highly unlikely likely Martha Stewart employs someone to wash her clothes for her. Why else would someone suggest getting a ruler out to measure wet clothes?