Extremely Random Question - Laundry Detergent

[dewpointe]

Hey there!

I am so tired of my clothing getting stretched out. I buy the size shorts, pants, shirts, and sometimes even underwear, that I am and after a few washes they always end up being a size bigger than I am. Sometimes even two sizes!

I am a size 6 in bottoms and a size small in tops. I know you would say an easy solution would be to just buy a size smaller, but size 4's and Extra Small are too tight and I want to be able to wear my clothes without having to wash them to get them to stretch to my size.

So a couple weeks ago I used up my standard laundry detergent. I have been going by whatever smells decent and is on the cheaper side. I used Purex. It didn't really do much for my clothes. It just cleaned them but didn't do a good job from keeping the fabric from stretching. It didn't even leave any scent whatsoever.

So I just bought some woolite to use and I am hoping that works.

Does anybody have any ideas for detergents that work great? I am not looking for something that is very heavy in scent or concentration. I don't need tide beause that's too harsh for my clothing. I am not outside rolling in the dirt all day. I'm an 18 year old female and most of my clothes are on the delicate side.



Side question ---- Has anybody tried the Victoria's Secret laundry detergent line? They sell it in some of the bigger stores and I have heard some good things about it, but it is on the expensive side.

 

[shortbun]

Have you tried blocking your clothes and allowing them to dry rather than using the dryer? That's how I keep my sweaters and other knits in shape. I don't care or notice the other stuff stretching or losing shape. I buy mostly cotton. I also was nearly ALL my clothes on delicate, cold.

 

[dewpointe]

Have you tried blocking your clothes and allowing them to dry rather than using the dryer? That's how I keep my sweaters and other knits in shape. I don't care or notice the other stuff stretching or losing shape. I buy mostly cotton. I also was nearly ALL my clothes on delicate, cold.

Oh yeah I forgot to mention that yes, I do let most of my clothes air dry. Especially if they are new. I still find problems though with the stretching. Especially with my bottoms. Maybe I am over estimating my actual body size? But I usually try my clothes on before purchase.

 

[dewpointe]

bump

 

[dawnn12]

i have been using tide for years now and i have no problems like your having

 

[dandave]

Laundry detergent has nothing at all to do with your clothes stretching out during the wash. If they are stretching in the washer, then they would do so without detergent.
Wash them on a gentler cycle, then dry them in the dryer. The dryer's heat will cause the clothes to shrink.

 

[ohiomom28]

I would say that hanging them to dry may be stretching them. I've never had any problems with my clothes stretching in the washer or the dryer, no matter what setting or detergent I use.

 

[beaucoup]

I've never had clothes stretch out. Ever.
Maybe you are shrinking.

 

[laurafergie]

The only thing I have to add is:

Do you separate your clothes? Especially towels and jeans out? Washing your clothes without separating will cause undo wear and stretching. Also, use a quality detergent like Tide on the delicate or permanent press cycle and use the dryer on permanent press. (Jeans and towels would be regular)Just hang to dry your real delicates, your bras and camis.

ETA: Tide is not harsh, it's one of the best detergents out there - you only need a little bit, like to the first line of the cap for most full loads. Now if your clothes are very soiled or you have very hard water, you may have to adjust.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

I have never had clothes stretch-ever.

I use the brand ALL liquid laundry detergent. It is fairly inexpensive.

I've had problems with TIDE before. Sometimes blue streaks would get on my clothes after washing them. I have no idea why that happened, but it would ruin my clothes.

 

[Michelle67]

I've never heard of detergent causing stretching in clothes. I don't see how it could. If anything, clothing tends to shrink if washed improperly. I'm thinking it has to do with the materials you are buying, not the detergent you are using.

As for detergents, I use All Free and Clear. No scents, no streaking, no problems of any kind.

 

[dewpointe]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I'm gonna try a few different things to see if there's any difference.

 

[3boymthr]

It's definitely not the detergent. Whenever I've had stretching problems it's because the delicate clothes were getting wrapped up around the agitator in the washer or the spin cycle went into overkill mode. I especially used to have this problem using commercial washers. I'd also recommend using a delicates bag(s) when washing your clothes.

 

[bellebud]

Oh yeah I forgot to mention that yes, I do let most of my clothes air dry. Especially if they are new. I still find problems though with the stretching. Especially with my bottoms. Maybe I am over estimating my actual body size? But I usually try my clothes on before purchase.

first, I'd ALWAYS try on the clothes before purchase. Different stores/brands sizes can be very different. A 6 is not the exact same fit in every store, knim?

I have always used Tide Free and Clear (no scent). I've also used ALL free and clear, and find both brands very good. I really can't imagine any detergent having anything to do w/ your issue though.

Where do you buy your clothes? I could guess that if you're buying inexpensive clothes, you're getting what you pay for... (I don't mean that in any bad way, but there's a quality difference in some clothes, and if they aren't well-made, I could see them stretching). I've seen a few 'boutique-type' stores pop up in our mall, and the quality is more hand-made, but not in a good way (more like home-made).

Or the issue could be your washer. Is it a top-loader? Are the clothes getting twisted together?

I've never really heard of this problem before... but there's a first for everything.

 

[luvsJack]

I use Gain, just because I like the smell and the one with Oxy-clean in it seems to get the clothes really clean.

I do hang ALL of mine and dd's shirts and it has made them last 200% longer. BUT, sometimes if her shirts are a little too wet (maybe the washer didn't wring them out enought? ), they will stretch a bit. (I only notice this in her shirts because mine are big anyway ). So every 3rd washing or so, I put them in the dry on the lowest (not air) setting. This seems to keep them in shape.

 

[dewpointe]

first, I'd ALWAYS try on the clothes before purchase. Different stores/brands sizes can be very different. A 6 is not the exact same fit in every store, knim?

I have always used Tide Free and Clear (no scent). I've also used ALL free and clear, and find both brands very good. I really can't imagine any detergent having anything to do w/ your issue though.

Where do you buy your clothes? I could guess that if you're buying inexpensive clothes, you're getting what you pay for... (I don't mean that in any bad way, but there's a quality difference in some clothes, and if they aren't well-made, I could see them stretching). I've seen a few 'boutique-type' stores pop up in our mall, and the quality is more hand-made, but not in a good way (more like home-made).

Or the issue could be your washer. Is it a top-loader? Are the clothes getting twisted together?

I've never really heard of this problem before... but there's a first for everything.

It is a top loader I believe. I don't know how you tell the difference beween washers. I can't afford the most expensive of clothes so yes most of them are discount or on sale. I don't really shop at the mall. I'm not saying the the detergent is fully responsible but I know that some detergents help certain fabrics to keep their color and shape better.


Also, where would I get a "delicates" bag?

 

[bellebud]

It is a top loader I believe. I don't know how you tell the difference beween washers. I can't afford the most expensive of clothes so yes most of them are discount or on sale. I don't really shop at the mall. I'm not saying the the detergent is fully responsible but I know that some detergents help certain fabrics to keep their color and shape better.


Also, where would I get a "delicates" bag?

The top loader is the one that the top of washer opens to put the clothes in, and has an agitator the swishes the clothes around. A front loader is like a dryer in style, in that the door opens in the front, and there's no agitator like a top loader, the front loader tumbles the clothes like a dryer does.

I totally understand not being able to afford 'expensive' clothes... me either. But what I meant was, on sale at Target and Walmart is probably fine as far as quality of clothing goes. But I've seen these little stores that it looks like the person working in the store made the piece of clothing at home, knim? They just don't look 'right' and I was wondering if you shop at stores like that? They may not even be inexpensive, but some of the quality I've seen in terrible.

Just take a good look at the quality of the stitching, etc, when you buy.

You can get a 'delicates' bag at walmart or target.

 

[miralys]

I only use the delicate cycle. I got tired of trying to remember to switch back and forth between washing costumes and washing everything else. I never separate loads so I guess you could say I am hard on my laundry.

The only time I have had clothes stretch is if I hang-dry them. Using a drying rack seems to be okay, but putting them on hangars wet changes their shape.

For detergent, I use whatever I can get a good deal on. That mostly means ALL, Wisk or Purex. I am allergic to something in Tide. I also use vinegar in the wash which helps with smells.

 

[dewpointe]

I only use the delicate cycle. I got tired of trying to remember to switch back and forth between washing costumes and washing everything else. I never separate loads so I guess you could say I am hard on my laundry.

The only time I have had clothes stretch is if I hang-dry them. Using a drying rack seems to be okay, but putting them on hangars wet changes their shape.

For detergent, I use whatever I can get a good deal on. That mostly means ALL, Wisk or Purex. I am allergic to something in Tide. I also use vinegar in the wash which helps with smells.

I am going to start putting the dryer on a low heat setting for 30-40 minutes so they can get fairly dry. Then lay them out to dry for the rest. Somebody else on here mentioned that....

I usually buy what's the cheapest but Purex didn't work very well with my clothes at all.