How to Stretch Khaki Pants

Co-authored by Robert Shapiro

Last Updated: December 3, 2021 References

You tug, you pull, you even jump to put them on, but no matter what you do, you just can’t get your khaki pants to stretch. What do you do? Easy! Khaki pants are usually made out of either cotton or wool.^{[1]
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Research source} That means if your khaki pants are too tight, you can stretch the fibers out so they fit more comfortably and loosen up, much in the same way you would for jeans or wool pants. With a few clever tricks, your pants will fit like a glove in no time.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

All-Over Stretching

1
Soak the pants in water first if they’re really tight. If the khaki pants are tight all over, soaking them in water can make it easier to stretch the fibers. Submerge them in water and wring out the excess so they’re damp but not sopping wet.^{[2]
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- You could also put the pants on and then get into a tub of water to soak for 10-15 minutes.
2
Put on the khaki pants. If you have trouble putting the pants on, try lying down and pulling them on that way. If you can’t zip or button them, no worries. Leave them open for the time being. After you stretch them, you may be able to button or zip them closed.^{[3]
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3
Do some squats to loosen up the backside. Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart and squat down by bending your knees. Squat a few times until you feel the backside of your pants loosen up a bit and fit more comfortably.^{[4]
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- Keep your squats nice and slow. If you drop too suddenly, you could rip your pants if they’re super tight.
4
Slide 2 small objects into the waistband to stretch it out. Use something small like perfume bottles or deodorant sticks. Slide them into your waist on opposite sides and walk around a bit to help stretch out the waist of your khaki pants.^{[5]
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- If there is some extra fabric inside the pants, you can make some alterations and let it out. ^{[6]
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  Expert Source
  
  Robert Shapiro
  Laundry Specialist
  Expert Interview. 24 August 2021.}
- Otherwise you can take the pants to a professional who can stretch them with tension equipment.^{[7]
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  Expert Source
  
  Robert Shapiro
  Laundry Specialist
  Expert Interview. 24 August 2021.}
5
Wear the pants until they dry. The wet fibers will stretch and form to your body. Although it might be a little uncomfortable, keep wearing your wet pants until they dry. Move around as much as possible to further stretch out your khakis.^{[8]
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Wash your pants as little as possible. Washing and drying your pants can cause them to shrink again, so avoid washing them as much as you can. Instead, try putting them in the freezer overnight to help freshen them up.^{[9]
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- Whenever you do wash your pants, don’t put them in the dryer! Hang them up to dry instead.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Spot-Stretching

1
Spray the snug areas of the pants with water. Fill a spray bottle with lukewarm water. If your khaki pants are snug in specific areas like the waistband or calves, spray them with the water so they’re nice and saturated.^{[10]
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Research source} If your pants are tight all over, spray the entire surface so the pants are fully wet.^{[11]
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- The water helps loosen and release the fibers, making the easier to stretch.
2
Apply heat with a blow dryer as an alternative. If you don’t have a spray bottle, or you just don’t want to wet your pants, take a blow dryer and blow heat directly onto the areas you want to stretch out. Continue applying heat until the fibers are nice and stretchy.^{[12]
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- You could also use an iron to heat up the fabric instead of a blow dryer.^{[13]
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3
Pull and tug on problem areas to loosen them up. If your pants are only tight in a few problem areas, focus on reshaping them. Use your hands to pull the fabric in all directions—up and down as well as lengthwise and widthwise. Continue tugging until the fabric is stretched.^{[14]
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- Really work on the fabric to stretch and reshape it.
- You can try slipping the pants on to see if they fit better.
4
Hang the pants up to dry if they’re wet. If you sprayed your pants with water, hang them up on a hanger after you’ve tugged and pulled on the pants to stretch them out. Allow them to fully dry on their own before you wear them.^{[15]
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- Try the pants on to see how they fit. If they still need some more stretching, try repeating the process again to see if that helps.