Has your freshly laundered cotton shirt shrunk?

One of the most unpleasant laundry mistakes is when a brand-new cotton t-shirt unexpectedly shrinks in the washing machine. Other common mistakes include dyeing all of your white clothes pink by mistakenly mixing in those pink socks with your white wash! Horrible dream? Maybe not all is lost.

Since cotton is a naturally breathable fibre, heat from the dryer, washing machine, and even sunshine (really!) can release the tension that was applied to the fabric during manufacture, causing the fabric to shrink to its original size.

One easy trick you can attempt is ironing your cotton clothes after they've dried. Yes, we know that less and less people iron their stuff these days, but it can help the fabric's fibres stretch out and make the top look more vibrant.

A little more involved method, if your cotton top is "too far gone," is to soak it in water and gradually stretch it to the appropriate size on a level surface. Weights like jars or cans may be used to attempt and hold the top in place, but use caution as excessive pushing and stretching may cause the shape you're trying to preserve to become unrecognisable.

Once the size is appropriate, let the item air dry. Cotton products should ideally not be tumble dried, but if you must, consider removing them from the dryer while they are still moist and letting them air dry. This will assist in preserving a portion of the fibres' tension.

If you observe any puckering or tightness around the embroidered design, you can use an iron on the bottom of the embroidery to help stretch the fibres. Otherwise, you can wash embroidered clothing according to the labels and directions.

Once the size is appropriate, let the item air dry. Cotton products should ideally not be tumble dried, but if you must, consider removing them from the dryer while they are still moist and letting them air dry. This will assist in preserving a portion of the fibres' tension.

If you observe any puckering or tightness around the embroidered design, you can use an iron on the bottom of the embroidery to help stretch the fibres. Otherwise, you can wash embroidered clothing according to the labels and directions.