What’s the last thing you expect to occur on your swimsuit? Stretched out, in my own experience.
It doesn’t matter how careful you are about putting it on or taking it off. One day you notice that your once tight swimsuit is now saggy and loose in all the wrong places.
If this has happened to you, don’t despair! In this article, I’ll show you how to shrink a swimsuit to get the perfect fit successfully. Generally, it contains the following 4 steps:
- Prepare the solution
- Rinse your swimsuitsÂ
- Use heat to shrink It
- Air dry it
Now let’s dive into the guideline! But before starting the shrinking process, there are several things you need to take into consideration:
Things to Know Before the Shrinking
Here we will learn about the basic information that is helpful to know before starting to shrink your swimsuit.
What Fabric is Your Swimsuit
First and foremost, you should take a look at the tag of your swimsuit and check what fabric it is made of.
Generally, there are two types of fabrics used in swimsuits: natural and synthetic fibers. Natural fabric will shrink more under the same conditions than synthetic.
This is due to the way they are made. Natural fibers are made of long strands that are twisted together.
When heated, these strands will untwist and contract, resulting in a smaller piece of fabric.
On the other hand, synthetic fibers, such as polyester and nylon, are made of short strands that are glued or fused together.
The heat will cause the glue to melt and the fibers to contract, but not as much as natural fibers.
The Theory of the Shrinking Process
Before we move on to how to shrink your swimsuit, let’s take a look at how fabric shrinks.
When you expose any type of fabric to heat, the fibers will begin to contract. The hotter the temperature, the more the fibers will contract.
This is why it’s important to use hot water when trying to shrink your swimsuit. The hotter the water, the more effective it will be.
4 Steps to Shrink Your Swimsuits
Now that you know how fabric shrinks let’s take a look at how to shrink your swimsuit.
There are four steps involved in this process: preparing the solution, rinsing your swimsuit, using heat to shrink it, and air drying it.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these steps.
Step 1: Prepare the Solution
The first step is to prepare a solution to retreat your swimsuits to protect their color. Cool water, salt, or vinegar to make the perfect shrinking solution.
The amount of salt or vinegar you’ll need will depend on how much water you’re using. And for different fabrics, here’s my recommendation:
- For natural fabrics, use salt water. Dissolve 1/2 cup of salt into 2 gallons of water.
- For synthetic fabrics, use vinegar water. Dissolve 1/2 cup of vinegar into 2 gallons of water.
Step 2: Rinse Your Swimsuits
After the solution is ready, you can start rinsing your swimsuits.
Let your swimsuit soak in the solution for at least 30 minutes before rinsing for the best results. This will help to loosen the fibers and make them more receptive to shrinking.
After rinsing, clench out excess water and prepare for the next step.
Step 3: Heat Your Swimsuits to Shrink It
Before shrinking, turn your swimsuit inside out to protect the outer layer. And then, there are two ways you can use heat to shrink your swimsuit: a dryer or ironing.
– If you’re using a clothes iron, set it to the hottest temperature and lay your swimsuit flat on the fabric. Gently press the iron down on the swimsuit for about 30 seconds.
– If you’re using a washer and dryer, put your swimsuit in a pillowcase and tie the ends closed. Then put it in the dryer on the hot setting. Check it every few minutes to make sure it’s not burning.
Either way, your swimsuit should be significantly smaller when you’re done. Be careful not to overheat it, as this can damage the fabric.
Step 4: Air Dry It
After shrinking your swimsuit, you need to let it air dry. Don’t put it in the dryer, or you’ll undo all of your hard work!
It might take a while for it to air dry completely, but be patient. Once it’s done, you’ll have a swimsuit that fits like a glove!
Final Words
Now you know how to shrink your swimsuit! Just follow these four simple steps and you’ll have a perfect-fitting swimsuit in no time.
More importantly, you should know how to protect your swimsuit’s color while you’re shrinking it.
So what are you waiting for? Get out there and enjoy the water!
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