How To Stretch Spandex Out: 4 Easy Methods
When choosing a clothing item to wear, one of the essential qualities you look for is the comfort it provides. For example, you might find the cutest gym leggings and buy them but when you finally decide to wear them, you find them highly uncomfortable.
The last thing anyone wants is to wear an unfitting fabric that provides little comfort. Luckily, spandex is the one fabric that provides the perfect fit and comfort a person will need.
If you find a clothing item from this material a bit too small, you can stretch spandex out to fit you better.
However, you might not know how to stretch spandex out and have questions about how to do it. You may have questions such as: How do you stretch spandex out to fit your body better? And does spandex stretch out temporarily or permanently? Can you use cold water to stretch spandex clothing?
The good news is that there are several ways to stretch spandex clothing out to create a desired size and fit more comfortably. In this blog post, I’ll show you several methods to stretch a spandex garment out so it’ll fit the way you need it to.
What Is Spandex Clothing?
Spandex is a synthetic fiber made from polyurethane and is also known as Elastane. You can commonly find clothing items made with spandex, such as yoga pants, leggings, athletic wear, dance costumes, and shapewear.
After repeated stretching, spandex fibers return to their original length after being pushed by more than 500%. Elastane fibers are lightweight and soft but are stronger and more durable than rubber fibers.
Moreover, spandex resists deodorants, body oil, sweat, and most chemicals found in lotions.
It is common for spandex clothing to be heat-sealed during manufacturing and molded into permanent round or flat shapes during the process. In addition, a combination of spandex and natural fibers such as cotton, wool, or polyester is often used to provide stretch in garments.
The use of spandex blends is common in compression garments such as sportswear, as well as other garments that require comfort and conformability. Swimsuits, hosiery, waistbands, lingerie, and disposable diapers also contain spandex.
Pre-Washing Before Stretching Spandex
You need to prewash your spandex clothing before you try stretching it. Why is this?
Doing so will help provide a smooth and durable stretch, ensuring it doesn’t become loose while you’re doing it.
You can handwash the clothing in the sink with warm water with a mild detergent and let it soak for about ten minutes. If you add the clothing to the washing machine, put it on a cold delicate wash cycle, never a hot cycle. However, don’t put the item in the dryer, as the elastic can easily be damaged.
Instead, hang the clothing inside at room temperature (never outside) with low humidity away from sunlight and heaters. This will protect the elastic and lower the risk of tearing or damage to the clothing. When you are done, store the spandex clothing separately from other garments to avoid getting tangled.
How To Stretch Spandex Fibers 4 Easy Ways
There are several ways to stretch spandex material which you will find below. Sometimes even after stretching the clothing out, it will return to its original size. Stretchy fabrics hold their shape better than any other material out there so it may take a few tries before it completely sticks.
For best results, repeat the process of stretching the spandex garment two to three times using one of the following methods.
1. Wearing Wet Clothing To Stretch Spandex Clothing Method
After soaking your spandex clothing in the water, you can wear the item to help stretch it out. Tug the clothing item from one end with your left hand and gently tug it toward your body with your right hand.
After that, put the clothing on and move around while wearing it. If it doesn’t feel like a comfortable fit, try doing the process again.
2. Stretching Spandex With Weights
You can use weights to help stretch spandex clothing. First, put the clothing item in 120-140 degree water. Next, lay the item on a flat surface, such as the kitchen counter, a table, or an ironing board, while it is still hot.
Place an item that weighs between three to five pounds on one side of the clothing. If you don’t have actual free weights, you can use textbooks to hold the clothing; just make sure it weighs up to three pounds. Also, ensure the weighed item can get wet without transferring colors to your garment.
Next, pull the side without the weights to stretch the spandex material out. The constant pulling should stretch the clothing out permanently. Add more weights to the other side and let the clothing dry out for an hour.
Allow the clothing to dry for another hour if it is thick. If you didn’t get the desired shape the first time, you can repeat the process.
3. Soaking Spandex Clothing With Baby Shampoo
Baby shampoo is a mild liquid that you can use to stretch spandex without worrying about damaging your clothing. Also, the shampoo helps stretch spandex because it relaxes the fibers inside the clothing.
If you don’t have baby shampoo, use a hair conditioner instead. The hair conditioner will give the same effects as baby shampoo will.
Fill the sink or bathtub with water that is roughly 85 to 90 degrees. Add up to one tablespoon of baby shampoo for every quart of water. After adding the baby shampoo, you want the water to have a slick and soapy consistency.
Let the spandex clothing soak in the baby shampoo/water mix for up to thirty minutes. Once done, twist the material until water stops dripping and stretch it while ringing it out.
However, you shouldn’t rinse the clothing because the shampoo needs to relax the fibers more in the clothing. If the garment is still too wet, then roll the item between two towels and let it dry for another ten minutes.
4. With Hair Conditioner And Luke Warm Water
What About Stretching Polyester Spandex Fabric?
Stretching polyester spandex is slightly different from stretching spandex clothing mixed with cotton fabric. Polyester fabrics are made from more stable materials, helping them to keep their original shape.
However, it still can be possible to stretch polyester fabric. The best way to do this is by using a combination of hair conditioner and lukewarm water.
Fill a sink or tub with water, and make sure you don’t get it too hot. If the water is too hot, you can cause the clothing item to warp and lose its shape.
Add one tablespoon of hair conditioner in the sink and soak your clothing item for about fifteen to thirty minutes. If you let it soak more than this, the water will cool down and lose the effect of loosening up the elastic fibers.
After letting it soak, then press, twist, and squeeze the clothing item to remove the excess water. Your garment should be slightly damp once you’re done with this process.
Next, tug the clothing item in different directions to stretch it out. Also, you can lay heavy items on your clothing item to stretch it out further. When you’re done, allow it to air dry before wearing the clothing.
Stretching Spandex FAQs
Should You Use Cold Water or Hot Water To Stretch Spandex Clothing?
One question many people have when trying to stretch spandex clothing is whether you should use cold water or hot water. When trying to stretch the clothing, you should use hot water and soak the item in it for a few minutes.
The hot water will help soften the clothing material and make it easier to stretch spandex clothing without risking tearing or damaging it.
Put hot water in the sink and let the clothing soak for a few minutes. Make sure you let your spandex clothing cool off before stretching it with the hot water method, as it will help prevent damage.
Now, what about using cold water to stretch spandex material? Using cold or cool water to stretch spandex does not work. However, its a good idea to use cold water to help prevent wrinkles, color bleeding, and shrinking when washing or rinsing spandex clothing.
How To Care for Spandex Clothing After Stretching It?
After stretching out your clothing, there are essential steps for you to take to ensure your item stays in good shape.
1. Avoid high heat after stretching out the garment.
High temperatures will cause the fibers in spandex clothing to retract to their original size. Also, the heat will cause the elastane fibers to break down, causing damage to the clothing.
2. Always wash your spandex clothing in cold water.
This will prevent damage, shrinking, color bleeding, and tears in your clothing. You always want to avoid high heat settings.
3. Air dry your clothes instead of putting them in the dryer.
Once again, due to the heat, avoiding the dryer after washing or drying will protect the elastane fibers within your clothing. While this might not be the easiest way to dry clothes, it is the best option for garments that have been intentionally stretched out.
Conclusion
Spandex has exceptional elasticity. You may have to try several of the above methods before you find the one that works best but just remember, each one can take a few tries before it’s completely perfect!
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