ANSWERS: 3
  • There are two general types of fabric that can shrink when run through a dryer - excluding animal skin and fur which will pretty much be destroyed in a washing machine. Cotton, canvas, denim and linen have a very tight weave, and when they become wet and heat dried, cotton fibers tend to tighten up and shrink. This is usually only during the first few washings, after which they won't shrink any more. Certain 100% artificial materials like acrylic, lycra, neoprene and spandex are pretty weak in their structure and will simply degrade or melt when dried at too high a temperature. Hemp, polyester, rayon, nylon and vinyl are much more durable and will not shrink. The main way to tell if a fiber will shrink is to read the label! If it says not to dry on high heat, don't. If you're not sure, use the lowest setting possible. Be especially careful with 'machine wash cold' 100% synthetics (except as above, polyester and rayon) For mixed fabrics like cotton/poly, the higher the percentage of cotton, the more likely it is to shrink, but again only on the initial wash or two. Some people recommend wearing cotton based clothing for a few days to 'break it in' before washing the first time, ensuring the the clothing will still fit comfortably after it shrinks.
  • Wool and cellulose (as in cotton) both hydrogen bond to water. I speculate that, depending on the shape of the fibre, this hydrogen bonding, possibly combined with surface tension, can bring the ends of small loops in the fibres closer together. In the some case, when the water evaporates, the fiber will either have stuck to itself through the interlacing of small rough patches, or hydrogen bonded to itself.
  • Hot water and high heat shrink clothes. Cold won’t shrink most fibers. Cotton is more likely to shrink. The tumbling action that takes place in the dryer causes moisture to evaporate from the garment, leading your clothes to shrink.

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