Skip to Content

How To Shrink Jeans Quickly

Sharing is caring!

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure to learn more.

Has your favorite pair of jeans stretched out a bit, or simply lost its shape? Here are the best ways for how to shrink jeans quickly, without damaging the material. Before you know it, we will have you fitted properly and back in action.

Jeans are a classic wardrobe piece that never go out of style. Maybe you lost a few pounds, or the pair of jeans has been in the back of your closet for a long time. Either way, learn the best methods to shrink denim quickly.

Learn how to shrink jeans quickly so that they fit you just the way you want! From classic skinny jeans to boyfriend jeans, cropped jeans and also bootcut jeans, these shrinking clothes tips are sure to help you shrink jeans quickly.

Apply the proper clothing care to make your favorite garments last longer. As a result, it is important to understand how to wash denim the right way. Treat your jeans with care and this capsule wardrobe essential will last a long time.

How Your Jeans Should Fit

5 Rules for Finding Your Perfect Jeans

Before you start to shrink your favorite pair of jeans, lets first understand how jeans should fit. Jeans should be snug, but also feel comfortable. Furthermore, be sure that the back pocket lining is not bulging or showing.

You also don’t want jeans to be too tight that they cut off leg circulation. In addition, the inseam should not cause chaffing, and there must be no bunching in the crotch area.

When trying on jeans, I suggest squatting down to determine if they will sink or rise when you sit. This is the best way to tell how your jeans should fit.

Do jeans shrink?

Wearing perfectly fitted jeans makes you feel both comfortable and confident. As a result, the opposite effect happens if the denim you’re wearing doesn’t quite fit right.

Maybe you bought a pair of jeans at the store that doesn’t fit properly. Whether you want to shrink denim jacket or shrink denim skirt, there are plenty of reasons to shrink jeans quickly.

It’s not uncommon to instantly fall in love with a style or wash at the store, though it may feel a bit loose. Even if it fits perfectly the first time, denim jeans naturally stretch over time, which may result in an undesired fit.

From raw denim to jeans with spandex, no matter what the circumstances, let’s learn about jeans shrinkage without damaging the fabric. Luckily there are simple ways to shrink jeans to fit perfectly.

To help you out, we have assembled the best ways to shrink denim without damaging your favorite pairs of jeans. Try these quick and easy DIY methods at home next time your jeans are feeling a bit too big.

steps to shrink jeans quickly without sewing

Can you shrink denim jeans?

Certainly, you can shrink denim jeans with a standard washing machine, but have you ever consider boiling them in hot water? In addition, a hot dryer helps to shrink clothes when they are already wet.

Learn the basics techniques for how to shrink clothes. These clothes shrinking methods will show that it is possible to shrink denim jeans at home. Give these clothes shrinking tips a try so that you can also wear jeans how they should fit.

Can you permanently shrink jeans?

The hot water method works best to permanently shrink jeans. Whether you are trying to shrink raw denim or jeans with spandex, high heat will provide the best shrinkage results.

Using a washing machine, set the wash and rinse on the hot water cycle. Afterward, dry the denim with high heat in a clothes dryer.

As a result, you will experience permanent shrinkage of your denim jeans. Depending on the amount of shrinkage desired, consider repeating the process. If they have stopped shrinking after a few hot washes, then you have reached the limit of shrinkage for that pair of jeans.

Do you shrink jeans in the washing machine?

By far the easiest way to shrink jeans is in the washing machine. Because denim is made of cotton, jeans will shrink when exposed to hot water in a washing machine. Furthermore, high heat in a clothes dryer works well when the jeans are wet.

Hotter water will result in more shrinkage. In addition, extremely wet jeans shrink much more when dried in a clothes dryer.

The washing machine method works best for raw denim and also for jeans with spandex.

Can I shrink jeans without washing them?

The best method to shrink jeans without washing them is to use the boiling method. This method is highly effective because hot water works well to shrink denim.

  1. Boil a large pot of water
  2. Place the denim jeans inside
  3. Cover the pot and simmer for 20-30 minutes
  4. Drain the pot
  5. For the best results, place the jeans into a clothes dryer on high heat or use an iron to apply heat to specific areas. Otherwise, hang to dry.

From all types of denim, the boiling method can shrink jeans without washing them.

Do jeans shrink after the first wash?

In general, a pair of raw denim jeans will shrink 7% to 10% after the first wash. As you continue to wash and wear your favorite pair of jeans, they will better conform to your body.

To increase shrinkage, use hot water to wash denim jeans. In contrast, wash in cold water if you don’t want your jeans to shrink at all.

Are Levi jeans preshrunk?

Most Levi jeans have been preshrunk using the sanforized method. This was a process developed in the 1920s and limits most post-wash shrinkage of clothing.

Raw denim typically shrinks up to 10%. The sanforized process limits post-wash shrinkage of denim to about 1%.

Levi’s 501 Shrink-to-Fit jeans are considered to be the best beginner pair of “unsanforized” raw denim jeans. As a result, they will shrink after washing, and generally need to be sized up when purchasing.

Do Levi jeans shrink after washing?

Levi’s are almost entirely made of cotton. Cotton is a fabric that shrinks easily when washed in hot water.

If you truly don’t want your Levi jeans to shrink after washing, then hand wash in cold water and hang to dry.

Realize that Levi’s 501 Shrink-to-Fit, really needs to shrink in order to fit you properly. Therefore, follow these washing tips and start shrinking your Levi jeans today.

shrink jeans lengthwise

How to make jeans tighter without sewing

The best method to make jeans tighter without sewing would be to use the washer machine and clothes dryer. Washing in hot water and drying on high heat produces the best results when trying to shrink jeans quickly. When using high heat, your jeans will shrink up to 10%.

Another clothes shrinking alternative is to boil jeans in a pot of water for 20 to 30 minutes. If a clothes dryer is available then dry with high heat, otherwise iron to shrink specific areas or else hang to dry.

Denim is a cotton-based textile. Use either of these methods when trying to shrink cotton pants.

How to shrink jeans without a dryer

To shrink jeans without a dryer, begin by boiling the jeans in a pot of water for 20 to 30 minutes. After boiling the jeans, hang to dry until they are damp.

Afterward, use an iron to dry the denim and shrink the jeans in the process. Use slow and smooth strokes until the jeans are completely dry.

Using an iron to shrink jeans is the best method without a dryer. The hot water boiling and high heat iron will result in significant shrinkage.

jeans waist opening

How to shrink jeans waist

Have you considered wearing a belt? If that is truly out of the question, then lets cover a few different methods to shrink jeans waist.

First of all, you must understand that shrinking a specific area is a more delicate process than shrinking an entire garment.

There are two methods to tighten the jeans waist. Try either the boiling or the spray and shrink method for the jeans waist.

Boiling Method For Jeans Waist

  1. Fill a pot of water and bring to a boil.
  2. Insert only the jeans waist into the pot, and simmer the waistband for 10 minutes.
  3. Afterwards, place the jeans into a high heat clothes dryer and dry completely.
  4. You may also use a high heat iron to shrink and dry the wet waistband.

Spray and Shrink Method For Jeans Waist

  1. Add 3/4 cup of hot water with 1/4 cup of fabric softener in a spray bottle and shake well to mix.
  2. Spray the waist of your jeans until soaked.
  3. Throw your jeans into a clothes dryer and dry on the hottest temperature setting.

If you don’t get the desired results the first time, then repeat the process to shrink jeans waist. After the second or third attempt, that will be about as much shrink on the waist as you will be able to achieve.

How to make jeans tighter at the ankle

To make jeans tight at the ankle, I would consider using the boiling or the spray and shrink method for jeans ankles. Hot water and high heat will produce the best results when trying to shrink jeans to make the ankles tighter.

Boiling Method For Jeans Ankles

  1. Fill a pot of water and bring to a boil.
  2. Insert only the jeans ankle into the pot, and simmer the ankle of the jeans for 10 minutes.
  3. Afterwards, place the jeans into a high heat clothes dryer and dry completely.
  4. In addition, use a high heat iron to shrink and dry the wet ankles.

Spray and Shrink Method For Jeans Ankles

  1. Add 3 parts hot water with 1 part fabric softener in a spray bottle and mix well.
  2. Spray the ankles of your jeans until soaked.
  3. Use an iron to dry and shrink the jeans ankles.
  4. Otherwise, consider throwing your jeans in a clothes dryer and dry on the hottest temperature setting.

If you don’t get the desired results the first time, then repeat the process on the jeans ankles. After the second or third attempt, that will be about as much shrink on the ankles as you will be able to achieve.

How to shrink jeans lengthwise

Shrinking jeans lengthwise is a slightly more challenging process, but we will inevitably use similar methods. To shrink jeans legs, you want to shrink a very specific area without affecting others. Again, the best shrinking techniques include either the boiling or the spray and shrink method.

Boiling Method For Jeans Legs

  1. Fill a pot of water and bring to a boil.
  2. Fold both jeans legs at the knee so that the ankle touches the hips.
  3. Beginning with the knee, insert only the jeans legs, up the hips and ankles, into the pot. Simmer the legs of the jeans for 10 minutes.
  4. Afterwards, place the jeans into a high heat clothes dryer and dry completely.
  5. Also, consider using a high heat iron to shrink and dry the wet legs.

Spray and Shrink Method For Jeans Legs

  1. Add 3 parts hot water with 1 part fabric softener in a spray bottle.
  2. Mix well and spray the jeans legs until soaked.
  3. Throw your jeans in a clothes dryer and dry on the hottest temperature setting.

If you don’t get the desired results the first time, then repeat the process on the jeans legs. After the second or third attempt, that will be about as much as you will be able to shrink the jeans legs.

levis denim jeans on the bed

Alternative Methods To Shrink Jeans

In addition to the traditional clothes shrinking methods, there are a few other alternative methods to shrink jeans. It’s generally accepted that a washer machine with hot water and clothes dryer on high heat shrink jeans quickly.

We have previously discussed boiling jeans in a pot of hot water, spray and shrink with fabric softener, and also shrinking jeans without a clothes dryer by using an iron.

However, there are a few unconventional alternative methods to shrink jeans that we have not yet discussed.

Take A Bath

If you want the jeans to conform specifically to your body, then take a bath with your jeans on. To get a super snug fit, bath is the hottest temperature that you can tolerate.

Wear the jeans in the hot water for at least 10 minutes and they will completely mold to your body. As the water begins to cool, step out of the tub and dry off. For the best results, leave the jeans on until they are completely dry.

Alternatively, hang your jeans by the belt buckles to air dry, or throw the wet jeans into a clothes dryer on high heat for the ultimate shrinkage.

For jeans that are loose in some areas, but snug in others, the bath method will work wonders.

If you want a perfect fit, then shrink jeans while wearing them. I know this sounds insane, but this shrinking method will result in jeans that fit you like a glove.

Sew A New Seam

If you are skilled in how to sew, then you will be up for this challenge. Instead of applying intense heat, there are a few ways to simply shrink jeans and adjust the fit.

Whether you hand sew or use a sewing machine, the choice is up to you. This is a much more permanent approach for how to shrink jeans without damaging the fabric.

For the waist, simply sew in a 6-10 inch piece of elastic into the back of the waistband. As a result, the waistband of your jeans will contour to your waist for a perfect fit. No more belts for you!

For the inseam or side seam, flip your jeans inside out, tear open the old seam and sew a tighter inseam.

Here are step-by-step instructions for how to sew the inseam of your jeans.

  1. Turn the jeans inside out.
  2. Put on the jeans and button or zip up fully so the fit is accurate.
  3. Stand in front of a mirror and mark the areas of the jeans that you would like to fit better.
  4. Rip open the original inseam of your jeans.
  5. Pin the fabric together at the crotch and down the entire length of the inseam.
  6. Keep the jeans as flat as possible and start sewing at the crotch.
  7. Secure the thread and remove the pins.
  8. Trim off the excess material to complete the new seam.

You may also be able to take in the side seams with this same method. Be aware that you will need a strong needle to pierce through the denim material.

If sewing is not part of your skill set, then consider visiting a tailor. Have a professional help you with a permanent fix to your sizing problem.

Visit A Tailor

I understand if you are not into wearing hot wet jeans around the house until they are dry. Me neither!

Maybe seeking out a tailor is the best answer to a permanent solution for you. Take your time with the tailor to get precise measurements.

As a result, you will ensure that you get the perfect fit. Rock them as if they were brand new and feel excited every time you put on jeans that fit you like a glove.

In Conclusion

For the best clothes cleaning results, learn how to use a washing machine the right way. In addition, there are also proper techniques for using a clothes dryer. Furthermore, if you truly want to preserve and maintain your high quality garments for a longtime, then consider hand washing clothing.

When you shrink jeans with any particular method, don’t worry about bunching around the crotch area. This will eventually settle down and won’t be noticeable after a being worn around the house a few times.

Don’t hesitate to give it a try and quickly shrink your denim jeans at home. With these simple tips and tricks, you will be able to easily shrink denim jeans at home without damaging the fabric. A little love and care will go a long way with your denim jeans to make them last a long time.

How do you quickly shrink jeans at home?

Share your brilliant clothing hacks and laundry tips with us!

Sharing is caring!