For those of us still wearing jeans these days (lol, so, like, seven people total?), you might be wondering how to shrink them when they inevitably stretch out. And even if you're not wearing denim at the moment—I see you in those TikTok leggings!—I'm sure you know the sinking feeling of putting on a pair of jeans only to find that the waistband doesn't feel as form-fitting as it used to or the knee area is baggy.
But there's an easy solution to this, don't worry. You can shrink them so that they snap back to their original shape, and the key ingredient is HEAT. You'll have the most success if the jeans are true to your size and have simply lost some of their shape.
Some denim for you!
Levi 501 Original Fit Women's Jeans
AGOLDE Parker Distressed Denim Shorts
Warp + Weft High Rise Straight Leg Whisper
You might be able to get them a full size down, however, if you think they need to be even smaller, getting them taken in by a tailor is probably your best option. Also, the more cotton your jeans contain, the better the results because heat targets cotton fibers during the process.
Keep reading for a couple ways you can achieve max shrinkage. I mean, there's truly no better feeling in the world than slipping on a pair that fit you perfectly—and we all deserve any good feeling we can get these days.
The Washing Method
It's really as simple as it sounds, I promise. Follow the short steps below.
- Gather your stretched-out jeans.
- Throw them in the wash and put it on the hottest temperature
- After the wash cycle is finished, put them in the dryer.
- Make sure they've dried all the way through before putting them on.
The Boiling Method
This is similar to the above, but putting them in a boiling pot of water ensures that the temperature is VERY hot.
- Boil a large pot of water on the stove.
- Put your jeans in the water carefully to avoid any splashing.
- Leave them in the pot for about 30 minutes.
- Shut off the burner and safely remove the jeans using tongs or another instrument.
- Put them in the dryer until completely dry.
The Ironing Method
If you don't have time to do a load of laundry or boil water, you can target what spots you want to shrink by wetting specific areas and running a hot iron over them.
- Take hot water and slightly dampen any loose areas—e.g., the waistband, knee or thigh area, etc. Dampen being the key word because you don't want it soaked.
- Turn your iron on the cotton setting, place the jeans on the ironing board, and run the iron over the damp spots, making sure you're not pausing on any area for too long.
- Put them on once completely dry.
The Wearing Method
It won't be comfortable, which is why this is one of the last ways listed, but if you're willing to give it a try, here's how it works:
- Fill a bathtub with hot water, while still making sure the temperature is comfortable for you to soak in.
- Put on your pair of stretched-out jeans and then get in the tub, making sure they're fully submerged.
- After you feel the denim mold to your body and conform to your waist, you can get out of the tub and let them air dry on your body.
- OR (because who has the time to stand in wet denim?) you can gently remove them and put them in the dryer for even more shrinkage.
If after trying all these solutions, your jeans still feel too big or baggy, as I mentioned before, you might want to consider going to a tailor for a more permanent solution. But hopefully, you'll have that glorious brand-new-jean feeling after they've shrunk to the perfect size.
I'm Cosmopolitan's Associate Fashion Editor and write about any and all trends, major celeb fashion moments, and why wide-leg jeans are basically the best. I originally moved to New York City to audition for RENT, only to find out that the play closed 10 years ago.
