How Should I Wash Kids' Clothes to Reduce Shrinkage?

Wash kids' clothes in cold water on a gentle cycle and skip high heat in the dryer. Heat, not the washing itself, is what shrinks cotton garments. Follow the symbols on the care label and most kidswear will hold its size for years.

It's a fair worry. Kids grow fast, but a favourite tee shouldn't shrink two sizes after one wash. The good news: shrinkage is almost always a heat problem, not a washing problem, and it's easy to control once you know what to look for.

Why cotton shrinks more than you'd expect

Cotton fibres are spun and woven under tension during manufacturing. Hot water and high heat relax that tension, letting the fibres contract back toward their natural, shorter state. That contraction is what you feel as shrinkage. According to the American Cleaning Institute, this contraction is driven primarily by heat exposure during washing and drying, and switching the wash and rinse cycle to cold water reduces that risk while also cutting down on fading and wrinkling. The fabric itself isn't being "damaged" by water; it's reacting to temperature.

The same rule applies to a soft, breathable piece like our 100% cotton oversized tee: wash it cold and it keeps its relaxed fit, instead of tightening up after a few washes.

Reading the care label correctly

Every Saint Toba piece, and most kidswear globally, uses the standardised symbols maintained by GINETEX, the international association for textile care labelling. The wash tub symbol shows the maximum temperature as a number inside the tub (lower is safer for shrink-prone fabrics like cotton and cotton-fleece). A square is the drying symbol; a circle inside that square means tumble drying is allowed, and dots inside it indicate heat level: one dot for low heat, which is the safest setting for kids' clothes. If a symbol is crossed out, that process should be avoided entirely.

Pieces like our cotton trackpants and sweatpants are a good example: cotton-blend fleece can tighten slightly with washing over time, so checking the tub and square symbols before the first wash tells you exactly how much heat that fabric can tolerate.

Drying matters as much as washing

If shrinkage still happens after a cold wash, the dryer is usually the cause. Tumble drying on high heat is one of the fastest ways to shrink cotton, fleece, and cotton-blend knits. Air drying flat or on a low line, out of direct, intense sun that can fade prints over time, is the safest option for anything you want to keep true to size. If you do need a dryer, a low-heat or "delicates" setting gets clothes dry without the aggressive heat that causes contraction.

What about detergent, for kids' sensitive skin?

Shrinkage isn't the only reason wash routine matters for kids. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends fragrance-free, dye-free detergents for children prone to eczema or sensitive skin, and advises skipping scented fabric softener and dryer sheets, which can leave irritating residue on fabric. A simple, residue-light wash routine is gentler on skin and on the garment.

FAQ: washing kids' clothes without shrinking them

Why do kids' clothes shrink in the wash?

Heat, not water or detergent, is the main cause. Hot water and high dryer heat relax the tension cotton fibres are woven under, letting them contract back to a shorter, tighter state.

Does washing in cold water really stop shrinkage?

Yes. The American Cleaning Institute confirms that washing and rinsing in cold water meaningfully lowers shrinkage risk compared with hot or warm water, and also helps colours and prints last longer.

What do the symbols on a care label actually mean?

The wash tub shows the maximum safe temperature as a number. The square is the drying symbol, with a circle inside meaning tumble-dry is allowed and dots showing heat level. A crossed-out symbol means avoid that process altogether. These are standardised internationally by GINETEX.

Should I tumble dry or air dry kids' clothing?

Air drying is the lowest-risk option for keeping size and shape. If you need a dryer, use the lowest heat or a delicates setting rather than a high-heat cycle.

What's a safe detergent for kids with sensitive skin?

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends fragrance-free, dye-free detergent and skipping scented fabric softener or dryer sheets, especially for children with eczema-prone skin.

Will this routine work for cotton-fleece pieces like sweaters and trackpants?

Yes. Cotton-fleece behaves the same way as woven cotton under heat. Cold wash and low-heat or air dry will keep pieces like our cotton-fleece tops and pullovers close to true-to-size for longer.