How to Wash Knit Pants So They Don't Shrink or Fade
Wash knit pants inside out in cold water, skip high-heat drying and wash darks separately to keep their length and color wash after wash.
Cold water, an inside-out wash and little to no dryer heat do most of the work. That routine is how you keep favorites like the Soft Knit Relaxed Pull-On Straight Leg Pant hitting at the same spot on your ankle, and your black pairs looking deep and rich instead of washed out.
How do you wash knit pants without shrinking them?
Follow five steps every time you wash, and the dryer step matters most.
- Check the care label first. Your label is the final word. Our soft knit pull-ons are a cotton/poly knit marked machine wash, so the steps below work with that label.
- Turn them inside out. Washing inside out protects the outer face of the fabric from rubbing, which is where fading and pilling show first.
- Wash cold with like colors. Cold water limits shrinking in the cotton fibers and keeps dye from loosening. Wash black and dark pants only with other darks.
- Pick a gentle or normal cycle. Skip heavy-duty cycles and avoid overloading the drum so the knit isn't twisted and stretched out of shape.
- Air dry or tumble low. High dryer heat is the main cause of lost length. Lay flat or hang by the waistband, or tumble on low and pull them out while barely damp.
The same routine works across the soft knit family, from the pull-on wide leg soft knit pant to the cropped soft knit capri.
Why do pants shrink in length?
Heat and agitation relax and tighten cotton fibers, and in a knit that pull shows up mostly along the leg. A hot dryer is the biggest culprit.
It's the complaint reviewers raise most about knit pants: one wrote that "after washing they are now almost capris." Shoppers who keep their length tend to share the same habit: "I never put mine in the dryer."
How do I keep black pants from fading?
Wash black and dark knits inside out, in cold water, with other darks only, and keep them out of hot dryers and direct sun while drying.
- Use a detergent made for darks or colors, and measure it; excess detergent leaves residue that dulls color.
- Skip bleach and bleach-alternative boosters on dark knits.
- Dry in the shade or indoors; strong sunlight lightens dark dye over time.
Another reviewer noted pants that "faded after 1 wash." The first few washes are when loose dye releases, so be most careful early on.
Frequently asked questions
Can I fix knit pants that already shrank?
Sometimes a little. Soak them in cool water, then gently stretch the legs lengthwise and lay them flat to dry. Cotton that has shrunk from high heat rarely returns fully to its original length.
Should I use fabric softener on stretch knits?
Use it sparingly or skip it. Softener can coat fibers and build up over time; a cold rinse and air drying keep knit pants soft without it.
How often should I wash knit pants?
Wash after a few wears rather than after every wear unless they're soiled. Fewer trips through the machine means less fading and less wear on the knit.