To all the Escapists who KNOW how to do laundry

[Quiet Stranger]

So there's less confusion, there's doing laundry and then there's knowing how (like shrinkage in the dryer and stuff like that)my question is this: When I put a brand new t-shirt in the dryer and it shrinks a little bit, if I put it in the dryer again (you know after another wash) will it shrink even more or will there just be the one case of shrinkage?

 

[applesandoranges]

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[Quiet Stranger]

It usually shrinks to the smallest it's going to be after the first wash. However, when you wear it it'll stretch out, and that stretch will go away when you wash and dry it again.

So I'm safe after the first dry? Like if I put it in the dryer a second time after a second wash it won't shrink further? Say for example, I put a large in and it gets shrunk down to the size of a medium, if I put it in the dryer again will it shrink down to a small? (So basically will a shirt keep shrinking?)

 

[Imthatguy]

No and usually it won't shrink a full size.

 

[Launcelot111]

You're gonna be fine. It'll shrink a little bit, like from just right to slightly too small, and then it'll stretch back to just right after a while wearing it. If it fit fine when you bought it, don't worry about washing it. It'll fit fine for a long while

 

[applesandoranges]

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[DoPo]

No, you'll be fine. However, your socks wouldn't. Be prepared to meet the biggest mystery in the world - screw the pyramids and crop circles, this is the real shit.

 

[Chemical Alia]

It will actually shrink until it disappears completely. That's where all my missing clothes go.

 

[JaceArveduin]

The thread implies there is a proper way to do laundry, something that I wasn't even aware existed.

 

[GistoftheFist]

Significant shrinkage. Oh wait, you were talking about laundry? Nevermind. :I

 

[Xanadu84]

No, you'll be fine. However, your socks wouldn't. Be prepared to meet the biggest mystery in the world - screw the pyramids and crop circles, this is the real shit.

I made a vow when i graduated High School and went out on my own. I threw out all my socks, and bough a few packs of identical white socks. After a certain number of months (I wear through socks fast), I throw out ALL of the socks, and buy a new batch. If 1 sock wears out, I just throw it away. I never have to match. If one is missing, I just have fewer socks to worry about. Socks are the easiest part of my laundry, and I don't even fold most of my laundry.

 

[Dags90]

Check and see if it's preshrunk cotton. It won't shrink very much, maybe half a size if that, and that'll be the extent of it.

If you nuke cotton that isn't preshrunk in the dryer, it'll shrink a fair amount. I bought a shirt that wasn't preshrunk, and when I bought it the thing was hilariously long. Now it's a teeny bit short, but not ludicrously so.

 

[DoPo]

No, you'll be fine. However, your socks wouldn't. Be prepared to meet the biggest mystery in the world - screw the pyramids and crop circles, this is the real shit.

I made a vow when i graduated High School and went out on my own. I threw out all my socks, and bough a few packs of identical white socks. After a certain number of months (I wear through socks fast), I throw out ALL of the socks, and buy a new batch. If 1 sock wears out, I just throw it away. I never have to match. If one is missing, I just have fewer socks to worry about. Socks are the easiest part of my laundry, and I don't even fold most of my laundry.

Well, yes, I do have identical socks, although I have white and also black ones. But I always end up with an odd number of them after laundry. I suspect I sometimes gain socks. I've got no idea how it works. Once (well, at least once), after I got everything out of the washing machine, I was happy I had an even number of socks! Only to find out I had dropped onebehind the laundry basket. Another time, I ended up with an odd number of socks, found one I missed and foolishly thought I had beaten the system. I then found another one I missed.

 

[MiriaJiyuu]

I think you just solved the socks in the dryer mystery.

Seriously though, where do they go...

Also yes the shirt shrinks about half a size the first time unless it's preshrunk then it doesn't shrink enough to notice.

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

Yep... just the once... However more expensive T-shirts, and other clothing such as Jeans and Polo Shirts will come 'pre-shrunk' and won't shrink at all! If it has noticably shrunk it shouldn't shrink again!

Just don't wash or tumble it too hot!

 

[Guffe]

It usually shrinks to the smallest it's going to be after the first wash. However, when you wear it it'll stretch out, and that stretch will go away when you wash and dry it again.

great, first post and you already ended the thread.
You thread killer(s) are going straight to thread hell!

 

[IndomitableSam]

Always wash new things the first few times on cold water and then put them in the dyrer on low heat, but it's best to hang them to dry.

Bedsheets, towels, and similar non-clothes things go in with hot water and high heat to kill more germies and clean better.

Darks go in cold water so they don't fade as much.

Most clothes should be put in the dryer on low heat.

If you put the detergent straight into the washer (ie - no dispenser), put it in first as it can stain some clothes or leave marks. The same for fabric softener - it goes in at the rinse cycle or the dispenser only.

If something is stained, put a little detergent on it and scrub it, let it sit for a bit and toss it in - works just as well as most stain removers.

Blood comes out best in cold water. Never use hot, it'll set it in.

... Think that's all I know.

 

[Aurora Firestorm]

I wash everything on cold, but eh.

Clothes usually shrink all they're going to shrink on the first few washes. The exception is for things with super-thick cottony fabric, like martial arts uniforms. Those will shrink for weeks of washings. If you want to avoid shrink, wash on cold, hang out to dry.

Re: blood and other body fluid stains, you should use something specifically designed for protein stains. This will take the sweat-yellow out of your whites, for example. I hear OxyClean does this pretty well?

 

[Xanadu84]

No, you'll be fine. However, your socks wouldn't. Be prepared to meet the biggest mystery in the world - screw the pyramids and crop circles, this is the real shit.

I made a vow when i graduated High School and went out on my own. I threw out all my socks, and bough a few packs of identical white socks. After a certain number of months (I wear through socks fast), I throw out ALL of the socks, and buy a new batch. If 1 sock wears out, I just throw it away. I never have to match. If one is missing, I just have fewer socks to worry about. Socks are the easiest part of my laundry, and I don't even fold most of my laundry.

Well, yes, I do have identical socks, although I have white and also black ones. But I always end up with an odd number of them after laundry. I suspect I sometimes gain socks. I've got no idea how it works. Once (well, at least once), after I got everything out of the washing machine, I was happy I had an even number of socks! Only to find out I had dropped onebehind the laundry basket. Another time, I ended up with an odd number of socks, found one I missed and foolishly thought I had beaten the system. I then found another one I missed.

I have solved that problem as well. I don't match socks. They are just in a large pile. I couldn't tell you if there is an odd or an even number of them. They are less pairs, and more individual entities that I happen to use 2 at a time. Whatever witchery they are working, I remain blissfully unaware, blunting there voodoo magic.

 

[Lionsfan]

I don't know how tall you all are, but my clothes always shrink lengthwise over time. It's really annoying too