Be sure to use room temperature-to-lukewarm water. If you use water that’s too hot or cold, the fibers won’t be prone to stretching. [2] X Research source
If you don’t have hair conditioner around, you can use baby shampoo. A cheap conditioner is fine; don’t waste your fancy hair products on your t-shirt.
Hold it flat toward the bottom of the bowl, keeping it from gathering, for a minute or two to ensure every fiber gets infused with the conditioned water. The more it gets saturated, the more it will stay on the bottom of the bowl on its own. Leave it there for 10-15 minutes. You can even let your shirt soak for 25-30 minutes. [5] X Expert Source Ayad MirjanDry Cleaner & Laundry Specialist Expert Interview. 11 August 2021.
Take your time. Spend 5 minutes or so rinsing the shirt, again making sure the clean water penetrates every fiber.
Squeeze the water out of the shirt to keep it from dripping everywhere and to speed up the drying process. Try not to wring your shirt, though![7] X Expert Source Ayad MirjanDry Cleaner & Laundry Specialist Expert Interview. 11 August 2021.
If you just want it longer, stretch from the neck and the bottom, pulling it longer in opposite directions. Work from left to right, making sure all sides of the t-shirt are equally stretched.
The shirt will retain its shape until it is washed and dried again. If you want to keep it at its new size, make sure not to put it back in the dryer. Keep your shirt away from direct sunlight while it dries. [9] X Expert Source Ayad MirjanDry Cleaner & Laundry Specialist Expert Interview. 11 August 2021.
No need to soak the t-shirt; simply drench it in cool water. Once you’re convinced it couldn’t be wetter, you’re ready to move onto the next step.
If you’d like, give it a few tugs now to get the stretching process started. You’d be surprised just how much you can do with just your bare hands.
Make sure to go in every direction – pulling up, down, and to the sides. Flip the shirt over when you’re done and begin on the back, too. This method isn’t great for significant stretching; it’s best used if you just need the shirt to fit a little better or be a little longer.
To make sure it stays at this size, avoid drying it. From now on, this shirt should be air-dried. You may occasionally have to stretch it out again, but avoiding drying will keep it larger.
This sounds a little silly, but think about it: if you stretch it out as you’re wearing it, you’ll be able to stretch it in the areas you actually want it stretched, into just stretching it all over. So if you need a shirt that’s only longer or only bigger in the bust, say, this is a decent idea.
