It’s happened to all of us. You rush through gathering clothes together for laundry, and one wash-and-dry cycle later you realize you’ve tossed a wool sweater into the mix. And it’s now three sizes smaller than it used to be. Contrary to popular belief, though, you can get your sweater back to a wearable size with relatively little effort.

Wool garments shrink when subjected to a combination of hot air and water. In the dryer, wool fibers lock together and stay that way as the garment dries, resulting in shrinkage.

The most surefire way to undo the damage? Simply soak it in a bath of warm water with mild soap for about 10 minutes. (The water will unlock the fibers once again.) Then, lay on a flat surface in a cool place, gently stretching the fabric back out to its original shape as it dries.

And the next time you’re ready to clean your sweater, use a little extra caution to avoid a shrinking situation.

By Lindsay Lambert, Editor

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