Leggings are most probably the most wearable clothing apparel for any occasion, except for formal ones. It’s beyond comfortable to wear and doesn’t take too much space in the closet.

However, the more you wear it, the more it gets loose as well. Sounds like some bad news, right? But, there’s a way to shrink them again and have it fit perfectly.

Here’s how:

Do it by using your good old washer and dryer

Step 1: You will need to place all of your loose leggings straight to the washing machine.

Step 2: You should choose the hottest option in your washer and dryer settings. Do the hottest that you can get.

Step 3: Add some of your laundry detergents. There’s no strict rule here when it comes to picking a type of detergent. You can use whatever you have in your house.

Step 4: You can also add a fabric conditioner to add that sweet-smelling feel. This is just optional. You may always opt for a no-fabric conditioner wash.

Step 5: Before starting the washer, choose the option setting to longer wash. Choose the longest one as much as possible.

Step 6: Once done washing, set the dryer as well to the hottest setting available and start drying your leggings. Pick a longer time as well to provide more heat to your leggings for shrinking.

Voila! Your leggings should be shrunk now.

Spray the leggings with your hairdryer

  • You’ll need an empty spray bottle for this one. If you have a spare bottle in your house, then it’s better. If not, you can always purchase them in the supermarket.
  • Heat some water in the pot. Estimate just enough water that can fill up your spray bottle later.
  • When the water is hot, fill the spray bottle with it.
  • Prepare all your loose leggings for spraying.
  • Go ahead and use the ironing board and place your leggings on it. If you don’t have an ironing board, any flat surface will do.
  • Spray your leggings with the hot mixture without soaking it all too much. Start with the front part first.
  • Then grab your blower or hairdryer and heat the leggings. Choose the “high heat” option.
  • Do the same process to the other side of the leggings.

Use an electric iron

  • You will need to have your leggings washed first to get rid of any dirt residues and let it air dry.
  • Take your leggings while it’s still a little damp and not too dry out.
  • Grab your electric iron (handle with caution) and pick the medium heat. Start fully drying your leggings by ironing it. Make sure it’s crisp. Please don’t get it burned, and be careful with the temperature of the iron.

Boil it with very hot water

  • Prepare a big pot and fill it with hot water halfway.
  • Bring the water into a boil.
  • Then start adding your leggings and boil it for at least 15 minutes. Time will depend on how many leggings you put in the pot. This applies to 4-5 medium-sized leggings.
  • Use a thong and carefully take out all the leggings and transfer it to another container.
  • Let it cool down for a little bit until it’s bearable to touch.
  • Wring the excess water and hang it to dry under the sun.

Tips on taking care of your leggings better

  • When you just purchased new sets of leggings, always check the garment tag for care instructions. This was attached to the garment by the manufacturer to help their customers to better care for the garment they’ve purchased. By doing this, you will have a better grasp on how to take care of your leggings the right way.
  • Always check what type of leggings you have in your closet. Know that there are different kinds of leggings: spandex, polyester, and nylon leggings. Each of those types has specific ways of handling and maintaining. Familiarize yourself with those differences.
  • Separate your working out leggings and casual leggings. At times we tend to wear our gym clothes whenever grocery shopping or just simply running a quick errand. Little did we know that we are already overusing it slowly. Over time the leggings get stretchy and loose with constant use. Try to strictly assign leggings for just working out and for regular use. This way, it won’t worn out easily, and it can last for a long time of use.
  • When washing your leggings, it’s always recommended to hand wash it. This way, you can control the force that the leggings are taking compared to washing it in the washer. But if you want convenience, use a mesh bag to separate your leggings from other garments that you’re washing, as well as the chemicals from the washer and detergent that damages the fabric fibers.
  • To prevent your leggings from getting loose way too early, always wash it with either warm or cold water. If you use room temperature water, it soaks up the leggings too much and messes up with the fibers. Unlike with hot or cold water, it helps the legging fabric to retain its sturdiness and tightness.
  • Although the dryers do wonders when shrinking loose leggings as what we’ve mentioned above, it’s the opposite for newly bought leggings. For your new leggings, avoid drying them by using the dryer since it affects the quality of the leggings. We highly recommend you to air dry it, whether indoors or outdoors. The dryer shall only be used for emergency cases such as fixing loose leggings. Air drying clothes can also save you from the hefty prices of electric consumption, and on top of that, you’re also helping to save the environment.
  • Some of us like our clothes when they are properly ironed. That crisp and sharp look will never go out of style. However, if it’s spandex leggings, you might not want to use an iron for it since it burns quite easily.

How can I make my leggings smaller?

Choose a hot water wash and hot water rinse cycle. The hot water makes the fabric yarns and threads shorten up so they are not as relaxed out. Although most items these days come pre-shrunk, using a combination of heat, water, and friction will allow the fabric to bind back together and shrink your leggings.

Can you shrink leggings in the wash?

Most sweater and leggings contain a blend of cotton and polyester, the easiest way to shrink leggings is to use the washing machine and clothes dryer. In order to shrink any fibers, applying heat to the fiber is the most successful way to shrink almost any leggings.

What do you do if your leggings are too big?

All you need to do is wash your pair of leggings in a washing machine which you set it on a hot water wash and a hot water rinse cycle program. The hot water primarily tightens the fabric yarns and prevents them from relaxing out.

How do you shrink polyester spandex leggings?

Polyester and Spandex Legging Shrinkage

To shrink your polyester and spandex leggings, wash the spandex polyester garment on the hottest wash and rinse cycle of your washing machine. Remove the leggings from the washer and place them into a laundry mesh bag or pillowcase and tie the end closed.

How do you shrink polyester leggings that are too big?

If you have a polyester garment that is too large, you may want to shrink it. You can shrink it in the washing machine or the dryer. The key to shrinking polyester fabric is to use heat. You do not need to use detergent or fabric softener while shrinking polyester.

Does spandex shrink in the dryer?

Polyester, nylon, spandex, acrylic, and acetate won’t shrink and will resist water-based stains. Most produce static and may permanently wrinkle in a hot dryer, so dry on low.

How can I make my spandex tighter?

But if you’re trying to shrink a pair of spandex leggings, put them in the dryer on high heat for just 10 minutes to lock in the shrinkage achieved in the washing machine. If you’re really worried about damage, pop them in a pillowcase (tied off at the top) before putting them in the dryer for a bit of protection.

How much will 95 cotton 5 spandex shrink?

Will 95 Cotton 5 Elastane Shrink? That is 95% and 5% and the process is the same as it is with any other material blended with elastane. Use the higher water and dryer temperatures when you clean the clothing. About 60 minutes in the dryer should do it if you use cold water wash.

What happens if I put spandex in the dryer?

Spandex: Spandex does not react well to heat, and therefore putting full spandex clothing, such as a bathing suit or leggings, into the dryer will caused the fabric fibres to weaken and break. Clothing that contains a small amount of spandex material, such as jeans, could be okay to put in the dryer.

Does spandex shrink when washed?

Spandex does not shrink under normal wash conditions, so you’ll need to use the hottest setting. This is often the setting for “heavy duty.” X Research source Turn the machine to its hottest setting and let it run a full cycle. You do not need to use detergent unless you also want to clean the garment.

Why is spandex so expensive?

How Much Does Spandex Fabric Cost? Due to its novelty and the relatively laborious manufacturing process used to make it, spandex fabric commands a relatively high market price. It is, for instance, more expensive than polyester and nylon, and it is also usually more expensive than organic fabrics like wool and cotton.

Does spandex stretch out over time?

Spandex is also commonly used in accessories and children’s clothing. Spandex garments must be stretched in order to fit correctly. While Spandex does stretch, it will not hold its form indefinitely. It is best to stretch Spandex garments regularly, as they may lose their elasticity if they are not stretched regularly.

How tight should leggings be?

Leggings should fit you snugly and comfortably, much like a second skin.

Can spandex be altered?

Sr Member. That depends on the seamstress’s abilities and what exactly needs adjusted. In general, most likely they should be able to help you, but most probably aren’t accustomed to working with spandex. With the nature of the printed suits, if too much needs to be taken in, it will throw off the shading and textures.

Does nylon and spandex stretch over time?

One of the very best characteristics that nylon fabric has is that it does not shrink or stretch. But only in its pure form. If the nylon fibers are blended with other fibers then you may have a stretching problem.

Do leggings stretch out?

Leggings can be stretched or shrunk over time. It depends on what they’re made of and how you wash and care for them. In general, to prevent them from stretching out, you should use warm or hot water to wash leggings. Using hot water will make them shrink a bit, which will counteract any stretching.

Is 90 polyester and 10 spandex stretchy?

The elasticity in this product is greatly improved by the special construction of micro fiber spandex in the material. This polyester stretch fabric also prints very well, making it an excellent choice for dye sublimation.

How can I make my leggings bigger?

How to Stretch Out Your Leggings with Ease
  1. Wear Your Leggings on a Regular Basis.
  2. Get Active in Your Leggings.
  3. Wash Your leggings and Shape Them When Wet.
  4. Wash Your Leggings and then Put Them on When Wet.
  5. Use Weights to Stretch Out Your Leggings.
  6. Wash Your Leggings in Baby Shampoo.