Will hot water shrink cotton?
On One Hand: Hot Water Will Shrink CottonAny cotton material washed in hot water and dried in high temperatures will shrink. According to Cotton Inc., tension is applied to fabrics when they are constructed. Hot water will release this tension, causing cotton fabrics to shrink back to their original size.On the Other: Cotton Only Will Shrink OnceCotton fabrics will only shrink the first time they are washed in hot water and not each subsequent time, according to Fibers. Cotton that is pre-shrunk has been washed in hot water and dried on high heat once before being made into a finished product.Bottom LineHot water will shrink cotton, but only the first time that a cotton garment is washed in hot water. Cotton does not continually shrink each time it is washed in hot water. If you are trying to shrink a cotton garment, wash it in hot water and then dry it on the highest heat possible.
