Does cotton shrink in the dryer?
Answer at a Glance: Cotton does shrink, but it’s not just the dryer that’s to blame. By understanding the laundering process and the factors contributing to shrinkage, you can take proactive steps to preserve the quality of your cotton garments.
Dig Deeper
- Why Does Cotton Shrink?
- How Much Does Cotton Shrink?
- Does Cotton Shrink Every Time You Wash It?
- Buying Cotton Garments That Won’t Shrink
- References
Why Does Cotton Shrink?
Spinning raw cotton into thread places tension on the cotton fibers, causing them to stretch. This tension is also placed on the threads during other finishing processes, such as weaving cotton into fabric. [1]
According to A.K. Choudhury, author of “Principles of Textile Finishing,” the tension created by these processes that cause the stretching is reduced during the laundering process. Soap and water both act as lubricants. The agitating that occurs during washing also causes the cotton fibers to relax and contract to their original length. More commonly known as shrinking. Wetting the natural fiber also swells its interior, resulting in external shortening. [2]
How Much Does Cotton Shrink?
While the amount of shrinkage on a cotton garment is influenced by many factors, making a precise value for a broad range of garments impossible, understanding these factors can give you a comprehensive understanding of what to expect.
According to The Journal of Textile Science and Engineering, these include “fiber type, yarn size and type, construction variables, crimp in yarn, wet processes, finishing procedures, and apparel manufacturing techniques.” [3]
Cotton Incorporated, the research and promotion company for cotton, experimented to establish if the heat of the clothes dryer was to blame for shrinkage. (They concluded it’s not, by the way.) The researchers noted that the 100% cotton interlock fabric they used in the experiment shrunk about 20% regardless of whether the garment was dried with heat or without. [4]
The book mentioned above, “Principles of Textile Finishing,” mentions a total fabric shrinkage of about 10%. [5]
Does Cotton Shrink Every Time You Wash It?
In many cases, a cotton garment will do most of its shrinking after the first wash. Again, any item’s shrinking amount will depend on the abovementioned factors. [6]
Buying Cotton Garments That Won’t Shrink
If you want to purchase a cotton item that won’t shrink, look for the Sanforized trademark on the label.
Many cotton fabrics undergo a process called Sanforizing before being made into garments. The sanforizing process feeds fabric into a Sanforizing machine that promotes shrinkage. [7] This process, however, reduces shrinkage to less than .75%, providing you with confidence in the garment’s durability. [8]
References
- [1] Homegrown Cotton – “What You Need to Know about Cotton and Shrinking.”
- [2][5][6][8] Choudhury, A. K. (2017). Principles of textile finishing. Duxford: Woodhead Publishing.
- [3] Khan, M. E. (2020). Optimization of Residual Shrinkage Control of 100% Cotton Woven Fabric Through Sanforization. Journal of Textile Science & Fashion Technology, 6(5). doi:10.33552/jtsft.2020.06.000648
- [4] Cotton Incorporated – “Clothes: Fear the Dryer No More – – Shrinkage no longer a necessary evil.”
- [7] Textile Insight – “Sanforizing Machine and Process.”
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