What to Do If Your Clothes Shrink or Bleed in a Self-Service Laundry

Doing laundry seems simple, but sometimes accidents happen: a favorite shirt shrinks or a garment bleeds color onto others. Don’t worry! With these tips, you can minimize damage and better care for your clothes at our self-service laundry in Málaga.

1. Prevention Is Better Than Cure

Before putting clothes in the washing machine:

• Check the labels: they indicate maximum temperature and if machine washing is safe.
• Separate by color: whites, darks, and bright colors. This prevents color transfer.
• Don’t overload the machine: clothes need space to move and wash properly.

2. What to Do If Clothes Shrink

If a garment accidentally shrinks:

• Soak in lukewarm water with conditioner: fill a container with lukewarm water, add a few drops of fabric conditioner, and soak the garment for 30 minutes.
• Gently stretch: after soaking, slowly stretch the garment and lay it flat on a towel to dry. This helps recover some of its original size.
• Avoid high heat: do not use a dryer on shrunken clothes; heat can make it worse.

3. What to Do If Clothes Bleed Color

When a garment releases color:

• Wash separately: avoid staining other clothes.
• Use color-catching sheets: these sheets absorb excess dye during washing.
• Check new clothes carefully: new garments may release more dye, so wash them alone the first few times.

4. Long-Term Prevention

• Wash with cold water whenever possible. This reduces shrinkage and fading.
• Use gentle detergents or detergents specially formulated for colors.
• Handle delicate fabrics carefully using laundry bags or delicate programs.

✨ Extra Tip: Our self-service laundry in Málaga offers machines with programs for delicate and colored clothing, helping reduce shrinkage and color bleeding.

Following these steps can save many garments and keep your clothes in perfect condition, even when laundry accidents happen.