What are the rules with shrinkage and clothing material?

[Dig]

Every time I go shop for clothes, I look at the tags..100% cotton, 80/20 cotton/polyester, 100 poly, but I have no real idea on how to plan ahead for shrinkage(of clothing, that is). Can anyone give me the rundown?

Since it's getting colder now, I'm also starting to buy a lot of fleece, and I really hate it when I get those little lint balls all over the material after a few washes. Doesn't that have to do with the amount of polyester in the material? If so, what happens with a 100% polyester material?

 

[prodigy]

100% cotton will shrink in the dryer if you leave it in for the full cycle. Some clothes however are sold "pre-shrunk" so you'll have to check the tag for that. What I usually do is put 'em in the dryer for about 15-20 mins, then hang them up on a clothes rack. I don't know what polyester does in regards to shrinking, but I know that the more polyester, the less wrinkled they'll be without ironing.

Sorry, can't answer your 2nd question.

 

[azazyel]

polyester won't shrink, it's a synthetic fiber. The one thing you sould watch out for is wool. That will really shrink! Also, a little tip if you have cords wash them inside out then leave them out of the dryer. When they are dry throw them in tumble dry then if you want you can iron them (again inside out).

 

[lowtech1]

Cotton usually shrink 3~5% length wise, and 2~3% width wise after a wash. It is very difficult to know exactly how much your clothing would shrink, because it also depend on the thread count & the cut direction. (My mother is a seamtress for over 20 years that could tell by looking at the fabric, but I can't tell even those I helped my mother with her work for many years)

The best thing is to buy pre shrink clothing, but expect to have the cotton clothing to shrink an extra 1~2%, because it take a few wash & dry over the first pre shrink wash to set them to size.

As azazyel have said polyester don't shrink, but you will ruin it if you put them in the dryer. It is best to hand wash & air dry polyester & wool.