Shrinkage

Reduction in towel size after washing. Cotton shrinks 3-5% typically. Pre-shrunk or sanforised towels shrink less.

Shrinkage refers to the reduction in size that occurs when textiles are washed, dried, or exposed to heat and moisture.

Why Cotton Shrinks

Cotton fibres swell when wet and contract when dried. This causes:

  • Length reduction
  • Width reduction
  • Overall size decrease

Heat (especially tumble drying) accelerates shrinkage.

Typical Shrinkage

Treatment Expected Shrinkage
Untreated cotton 5-10%
Standard treatment 3-5%
Pre-shrunk/sanforised Less than 1%

First Wash Shrinkage

Most shrinkage occurs in the first few washes. A new towel may shrink noticeably, then stabilise.

Minimising Shrinkage

  • Buy pre-shrunk or sanforised towels
  • Wash in cool/warm water (not hot)
  • Air dry or tumble on low heat
  • Expect some shrinkage and account for it

When Shrinkage Matters

Consider shrinkage when:

  • Buying towels for specific rails or spaces
  • Matching with existing towels
  • Size is already borderline

A 70x140cm towel may become 67x133cm after shrinkage - noticeable if space is tight.

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