The composition of the polyester, nylon, and elastane used to make Lululemon shorts prevent them from shrinking.
A small percentage of garments, such as City Sweat Joggers, contains more than 55% cotton, and At Ease Joggers can shrink by as much as 2%-3% when washed in warm water.
The rest of the lulu shorts collection, however, is resistant to shrinking and features excellent stretch.
Moreover, lululemon claims that none of the shorts are preshrunk because the materials used are sufficiently sturdy to prevent shrinkage.
How Then Do Lululemon Shorts Shrink?
To effectively shrink clothes, especially those made of synthetic fibers, heat is required. To the degree that you apply heat, your shorts will become shorter.
Normal wear and tear on a pair of lululemon shorts will not cause them to shrink in the dryer because the synthetic fibers require a very high temperature for the shrinkage to occur in their lengths.
The risk of shrinking is substantially lower for lululemon shorts than the risk of stretching out in hot water.
Therefore, I would not recommend that you dry your lulu shorts on the highest heat setting in a tumble dryer; rather, I would suggest that you follow the care instructions provided with the shorts, as doing so will prevent the loss of shine and quality that you were hoping to achieve by purchasing them.
While it’s true that most of the products are preshrunk and won’t shrink in the wash, I can declare with absolute certainty that the length of my remixes shrank after being dried.
Say what you will, but I know how much I cherished them before I dried them in the dryer, and I find it difficult to put them on now.
I have had my favorite new remix for a few months and have yet to put it in the dryer, and I still adore it as much as the day I first put it on.
Because of the frequency with which you promote it, I feel compelled to inform you that the cotton fleece you sell does, in fact, shrink.
How To Stop Pants From Shrinking
Clothes can be damaged and shrunken due to agitation and high temperatures in the washing and drying cycles. Fabrics like cotton, linen, and wool might shrink if washed too violently, as the fibers will cling closer together.
Fabrics can be damaged and shrunken by using hot water washing cycles and/or high heat dryer settings.
Follow these guidelines and you may be able to save your family’s favorite garments from being shrunken in the wash:
It is important to read the labels on new purchases and laundry loads
If you want to keep your clothes from getting too small, the first thing to do is to follow the washing recommendations on the care tag.
Always read the label to know what to expect from a garment before you buy it and especially before you wash it.
You may tell if a garment is likely to shrink (like cotton or linen) or if it has been “pre-shrunk” by looking at the care label. Some items of clothing are designated as “dry clean only” and should not be washed in a conventional washing machine.
Also, make sure to follow the guidelines for water temperature, washing cycle, and drying time.
The general rule is to wash your clothes in cold water on a gentle cycle and dry them on a low heat setting to avoid shrinking the fabric.
Please use cold water and the appropriate wash cycles
One of the most important things to keep in mind to prevent clothing from shrinking is to keep the room temperature low.
Drying clothes in a hot dryer or washing them in hot water greatly increases the likelihood that the garments may shrink.
When it comes to keeping garments in their “off-the-rack” size, cold water washing is king.
Shrinkage can also be avoided by not using high-heat dryers, quick spin cycles, or heavy-duty washing cycles.
Instead, use the delicate cycle and a mesh washing bag to safeguard your delicates.
Drying on a low heat setting or letting it air dry is an option. Whenever in doubt, refer to the care recommendations included on the garment’s tag.
Put it in the dryer or let it air dry
To prevent your clothes from shrinking, try drying them in the dryer or by hanging them to dry.
The dryer temperature and cycle recommendations for preventing shrinking will be found on the care label of your garment.
Don’t let clothes dry too long
Shrinkage and damage to the fabric can result from over-drying and the use of long, high-temperature cycles. Preserve your clothes by drying them in a tumble dryer or by hanging them to dry for shorter periods of time.
Dry your clothing by hanging them outside
Does drying clothing in the air help avoid shrinkage? Yes. If you want to avoid the wrinkles and wear and tear that comes with using a dryer, try hanging your items outside to dry instead.
How To Unshrink Lululemon Shorts
Knowing the reason why clothing shrinks is the first step in solving this conundrum. Most knitwear, denim, and cotton garments are fashioned from natural fibers.
This fabric goes through a stretching process during production. The fibers return to their usual size after being washed in hot water.
The question then becomes, what can be done to salvage your now-too-small wardrobe? Here’s an easy 6-step process to try:
- Water should be lukewarm, and a mild detergent should be used. Baby shampoo or conditioner, measured out to a capful, can be used in a sink or tub filled with lukewarm water. Try the same amount of detergent intended for delicates instead.
- Allow yourself up to half an hour of soaking time. The fibers will start to unwind at this point.
- Carefully squeeze excess moisture out of garments. Once the time is over, give the clothes a light squeeze to remove excess water, but do not wash them.
- Place the garments flat on the towel. To get the clothes to a damp rather than wet state, roll them in a towel and gently squeeze out as much water as possible.
- Place the garments flat on a second dry, clean towel. Place it on the towel and slowly stretch it back to its original size.
- Permit the garments to air dry.
Don’t worry if your favorite garment shrinks a bit in the wash the next time you wear it. These easy steps could help you feel confident again and fit into your old clothes.
How To Care For Different Lululemon Pants
You wouldn’t want to ruin your $100 and $50 pants by accidentally bleaching them. Special care must be taken when washing these garments to prevent damage such as piling, straining, fading, shrinking, or even the premature demise of your gear.
Tips for Cleaning Your Lululemon Gear
You can find care instructions for every Lululemon product on the inside label, but it’s more convenient to do laundry all at once. Here is how to take care of your favorite Lulu items.
Pants and leggings sold by Lululemon are often constructed from one of their characteristic synthetic fabrics, such as Luon® or Nulu, combined with elastane or spandex. These are all man-made fibers that will be ruined if washed in hot water.
Lululemon recommends washing your yoga pants inside out with your other synthetic workout clothes on a delicate cold cycle. Dry by laying flat, hanging, or tumble drying on low.
Don’t ever wash your Lululemon yoga pants or leggings with anything that has a zipper, Velcro, or rough fabric! Turning them inside out is another way to preserve the soft, buttery exterior.
The Proper Way to Clean Misaligned Leggings
Lululemon’s Align collection is a no-frills take on athleisure with the intention of letting “distractions just drift away.” Most of the clothing is a stretchy blend of materials like Lycra® and nylon with a touch of ultra-soft Nulu for added comfort.
Align leggings can be machine cleaned in cold water with similar colors and dried in a low heat dryer. Your Align leggings will not hold up to bleach, ironing, or dry cleaning.
Cleaning a Lululemon Align Tank
The Align tank is made from the same stretchy nylon/elastane combination as the rest of the Align collection, therefore it needs to be washed in cold water before being dyed. Dry on a low setting in the dryer or by hanging.
Care for Lululemon Shorts in Wash
Depending on the fabric, shorts from Lululemon should be washed in the same way as pants and leggings. Inverted, cold-cycled, and line-dried with your leggings, the compression shorts may be laundered with ease.
Tumble drying on a low heat setting and washing in cold or medium water won’t damage looser running shorts nearly as much as tighter ones will.
Wash Your Lululemon Pants This Way
Absolutely No Abrasives
Despite their remarkable longevity, Lululemon items are not indestructible. Denim, Velcro, and other abrasive fabrics should never be washed together.
If these rip or otherwise ruin the cloth, you may be very dissatisfied with whoever performed the laundry.
You should constantly associate with people who share your values and interests. Invert your Lulu gear and wash it inside out, but don’t put it in the washer with your gym clothes or synthetic fabrics like Luxtreme or Nulu.
Without Fabric Softeners
Sweat-wicking yoga clothes should not be washed with fabric softeners. Washing your Lulu apparel with items that soften fibers can reduce their capacity to wick away sweat.
Fabric softeners, ironically, make fabrics stiffer. How amusingly that works!
In case you forget this rule and find yourself using fabric softener, have no fear! There is yet hope for your equipment.
Fabric softener can reduce the sweat-wicking abilities of clothes, thus washing them without it first is recommended.
Related:
