IdeaWell

Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

Why some clothes shrink in the wash and how to unshrink them

Original Article

Hacker News Discussion

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

Here are the 4 most prevalent themes from the Hacker News discussion:

1. Modern Changes in Fabric and Dryer Technology

Many users believe that both clothing manufacturing and dryer technology have improved, making shrinkage less of an issue than it was in the past. This is attributed to pre-shrunk fabrics and sensor-based dryers.

  • testplzignore: "There have been changes in the manufacturing process to 'pre-shrunk' fabrics."
  • taeric: "Specifically modern moisture sensing dryers that stop appropriately goes a long way to never having something shrink on you."
  • gibspaulding: "New clothes also tend to include synthetic fibers that seem to not shrink as much."

2. The "It's Not the Clothes, It's You" Theory

A significant counter-argument suggests that perceived shrinkage is actually the result of personal weight gain or a failure to notice gradual changes, rather than the clothing actually getting smaller.

  • systemtest: "I had that issue but as it turns out I was just getting fatter"
  • BeastMachine: "As silly as this sounds, the same thing happened to me. I was getting pretty frustrated because all of my pants kept shrinking.. the truth hurt."
  • vayup: "Same happens to me, but I don't think it's the T-shirts that are shrinking."

3. Best Practices for Preventing Shrinkage

There is a strong consensus on specific laundry habits to ensure longevity, primarily involving avoiding high heat. This includes washing in cold water, using low-heat dryer settings, or air-drying entirely.

  • cryzinger: "If you have 100% cotton garments you want to get more longevity out of, washing on cold water + letting them air dry is the way to go..."
  • cogman10: "That said, washing everything on cold water and low temps in the dryer works pretty well at extending the life of cloths."
  • bakies: "do you dry on high or wash on hot? I'd recommend low and cold."

4. Decline in Clothing Quality

Conversely, many users argue the exact opposite: that clothing quality has significantly degraded over the years, leading to more frequent and severe shrinkage. This is often linked to the rise of fast fashion.

  • Vrondi: "I have 90s t-shirts that are just now dying after all these years of being dried only in an electric dryer, and other t-shirts just a few years old that are disintegrating. There's definitely been a quality change in the average shirt."
  • ynac: "Recently, I've had jeans, shirts, and even socks that didn't make it through a single summer."
  • dylan604: "Not buying fast fashion helps with the color fastness."

🚀 Project Ideas

ShrinkGuard: Care Label Interpretation & Laundry Planner

Summary

  • [Solves the confusion and frustration around cryptic care labels and unpredictable clothing shrinkage/wear.]
  • [A mobile app that scans care labels, interprets symbols, and predicts garment outcomes based on your specific laundry setup.]
  • [Core value: Prevents ruined clothes by giving personalized, actionable laundry plans.]

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Anyone who does laundry, particularly those who value their clothing or struggle with shrinking/stretching.
Core Feature OCR scanning of care labels + user-input laundry environment (washer/dryer model, settings) to predict shrinkage, color fastness, and longevity.
Tech Stack Mobile app (Flutter/React Native), ML model for symbol/texture recognition, backend for fabric data.
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Revenue-ready: Freemium app with premium features (e.g., custom care schedules, integration with smart appliances).
#### Notes
- [HN commenters express confusion over care symbols ("What the hell does 'Do not dry' mean?") and frustration with manual trial-and-error ("wash everything on the default setting... Darwinian washing").]
- [Practical utility for an everyday problem where data is fragmented and user error leads to costly ruined garments.]

DryerSense: DIY Smart Dryer Upgrade

Summary

  • [Solves the frustration with modern dryer "smart" features that fail, leading to shrinkage or under-drying (specifically mentioned regarding LG dryers).]
  • [A retrofit hardware kit that adds accurate moisture sensing and adaptive drying cycles to any older or "dumb" dryer.]
  • [Core value: Extends the life of existing appliances and prevents fabric damage without buying a new machine.]

Details

Key Value
Target Audience DIY enthusiasts, homeowners with older appliances, or those dissatisfied with the "smart" features of modern appliances.
Core Feature Arduino/Raspberry Pi-based sensor package that monitors humidity and temperature, controlling dryer cycles via relay.
Tech Stack Embedded C (Arduino), Node.js (optional dashboard), resistive/ capacitive moisture sensors, relay modules.
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Hobby: Open source hardware design and code, or a low-margin kit for makers.
#### Notes
- [Users like cyberax have already built custom Arduino solutions for dryers with terrible sensors, and dlcarrier noted the awful UX of modern dryer timers.]
- [High potential for HN discussion on hardware hacking and appliance repair, with immediate practical value for anyone with a "smart" dryer that over-dries clothes.]

WardrobeOS: The "Verified Fit" Tracker

Summary

  • [Solves the issue of "gradual shrinkage" where clothes slowly become too short or tight over time, often blamed on the dryer but actually due to wear or fit issues.]
  • [An app that tracks the dimensions of your clothes over time and correlates changes with specific wash/dry cycles or lifestyle changes.]
  • [Core value: Data-driven confirmation of why clothes stop fitting, helping users distinguish between shrinkage and body changes.] | Key | Value | |-----|-------| | Target Audience | HN users who track personal metrics, tall individuals struggling with sleeve length, or those monitoring weight changes. | | Core Feature | User logs initial dimensions; app tracks input over time. Can integrate with laundry logs or weight tracking (optional). | | Tech Stack | Mobile app (Swift/Kotlin), simple database, optional API integration with smart scales. | | Difficulty | Low | | Monetization | Hobby: Free to build and use, a useful data visualization tool. |

Notes

  • [Directly addresses the "Is it the shirt or is it me?" debate (e.g., systemtest: "I had that issue but as it turns out I was just getting fatter").]
  • [Highly specific utility for a niche but vocal group of users (e.g., enobrev: "I can only wear tall-size clothing... they all shrink 'up'").]

PolyLiberator: The Microplastic & Lint Interceptor

Summary

  • [Solves the anxiety and health concerns regarding inhaling microplastics from dryer lint and environmental pollution from synthetic fibers.]
  • [A secondary filtration system that attaches to dryer exhausts (or sits inside ventless dryers) to capture ultra-fine particles before they enter the air.]
  • [Core value: Health and environmental protection for laundry rooms, specifically addressing the "microplastic scare" mentioned by users.]

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Health-conscious homeowners, parents, and environmentally aware consumers.
Core Feature HEPA-grade filter or electrostatic precipitator designed for dryer airflow and heat resistance.
Tech Stack Mechanical design/3D printing, basic electronics (for active versions), material science.
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Revenue-ready: Physical hardware product sold via direct-to-consumer channels.
#### Notes
- [Multiple users expressed anxiety about microplastics: ravenstine detailed a health scare from dryer fumes, and nezi mentioned holding breath when cleaning lint traps.]
- [A tangible solution to a "silent" health concern that is gaining traction on forums like HN, positioning the product as a "smart home health" accessory.]

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