It is really uncomfortable to wear shorts that are loose and ill-fitting.Shrink them first, instead of donating them and buying new ones.If you want to shrink the entire pair, you can either put them into the dryer or boiling them in hot water.For a pair that fits well in some places but not in others, try using a mixture of hot water and fabric to spot-treat the baggy areas.
Step 1: Check the label.
Natural fibers like denim, cotton, silk, linen, and wool don't need as much high-heat application as synthetic fibers do.It's best to try the simplest method of shrinking first so that you don't accidentally shrink the shorts too much.If you use warm or hot water, the machine will cause the shorts to shrink without you having to apply any extra heat.If the care tag says the shorts should be air dried, you can put them in the dryer for 10 minutes and then air dry them the rest of the way.
Step 2: Before you shrink your shorts, you should remove dirt and stains from them.
Because most natural fibers just need to be put into the dryer to shrink, you don't want to risk potentially "baking" in stains and discolored areas.Before you start, make sure your shorts are clean.If you want to make a paste out of the stains, you could use white vinegar and baking soda.After soaking the stain in the spray or paste, wash the shorts the way you normally would.To avoid permanent damage to stains, they should be treated and washed as soon as possible.
Step 3: The shorts should be put in the dryer for 15 to 20 minutes.
Dry your shorts in short spurts.The timer should be set to turn off the dryer after a certain time.You can put dry shorts in the dryer, but they will shrink if they are wet.The shorts should be dry by themselves.It will take a long time to put them in with other clothes, and it will be harder to know if they are getting smaller as you want.
Step 4: If you want the shorts to be smaller, check them and dry them.
After the timer goes off, take the shorts out of the dryer and try them on, but be careful not to burn yourself.Put them in the dryer for another 10 to 15 minutes if they are still big.If they are still wet, let them air dry the rest of the way.You can go once your shorts are as small as you want.If they stretch out during the day, you can always put them in the dryer.
Step 5: Look at the label.
Synthetic fibers are harder to shrink than natural fibers, so more heat will go into the process.If that is what you are working with, keep that in mind.With the right application of heat, cotton-synthetic blends will shrink more easily.If you don't know the name of the fabric listed on the label, do a quick internet search to see if there are specific shrinking recommendations for that type of material.
Step 6: Enough water to completely saturate the shorts.
To boil water, use a tea kettle, a pot on the stove, or a large glass bowl in the microwave.You can submerge the shorts directly in the bowl if you use a pot or glass bowl, just make sure to remove the pot from the stove and turn off the burner before you do.If you use a tea kettle, place the shorts into a heat-proof container and pour the boiling water over them.It's important to not burn yourself.When touching the hot containers, use oven mitts or something similar.
Step 7: Take your shorts out of the hot water and put them back in the room.
You don't need to do anything else in the meantime, this should take about 30 minutes.The hot water will start working on the fibers if they are left alone.Synthetic fibers require heat to shrink.Your shorts will shrink if you use more heat.
Step 8: Remove the shorts to get rid of the excess water.
Pull the shorts from the water once it has cooled down.Take a moment to squeeze and wring out the shorts so they don't get wet.The shorts may still be hot in the container.If you want to move it, test it before grabbing it.
Step 9: On the hottest cycle, wash the shorts in the washing machine.
If the shorts were dirty, this is very important.It was impossible to remove stains later on if they were dried when they weren't clean.Run the smallest load possible in your washing machine if you use a small amount of laundry detergent.Don't use hot water for this process.If you already have clean shorts, you can skip this step.Go ahead and put the shorts in the dryer.
Step 10: For 50 to 60 minutes, dry the shorts on the highest setting.
The shorts should be put into the dryer after the machine has turned off.The shorts should not start to dry in the washing machine if this is done as quickly as possible.The machine will shut off as soon as the shorts are dry, so don't use the drying option.
Step 11: In a spray bottle, mix hot water and fabric softener.
Hot water and liquid fabric softener can be used.Put the liquids in a spray bottle and shake it up to mix them together.The hottest water you can get from the sink is the water temperature.It should be steaming but not boiling.Measure out the fabric softener.Since your clothes won't get washed before they go into the dryer, accidentally using too much could make them feel grimy.The method works best with cotton or denim shorts.
Step 12: The area that needs to be shrunk should be sprayed with the mix.
The areas that should be sprayed are the crotch, the waist, and the legs.Make sure the spots are completely saturated with the fabric softener and water mixture.To protect the parts that don't need to be shrunk, lay a towel over those areas so the spray hits the towel rather than the shorts themselves.If you have ill-fitting spots on the back of your shorts, make sure to spray them.
Step 13: The shorts can either be put into the dryer or air-dried.
The shorts should be put into the dryer for 10 to 15 minutes.If you want to keep the natural fibers dry, let them air dry.Put the shorts in the dryer for 5 to 10 minutes if the spray doesn't have much of an effect.Your shorts will smell great when they come out of the dryer, if you use the fabric softener.
Step 14: To get the desired result, repeat the process 2 to 3 times.
It can take a few cycles to get the shorts to the right size.If needed, spray and dry the shorts again.It might be time to take the shorts to a tailor if they haven't changed in 3 cycles.
Step 15: Put the shorts on and take a hot bath to shrink them.
If the spraying method didn't work, this may do the trick to shrink the shorts in all the right places.Don't make the tub so hot that it will burn you when you get in, but fill it with hot water.You need to get into the tub for 30 minutes.After 30 minutes, take the water out of the tub and let the shorts dry on your body.The areas that fit well already should stay the same size.Don't sit on your bed while your shorts are drying.They should be hung out outside until they dry completely.