How To Shrink a Pair of Jeans

How To Shrink a Pair of Jeans

Wouldn’t it be great if every pair of denim jeans you owned fit like a glove? Granted, you probably have a couple pair that fall under this category, but chances are others are either too loose or too tight. Before you go tossing your oversized jeans into the trash, though, you should first attempt to shrink them using one of the methods listed below.

Soak in a Tub of Hot Water

It’s no secret that heat causes fabric to shrink, and denim is no exception. You can use this to your advantage by soaking your oversized jeans in a tub of scalding-hot water. After placing the drain plug in the tub, fill it with the hottest water possible. If another member of your family recently took a shower, you may want to wait a while so the water heater will produce exceptionally hot water. Next, place the jeans inside the tub, submerging them in the water. After allowing them to soak for an hour, remove them and hang out to out dry. If all goes well, they should be slightly smaller than before.

Wash and Dry

Another technique to shrink your jeans is to simply wash and dry them, several times. Make sure your washing machine and dryer areĀ  set to the hottest setting possible and run your jeans through a load. You probably won’t notice much (if any) of a difference after a single wash and dry, but continue doing this for several times and your jeans will be tighter. The only downside to this method is that it can affect the color and quality of your jeans, degrading the fabric with each wash.

Have Them Tailored

Of course, a third option is to have your oversized denim jeans professionally tailored. A professional tailor will get the exact measurements of your waistline, using this information to create the perfect-fitting pair of jeans. The good news is that shrinking denim is easier than increasing its size, so it tends to cost less. The tailor will simply remove a portion of the waistline to bring the denim in, allowing them to fit more snugly around your waist.

Have you ever shrunk a pair of jeans? Let us know how it turned out in the comments section below!

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