Shrinkage on the First Wash: What's Normal and What's a Problem

Short answer: some shrinkage in cotton is normal and unavoidable. Terry towels commonly shrink a few percent in length over their first washes, and woven sheets a little less. It becomes a problem when it exceeds what was agreed, when it is uneven, or when nobody allowed for it in the size. The fix is to specify the size you want after washing.

Why cotton shrinks

During spinning, weaving and finishing, yarns are held under tension and stretched. The first hot washes relax them, and the fabric draws in. Terry shrinks more than flat sheeting because its looser structure has more room to close up. Towels usually shrink more in length than in width.

Heat does the rest. A hotter wash and a hotter dryer mean more shrinkage, sooner.

What to expect

These are working ranges for discussion with a supplier, not a standard. The number that binds both sides is the one written on your spec.

What 5 percent looks like

On a towel, 7 cm is noticeable. On a sheet, 14.5 cm is the whole tuck.

Measure it yourself

• Lay the new, unwashed piece flat without stretching. Measure length and width in three places each and average them.
• Wash and tumble dry five times, the way you will in use.
• Lay flat, measure again the same way.
• Shrinkage percent = (before - after) / before x 100.

Five washes captures most of it. The first wash alone does not.

Specify the size after wash

There are two ways to write a size:

• *"Cut size 70 x 140 cm"* means the towel measures that when new and will be smaller in use.
• *"Finished size 70 x 140 cm after five washes, tolerance plus or minus 2 percent"* means the supplier must cut larger to allow for shrinkage.

The second is what you want. It puts the allowance where it belongs, with the people who control the fabric.

Add a maximum: *"Residual shrinkage not to exceed 5 percent in length or width."*

When shrinkage is a real fault

• More than the agreed maximum.
• Uneven shrinkage. One border shrinks more than the body and the towel puckers or goes out of square.
• Different batches shrinking differently, so towels from two deliveries end up different sizes.
• Sheets that no longer fit the bed because no allowance was made.

Photograph the piece on a flat surface next to a tape measure, and send the readings to the supplier.

Fitted sheets and duvet covers

These have no room to spare. A fitted sheet that shrinks 4 percent will not go over the mattress corners. Make sure the pattern allows for shrinkage, and test a sample on the real mattress after five washes.

Reducing shrinkage in use

• Wash at the temperature the care label gives.
• Don't overdry. Take towels out when just dry.
• Avoid very hot ironing on sheets you want to keep to size.

Read more

Our shrinkage guide for cotton towels goes into finishing methods. For the documents that prevent size disputes, see golden sample, shade band, size tolerance. For a quote with the finished size after wash stated, send us your sizes.