How to shrink jeans for a better fit

• Washing and drying in high heat will help shrink denim, but the effects are temporary.
• Denim naturally stretches with time and movement, so they'll likely loosen again.
• To permanently take denim down a size, hem them at home or bring your jeans to a tailor.

It's a familiar experience: Your jeans just aren't fitting the same way and you're desperate to get them back to their original state. Maybe the knees have creased because you sat in them all day, the waist has always been too loose, or you recently got a pair as hand-me-downs. No matter the reason, your denim has stretched and you're searching for solutions to shrink them.

Most shrinking methods aren't permanent

True denim jeans are 100 percent cotton and since cotton holds well to shrinking, it's possible for DIY methods to work. The effect, however, is temporary since denim naturally molds and stretches with your body. Unless it gets professionally tailored down, denim will loosen and crease with your movements throughout the day.

Quick tip: Take a look at the label on your denim and see how much cotton is in them — the higher percentage of cotton in those beloved jeans, the more likely it is that you'll be able to shrink them. 

Now that you've checked the material, it's time to get to the jean shrinking methods that Hallie Abrams, also known as The Wardrobe Consultant, swears by so you can get the fit you seek.

Method 1: Wash and dry at max temperature

We avoid laundering clothes in a hot cycle because of potential shrinkage, but this works in our favor when shrinking denim. Abrams says tossing jeans in a washer and dryer on the hottest setting is a quick and easy solution that'll get them down one pant size, or about 1/2 to 1 inches all over. This is typically temporary, except with length changes, so if your jeans are already short enough, washing and drying on hot may not be the best option.

Quick tip: Turn your denim inside out before washing and drying to prevent the color from fading as quickly over time.

Method 2: Boil the jeans

Boiling is another method that can do the same job faster and more effectively since the water is hotter and heat is what causes the cotton in denim to shrink. Keep in mind that "shrinking is not a precise method, so while in theory, less time will be less shrinkage, it is not like cooking an egg," says Abrams. It's hard to tell how much your pants will shrink in any given time.

To boil jeans, place them in a hot pot of water for 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how much you want the item to size down. Then, toss in a dryer on the highest setting for for the most-effective shrink.

Method 3: Use replacement buttons

If you're looking to shrink a waist gap, try the button-replacement hack. Depending on the buttons you use, it's a semi-permanent solution that's instantly effective. Pop the button into the band in a spot that'll help the waist feel more snug without affecting the fit elsewhere.

Method 4: Wear them in a hot bath and dry them in the sun

"Diehard denim enthusiasts tend to prefer raw, often Japanese, denim and they swear by the no-wash method," says Abrams, noting that your body's natural oils and heat help create a customized fit. So if you want to shrink raw denim while not washing them with traditional methods, you may want to consider wearing them in a tub of hot water (only as hot as you can stand it, don't burn yourself). 

After your soak, the same thing goes with sun drying. If you want the best customized fit, keep the pair on while basking in sunlight for them to dry. Taking them off and laying them out to dry will work, but give them a less molded fit.

Method 5: Hem the jeans

Hemming jeans is the best alteration method if length is the issue. With some thread, a sewing needle, pins, and scissors (sewing machine: optional), you can hem pant legs in a few simple steps.

Quick tip: Wash and dry your jeans (if you intend to put them in the dryer at all, that is) before hemming to avoid potential shrinkage that'd make the new hem too short.

Method 6: Get them tailored

You'll know it's time to get your denim tailored when you constantly have to use one of the above methods to shrink them back to size after a day's wear. Though they're simple and fairly effective, they fall short in some scenarios since they're temporary. If you're trying to shrink denim by more than one size or only downsize one part of the garment, for example, it's time to take them to a tailor.

"The easiest, most cost-effective way to make items — even cheap pieces — look more expensive is to have them tailored specifically to fit you," says Abrams. "Truly, a tailor is your best wardrobe friend."

So if DIY methods just aren't cutting it for your denim dilemma, consider bringing them to a local tailor or even shipping them to online tailors like Denim Therapy and Denim Revival.

Insider's takeaway

While there are plenty of DIY ways to effectively shrink jeans, most of them are temporary as well as imprecise. If you're looking for a more permanent and custom solution that'll make your denim look less saggy after a day's wear, getting them tailored is your best bet.

A tailored fit means you don't have to wash and shrink them back after every wear. Since overwashing your denim can also cause fading and color changes, you'll end up saving the lifespan of your lucky jeans in the long run.

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