This article was co-authored by Susan Stocker. Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.
This article has been viewed 49,577 times.
Are your joggers too big? Try shrinking them at home! Simply put the joggers in a hot wash and then tumble dry them. This inexpensive method will leave you with warm, cosy, and smaller joggers. If you’re looking for a quick solution, steam iron both sides of your joggers. The combination of the heat and steam will help to shrink your joggers in no time at all.
Steps
Hot-washing Your Joggers
-
1Place your joggers in the washing machine on a hot wash. Remove any tissues, coins, or other objects from the pockets and place your joggers into the washing machine. Turn the machine on, select the hot wash option, and press start.[1]
- If you’re joggers are dirty, read the instructions on your laundry detergent packet and add the powder or liquid as directed. If the joggers are clean, there is no need to add detergent.
- This method is most effective for joggers made from natural fibers such as cotton, linen, or wool.
- Choose the longest wash cycle available. This will give the joggers more exposure to hot water which will help encourage them to shrink.
-
2Squeeze any excess water out of the joggers. This will help to speed up the drying process. Don’t worry about squeezing all the water from the joggers, just squeeze them enough to remove drips.[2]Advertisement
-
3Place the joggers into the dryer for 20 minutes on the hottest setting. Check the joggers after 20 minutes and if they are still wet, place them back in the dryer for a further 10 minutes. Remove the joggers once they are completely dry.[3]
- If your joggers have any prints on them, turn the pants inside out before placing them in the dryer. This will help to protect the prints from being damaged by the heat and agitation of the dryer.
-
4Try your joggers on and repeat the above steps if they are still too big. Wait for your joggers to cool down to room temperature before trying them on. Walk around in them for a few minutes to determine if they are still too baggy. If you are unhappy with the size, put them through another hot wash and drying cycle.[4]
- Continue to repeat the process until you are happy with the size of the joggers or until they stop shrinking. The joggers will not normally shrink more than 1 size.
Using a Steam Iron
-
1Lay your joggers flat on an ironing board. Place your ironing board in a location close to a power jack. Open out your joggers so that both legs lie flat on the ironing board and remove any objects from the pockets.[5]
- If you don’t have an ironing board, lay a thick towel onto a wooden or concrete floor and use this surface to iron on instead.
-
2Fill your steam iron up with water and set it to the “high” setting. Make sure not to fill the iron past the “maximum” line as this can cause it to leak onto the fabric and cause watermarks. Wait 5 minutes for the iron to heat up.[6]
- This method is not suitable for silk or rayon joggers as the heat and steam of the iron will damage the fabric and cause watermarks.
- It is important to use a steam iron as it is the combination of heat and steam that causes the joggers to shrink.
-
3Rub the steam iron over both sides of the joggers. Press the iron onto the joggers and rub it over the joggers. Once all the fabric has been exposed to the heat of the iron, turn the joggers over and iron the other side. This will take about 5 minutes. The combination of the steam and heat will help to shrink the joggers.[7]
- If the joggers have any prints on them, turn them inside out before you iron them.
-
4Iron the joggers again if they are still too big. Wait for the joggers to cool down to room temperature and then try them on again. If they still feel a bit roomy, steam iron them again to shrink them further.[8]
- The joggers will not generally shrink more than 1 size. If the joggers are not shrinking any further with extra ironing, this shows that they have reached their smallest size.
Warning
- Never put silk in the dryer or iron it as this will damage the fabric.
References
- ↑ Susan Stocker. Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.
- ↑ https://youtu.be/9FMvuBStXEg?t=85
- ↑ Susan Stocker. Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.
- ↑ https://homequicks.com/how-to-shrink-polyester
- ↑ https://sewguide.com/how-to-shrink-clothes/
- ↑ https://sewguide.com/how-to-shrink-clothes/
- ↑ https://sewguide.com/how-to-shrink-clothes/
- ↑ https://sewguide.com/how-to-shrink-clothes/
About This Article
If your joggers fit too loosely, you might be able to shrink them with a hot wash. This method works best for joggers made of natural materials such as cotton, linen, or wool. Put your joggers in the washing machine on the hottest setting for the longest possible cycle. When they’re done, squeeze out any excess moisture before transferring them to the dryer. Dry the joggers for 20 minutes on the hottest setting, then check to see if they’re dry. If the joggers are still damp, put them back in the dryer for 10 minutes and then check them again. Keep doing this until they are completely dry. Let them cool down for a few minutes, then try them on to see if they fit any better. If they still feel too baggy, repeat the wash and dry cycle until they’re as tight as you like. You can also try ironing your joggers on a high-heat setting with a steam iron for about 5 minutes on each side. With either method, they probably won’t shrink more than about 1 size in total.
