Does Dry Cleaning Shrink Clothes?

Does Dry Cleaning Shrink Clothes? Many people are concerned about the possibility of cloth shrinkage due to dry cleaning. Nothing would be worse compared to getting your best outfit shrink!

Sometimes this misfortune gets faced by many people with home washing but does the same issue occurs in dry cleaners?

The simple answer here is: yes, but dry cleaning clothes shrink is quite rare. Let’s know what results in cloth shrinkage in the first place and what the difference between standard washing and dry cleaning is.

Why clothes Shrink?

You might expect that as the process of dry cleaning doesn’t require water, the possibility of your clothes getting shrunk is quite a rate. Here the truth is that water doesn’t do it primarily as it happens due to agitation and heat.

Similar to the phenomenon of wet pages getting crumpled up upon drying, wet clothes also get crumpled up (or shrink) when they’re exposed to heat after getting a hot water wash. Not only heat shrinks the collar and sleeves but also shrinks the whole garment.

Shrinking of garments is generally evident in pairs of trousers or sweaters as they shrink from all dimensions due to heat.

Heat and Agitation Build Up

When a clothing article shrinks, it happens because individual fibers that form them tighten and contract up. Tiny gaps between each fiber also get lessened in size, until the entire garment gets noticeably little.

This happens because of heat – whether from hot water in the washing machine or air in the dryer – and it also gets caused because of heavy tumbling and churning taking place in the laundering process.

When compared with washer cum dryer, dry cleaning is a lot gentler on your garments, but a little tumbling still happens. This shrinkage happens because a certain measurement of heat is present.

Water and Moisture Shrinkage

When you notice that the collar of your garment has gotten shrunk or when the sleeves have tightened, it also happens due to water. Additionally water can also play its part in the shrinkage.

If you’ve noticed a shortening of the sleeves of the sweater, this happens due to water. The moisture buildup is a gradual process and happens when there isn’t any monitoring for the same.

A little bit of moisture is required in the solvent while dry cleaning, but too much moisture causes fabric shrinkage.

Compared to standard wash dry cleaning clothes shrink is considerably less likely to occur. When you particularly are concerned about clothing items, you can feel free to mention them while dropping them off at dry cleaners. They’ll ensure delicate handling and extra care for your clothes.

Fabrics that have high chance of Shrinkage

A few fabrics are resistant to shrinkage compared to others. Natural fibers such as wool and cotton, somewhat become stretchy and can contract with agitation and heat. Generally, synthetics (such as nylon and polyester) don’t shrink in noticeable ways.

Of course, clothing article “pre-shrunk” through manufacturer already gets laundered – and these must be resistant to any further shrinkage.

Avoiding Shrinkage From Dry Cleaners

Make sure to check the label – This is quite obvious but most people don’t heed attention to clothing labels. Some people also ignore labels and tear them off. The dry cleaning service always references labels prior to the cleaning process but first, you must specify any instructions for special fabric care.

Point out Stains While Drop-off

Identify stains so they’re marked properly and pre-treated while cleaning.

Point out Embellishments and Special Buttons

A few garments come with embellishments and delicate buttons that must be handled with care. As you’re dealing with someone who doesn’t actually clean, make sure to ask if it can be protected or completely separately while cleaning. Also ask whether they’ll get reattached or not!

Make Upfront Request for Special Care

Highlight all delicate fabrics, embellishments, and stains at drop-off time. Don’t leave this to luck while it goes in the dry clean process. Having clear communication with the cleaner ensures better outcomes that will be great for the safety of your clothes.

Does Dry Cleaning Shrink Clothes? – Conclusion

To sum it up, the dry cleaning process doesn’t result in shrinkage of clothes when compared to washing them. However, when the machine is involved in the process of dry cleaning there are many possibilities of dry cleaning clothes shrink phenomena.

Suppose, if the machine isn’t properly maintained or when the garment has a defect, then the chances of your cloth shrinking elevate. However, if you want to get out of the risk zone, try looking out for dry cleaning services that offer a guarantee (but that would be definitely hard to find!).