A common question we’re asked about arc-rated and flame resistant (AR / FR) clothing is, “Does it shrink when laundered?” While all knit garments have the potential to shrink after washing and drying, modern AR / FR clothing is much more resilient than it was a decade ago. Today’s quality AR / FR garments are preshrunk, just like the clothing you’d find in any retail store.

Ever wondered why your favorite T-shirt feels a bit snug after a few washes? Tyndale’s Vice President of Technical, Scott Margolin, dives into the nitty-gritty of fabric shrinkage and how to mitigate it. Listen to his insights here:

Does one type of AR / FR garment shrink more than another?

Absolutely! Knit fabrics, like your comfy t-shirts, are more likely to shrink than woven fabrics, such as a crisp button-up shirt of the same fabric weight and style, due to knits being looser and loftier. While woven fabrics shrink less, both fabrics can experience shrinkage. But don’t worry! The shrinkage a knit or woven fabric experiences from home laundering would likely never be enough to shrink the garment out of the wearer’s size range.

Another thing to consider is how the garment fits before you wash it. When buying a brand-new shirt with cuffs, for example, where the cuff lies on the arm is important to consider. If the cuff lays completely over the wrist before laundering and the garment shrinks a little, that garment is likely still usable if the cuff still reaches the wrist area. If the garment cuffs do not cover your wrist before laundering and then shrinks, the exposed forearm poses a potential safety risk.

How can shrinkage be mitigated with at-home laundering?

A common misconception is that shrinkage occurs due to high water temperature when washing garments, but the real culprit is the dryer. When your clothes are left to tumble and heat-up in the dryer, that’s when the dreaded shrinkage happens.

The simple solution: Don’t over dry AR / FR garments. Take them out of the dryer while they’re still slightly damp, and always make sure to buy the appropriate garment size. The shrinkage you’ll see with an AR / FR garment is pretty much the same as the shrinkage experienced with similar garments and garment weights from any retail store.

To learn more about proper garment care and maintenance when laundering, check out How to Wash FR Clothing.