Why do my polo shirts shrink?

Posted by Legitimate_Week_1835@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 26 comments

Men of the UK, help me out here. I much prefer polo shirts to t shirts, particularly for working in an office. But I always shrink my polo shirts and it drives me up the wall because I’m ruining expensive purchases. I’m washing them on low (30) and air drying them. I don’t get it.

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26 Comments

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i_noah_guy11@reddit

Have you tried adding soap when you wash them?

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w1ckedw1cked@reddit

I always buy a size too big now so the initial shrink size isn’t an issue.

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DeifniteProfessional@reddit

Yes! I wash my clothes on a fairly slow cycle (800), and I only ever air dry (clothes horse/washing line in summer). Yet my polo shirts are all uncomfortable and shrinking. I know it's not weight gain as I've actually been dieting and am down in the midriff. Personally I'm more of a fan of buttoned shirts so I'm going to get those back out

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AlGunner@reddit

When clothes go from hot water to cold water they shrink. So its likely happening in your washing machine when it pumps out the dirty water and refills.

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RainbowPenguin1000@reddit

Try a different brand. Whenever I buy a particular brands t-shirts they shrink after one wash (and it’s not a super cheap brand so I’ve stopped buying them)

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sockeyejo@reddit

I stretch mine sideways after they've dried for the first few times they're washed and then they don't have any problems.

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eric-artman@reddit

Maybe it’s because fish and chips…. 😭😉

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your_swindon_lot@reddit

You sure you’ve not put on a bit of timber?

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Lassitude1001@reddit

OP's been hitting the gym, got those gains. You go, OP.

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ViscountGris@reddit

Do you even lift ?

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SlickPillock@reddit

If you're air drying them then it's a mystery to me... I've only ever shrunk my clothes by tumble drying them...

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Afraid_Jellyfish6718@reddit

Where are they from? I swear to god primark are the worst

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ChunkyLover500@reddit

Don’t put them in the dryer. Lay them flat to dry on a towel

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Shitelark@reddit

I don't know. But if anyone can unravel the mystery of why one collar curves outward and one inwards will reveal the deep truth of Chirality that underpins the Observable Universe and the balance of matter and antimatter that allows our very existence.

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Tuarangi@reddit

I have bamboo fibre ones from BAM and wash them with normal clothes at 40 with a non-bio tab and have no issue with shrinking

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Superspark76@reddit

I find soft 100% cotton or bamboo both come out perfect every time no matter what I do. More expensive to buy but nicer to wear and last.

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WhiskySlayer316@reddit

There's a little white label on the inside that tells you how to wash them. Temperature and that... You'll need to learn the symbols like 'no tumbledry', 'do not iron' etc. You've got this. I've got every faith in you.

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Whyunhappyme@reddit

I found this, they weren’t super cheap. They would still fit around me but shrunk upwards and I haven’t put on weight.

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Billy_Rizzle@reddit

Some garments are pre-shrunk before sale, many are not.

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made_from_toffee@reddit

I used to wear gant polos. Bit expensive but lasts forever.

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depyram@reddit

Don't buy really low quality ones. Reshape/stretch them a bit when they come out of the washing machine.

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listen3times@reddit

I do this with my cheap M&S ones. When they're wet out the washer, I give them a stretch then hang them to dry.

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Far_Scallion_97@reddit

Don’t know if it could be to do with the brand you buy or the materials, but you can always buy a size larger so it fits you when it shrinks?

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xxx654@reddit

Thermostat issue on the washing machine seems most likely. Other things: -Overloaded machines can cause friction between clothes. -items not being stretched properly after being washed.

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MinorThreat89@reddit

Are they cheap? Also maybe buy a size up (or extra long etc).

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