If you ever asked yourself, “Do leggings shrink in the dryer?” it’s probably for one of two reasons.
The first one is that your favorite leggings got stretched out to the point that they’re unwearable. So, logically, now you’re looking for a way to shrink them to the original size.
Another possible scenario is that you suddenly can’t fit into your leggings as you used to. So, now you’re wondering if you gained weight or the size of the leggings got reduced in the dryer.
Whatever the case may be, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we discuss the exact things that make leggings shrink in size, so you can enjoy your favorite pair much longer.
Why Do Leggings Stretch Out?
Even leggings made from high-quality materials can stretch out over time.
Leggings are usually amongst those most frequently worn items in our closets. You either wear them to do everyday activities, during your workouts, or both!
No matter how long you’ve been wearing them, leggings can also stretch out with improper washing and/or drying.
To be completely fair – leggings can also shrink over time as well! It all depends on how you take care of them – or wash and dry them – to be more specific.
To learn how to properly wash your leggings, you’ll need to be aware of the material they are made of. The material of the leggings determines the best way to wash them – as we’ll explain later in this article.
Can You Shrink Leggins?
The answer is – yes! You can absolutely do so, either intentionally or by accident.
The general idea behind this is that hot water makes clothes shrink. [1]
So, If you’re looking for a way to prevent leggings from stretching, you should always wash them with warm or hot water.
Also, if you’re looking for a way to shrink your already stretched-out leggings, know that there is a solution for this!
However, this solution isn’t only to wash your leggings with hot water – and you’re done. If you’re not careful, you can lighten your dark leggings or shrink them too much this way.
That’s why being aware of the legging material is a very important first step to shrinking them.
Not every material shrinks so fast, and you might want to be more careful with some of the more delicate ones.
Do Leggings Shrink in the Washing Machine?
The short answer is – yes, they do. However, it all depends on the length and the temperature of the cycle that you choose.
But generally speaking, most cycles use warm or hot water in order to wash the clothes.
That’s why, if you want to shrink your leggings, you can do so by choosing the hot water cycle. This includes both the wash and rinse cycle in hot water.
This is a general rule that applies to most leggings fabrics. The hot water will tighten the threads that make up the fabric of the leggings, and this will make them shrink in size.
Another tip you can follow is to choose the longest cycle on your washing machine. By choosing the longest cycle, you will ensure that the leggings will soak up as much as the heat and water possible.
The longest cycles in the washing machines also typically include a lot of the spins, which adds friction to the fabric. With a bunch of friction and hot water, your leggings will shrink during the wash.
Do Leggings Shrink in the Dryer?
Yes, they do. That is – if you use the hottest setting on the dryer.
After you have washed and rinsed the leggings in the washing machine using the hot water, you can move on to this step. Drying the leggings in the hot dryer afterward will ensure you’ll get the most shrinkage out of your leggings.
Leggings are originally not even meant to be put in the dryer. Most manufacturers will advise you to lay the leggings flat to dry.
This is advised so you can avoid shrinking your leggings.
However, you may ask- do leggings shrink in the dryer – when you’re dealing with already stretched leggings.
If you want to shrink your stretched leggings, it is perfectly safe to put them in the dryer. This will act as an additional step where the fabric will tighten once again.
If you want to avoid shrinking your leggings, even more, you can let them air-dry after a hot wash.
Tips For Shrinking Leggings
There are several other tips for shrinking your leggings. As we mentioned previously, most of them depend on the material of your leggings.
By treating your leggings according to their material, you will get the most out of their shrinkage without compromising their quality.
Without wasting any more of your time, let’s get right into those.
How to Shrink Cotton Leggings?
Cotton leggings are probably the easiest ones to shrink or shape in other ways. Most leggings are made from cotton blends which include other materials, and not just cotton.
However, with pure cotton leggings, you don’t have to be afraid of exposing them to the high heat during prolonged periods of time.
This is especially the case with lighter cotton leggings. You may want to be more careful with dark-colored ones, as they might contain dyes that can become pale after the wash.
How to Shrink Nylon Leggings?
Nylon leggings are also safe to put on hot settings in your washing machine’s cycle. However, you may experience some fading, depending on your specific blend of fabrics and the color.
To avoid this, you can add some ammonia to your hot washing cycle. [2]
Since ammonia is very strong, you want to avoid putting too much. One-third of the cup will be enough for leggings and some additional nylon gym clothes.
Avoid putting nylon leggings for more than half an hour in the dryer to avoid damage. Also, the temperature of the dryer shouldn’t have to be as hot while washing the nylon leggings.
How to Shrink Polyester Leggings?
With polyester leggings, it’s safe to follow the same rules as cotton leggings.
Shrink polyester leggings by putting them through a washing and drying cycle at hot temperatures on both machines.
The same rule applies for cotton and polyester blends, as well as for 100% polyester leggings.
How to Shrink Lycra Leggings?
Now, this is a tricky one. Unfortunately, lycra is a material that doesn’t shrink so easily.
Lycra is very stretchy, so it requires a different type of washing. [3]
If you have lycra blend leggings with some other types of materials, you may still have a chance at shrinking them.
You can still try running them through a shrinking process to see how they perform. Otherwise, you can either get them tailored, or you’ll have to buy a new pair.
How to Shrink Spandex Leggings?
Spandex leggings are also the tricky ones from this group of materials. You have a chance of shrinking spandex leggings, but you need to make sure not to overdo it.
These leggings can easily get tangled during washing cycles. That being said, you want to find a washing and drying cycle that uses hot water but has very low friction.
If you’re unsure how to do so, your next best option will be to wash them by hand. Soak your spandex leggings into boiling hot water containing whatever cleaning solution you use for your other clothing.
Let them sit until the water is not boiling hot anymore – so you can involve your hands. Wash them gently for about 10 minutes, and then lay them to dry.
How to Shrink Leggings Without Washing?
Say you’ve just tried your leggings on while getting ready to go out, and you notice they are stretched out. You now don’t have time to properly wash and dry your leggings. Now what?
Now you’re certainly looking for ways how to shrink leggings fast, as there’s no time left.
Luckily, there’s a trick you can use in order to temporarily shrink your leggings when you’re in a rush.
All you’re going to need are:
- A Spray Bottle
- A Hairdryer
- A Clean Flat Surface
Without wasting any more of your time, grab these things and follow the next steps.
Fill in the spray bottle with some water. Preferably, you’ll fill it with hot water, but this isn’t as important as warm or even cold water will do just fine.
QUICK NOTE: Avoid filling a plastic spray bottle with boiling hot water. This can melt the plastic bottle, and you can end up with a burn very easily. [4]
Then, lay your leggings on a clean flat surface. An ironing board will be perfect for this occasion, but you can find something similar too.
Spray your leggings with a spray bottle filled with water. Spritz your leggings all the way from the waistline to the ankles. Make sure to mist them to make them damp and not too wet.
Then, plug in your hairdryer and turn on the hottest setting on it. Use it to dry your leggings with hot air. Continue using the hairdryer until you notice the leggings have dried.
The moisture and hot air in this trick have the same purpose as in the washing machine and dryer process.
Keep in mind that this is only the milder version of it, and if you have more time on your hands, you may want to properly wash and dry your leggings beforehand.
How to Shrink Leggins Without a Dryer?
First, let us remind you that the “hairdryer” trick also works in this case.
If you don’t have a dryer, you can use the hairdryer to additionally shrink your leggings after washing them in the washing machine. Just make sure to set the hairdryer on the hottest setting possible while doing this.
Another trick is to use the iron after washing the leggings.
First, you need to make sure your leggings are damp but not too wet. If you put the leggings through the wash and rinse cycle in the washing machine, that’ll make them just damp enough.
Otherwise, if you don’t have enough time on your hands, repeat the first part of the previous trick. All you need to do is mist the leggings with a spray bottle you previously filled with some water.
Next, grab a thin cloth, similar to the ones used in the kitchen.
Place your damp leggings over a clean flat surface, such as an ironing board. Then, place the clean thin cloth over the section of the leggings and start ironing over that cloth.
This thin cloth serves as a way to protect the fabric of the leggings from getting damaged. It’s thin enough, so the heat from the iron still travels to the leggings just enough to dry and shrink them.
How to Prevent Leggings From Stretching?
Most leggings can be washed in the washing machine. However, cold water is often recommended so the leggings don’t shrink and the color stays intact.
However, there are some leggings that will simply stretch if you wash them this way numerous times. That’s mostly because the fabric stretches with water and spinning cycles from the washing machine.
To prevent this, try washing your leggings with warm water while putting them in a mesh bag. [5]
A mesh bag will limit the stretching of the leggings, while warm or hot water will additionally tighten them.
Related: Yoga Pants vs Yoga Leggins
Final Thoughts
We’ve finally reached a conclusion to your initial question – Do leggings shrink in the dryer?
Not only that leggings shrink in the dryer, but there are also some other tricks that you can use in order to shrink them. The general rule is – that leggings shrink in hot water cycles of the washer and the dryer.
That’s all you need to do unless you want to prevent shrinking your leggings. In that case, just avoid doing these things and do the opposite.