How to Shrink a Denim Jacket

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: August 10, 2021 References

The denim jacket is a classic clothing item that never seems to go out of style. Getting your jacket to fit right is important, but sometimes it may a bit too large, or it has lost its original shape and hold. Luckily, denim is cotton-based, and is pretty easy to shrink with hot water and a dryer.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using a Washing Machine and Dryer

1
Check the tag on your jacket to see if it is machine-safe. The tag can tell you if the jacket is safe to wash in a washing machine and whether or not it has been pre-shrunk. This could limit how much further it can be shrunk.^{[1]
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- The tag will also tell you the blend of the jacket. If it is not 100% cotton, that could affect how much it can be shrunk as well.
2
Turn the jacket inside-out to prevent fading. Jean jackets can fade after repeated washes. The easiest way to prevent fading is to simply turn the jacket inside-out.
- Button up or zip up the jacket so that it closes correctly after it has been shrunk.
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3
Place the jacket inside the washing machine by itself. Even if you plan to shrink more than one garment, wash your denim jacket by itself to achieve the best results. This will ensure an even soak and thorough wash cycle.^{[2]
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4
Set the washer to the highest water temperature. Hot water contracts the cotton fibers and will cause the jacket to shrink. Set the dial on your washing machine to the highest possible temperature setting.^{[3]
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5
Add color-safe detergent to the washing machine. Detergent can help to ensure that the jacket doesn’t fade in the wash. Not to mention, it will make your jacket cleaner and softer!
- Use ¼ the recommended amount of detergent for a full wash since you are washing the jacket by itself.
6
Wash the jean jacket on the longest wash cycle. The agitation and time spent in the hot water will start to shrink the denim. The longer the exposure to the hot water, the better the shrink.^{[4]
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7
Hang the jacket to dry. It may only take one hot wash cycle to shrink your jacket down to the size you want it to be. So allow the jacket to hang dry, then try it on to check the fit. Remember, it’s much easier to shrink something again than it is to unshrink it!
8
Dry the jacket in the dryer on the highest heat setting to shrink it more. If your jean jacket didn’t shrink quite enough after washing and hang-drying, you can dry it on high heat to shrink it further.^{[5]
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Research source} Keep it turned inside-out to prevent the color from fading.
- Run the dryer for one hour.
- Be careful, as the buttons or metal trim on the jacket will be hot after drying.
9
Repeat the process as needed to shrink the jacket to the desired size. The more you wash and dry on high heat, the more your jacket will shrink. But be careful! The more you wash and dry denim, the more it will lose its shape, color, and elasticity.^{[6]
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- You do not need to add detergent for repeat cycles.
- Pre-shrunk denim may take more than one cycle to shrink to the right size.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Boiling the Denim Jacket

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Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Be sure to have a pot large enough to fit the jacket without any of the water spilling out. Place the pot over high heat until the water is bubbling and boiling.^{[7]
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2
Place the jacket in the pot, reduce the heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Denim is a sturdy material that will take a little bit of time to shrink. It is important that the whole jacket is submerged in the boiling water to ensure even shrinking.^{[8]
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- Use a wooden spoon or utensil to submerge the entire jacket.
3
Drain the water and allow the jacket to cool slightly before handling. The pot, water, and denim will all be very hot. Carefully pour out the water and let the denim jacket cool for a little bit before you try to remove it.
4
Remove the jacket and hang-dry or machine-dry on high-heat. Once the jacket has cooled enough for you to handle it, you can check to see if it has shrunk enough. You can hang dry it or run it through the machine dryer on high heat if you need to shrink it more.^{[9]
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5
Repeat the process as needed to shrink to the right size. If the jacket has not shrunk enough after drying, you can boil it and dry it again to shrink it further. The more cycles you run it through, the more it will shrink.
- Though denim is sturdy, it will eventually start to lose its color and shape after repeated shrinking attempts.^{[10]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Ironing the Denim Jacket

1
Wash, boil, or dampen the jacket with hot water before ironing. Wet denim will shrink much more than dry denim, and the wetter it is, the more you’ll be able to shrink it. You can wash the jacket, boil it, or apply hot water to prepare it to be shrunk.
- If you are trying to shrink a specific area, like the sleeves or shoulders, spray or apply hot water to that area.
2
Lay the jacket out on an ironing board. Unfold an ironing board and lay your jacket flat across the top. Always use an ironing board to iron your denim as the hot iron can melt, warp, or burn other materials and cause it to stick to your jacket!^{[11]
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3
Use an iron on the hottest setting to iron the wet sections until dry. Keep the iron in constant motion to avoid burning the denim. Glide the hot iron over the damp regions in smooth, even strokes until the jacket is completely dry..^{[12]
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- To shrink the jacket further, add more water to the area you wish to shrink and iron until dry, repeating as necessary.