How to shrink baseball pants? If you need to make your baseball uniform less baggy and much tighter, we are here to show you all the processes in detail.
When fabrics are washed with hot water and dried, they can get unintended shrinkage. However, in the case where a person accidentally purchases a wrong measurement, they may be interested in learning how they reduce the size of the outfit.
Here, we are going to show you the whole process gradually from one stage to the next. Let’s get into the action by making it clear what material is used in the baseball pants.
What Are Baseball Pants Made of?
For safety, baseball players wear cushioned, durable trousers with elastic waistbands. Their length wraps over the shins and goes nearly halfway below the legs. Though the length might vary depending on the player’s age, youth leagues allow players to wear shorts over the knee.
These shorts are often offered as an additional component of a complete baseball uniform package in tandem with the baseball jerseys. Baseball pants are made of two types of fabrics- Polyester and Polycotton. Polyester fabrics can withstand hard contact, which is perfect for adult games due to their high level of durability. But, they need to be better suited for use in hot weather due to a lack of ventilation.
On the other hand, Polycotton is among the most used materials combining both cotton and polyester fibers for strength and softness. The majority of players in the major leagues and during official baseball games wear trousers manufactured from this material.
Why Is it Necessary to Shrink Their Pants?
Every player in baseball has to wear pants tailored to their specific body type. If the pants are too tight or loose, they may feel uneasy, restricting body mobility and negatively impacting field performance. However, even though many players want to have their baseball uniforms custom-made, this is not always the same for all players.
Whatever the case, athletic trousers are often designed to have a certain amount of flexibility and roominess due to various factors. Pants with a loose fit are uncomfortable and may occasionally be a significant disadvantage, such as while diving for the ground. The athletes also run the risk of tripping and falling if they wear trousers that are too loose.
Also learn– Why do Baseball Players Tape Their Wrists?
In addition, after excessive usage, it might get saggy, which makes it even more unpleasant, although the fabric is designed to endure for a reasonable amount of time. In these situations, players prefer to shrink the trousers that they already own rather than purchase new ones.
Getting trousers shrunk is far simpler and less expensive than purchasing brand-new pants. The process of shrinking baseball pants involves several stages and several approaches. The skinny size is directly proportional to the player’s participation. Once the player has reached a level of comfort, the process stops.
So, How To Shrink Baseball Pants?
Washing baseball pants to reduce the size is the most common approach. But due to a lack of predictability in this process, you’ll have to go through a period of experimentation before you get it right. It might take more than one round of washing to get the pants to fit just right.
You should also keep in mind that the shrinkage of baseball pants should not ruin the material or the patterns. Otherwise, you may not wear them comfortably.
The best results can be achieved for shrinking baseball pants by following the steps outlined below:
Step 1: Read the label
To ensure that your baseball trousers are made from a material that can be shrunk, read the label. Some textiles won’t withstand the extreme heat and may get ruined as a consequence.
For example, the cotton fabric may shrink excessively after being washed. However, Polyester has largely replaced cotton as a popular textile material due to its higher resistance to wear and tear, excellent durability, and superior ability to absorb perspiration.
It’s possible to go against the care instructions on the label if you attempt to shrink a pair of polyester pants.
Step 2: Flip over the pants
When Polyester is heated to the point where it shrinks, the fabric may lose some color.
Turning the pants inside out to prevent fading doesn’t guarantee that the color won’t leak through.
If you can help it, try not to wash multiple pairs of baseball pants at once.
Step 3: Hot water wash
If you’ve already decided that the trousers can be reduced in size, go for the next step: washing them using warm water. The fabric’s fibers will be weakened by the high temperature of the water, making shrinking much simpler.
Place your pants in the washer, and rinse them using extremely hot water. Unless you have to clean the pants, there is no need to add detergent to the washing machine. In any case, it will not have any influence on the procedure of size shrinking.
Start the cycle with the longest possible wash time and the highest water temperature setting. When you are washing and rinsing your clothes, you need to be sure that the hot water option is selected for both of those processes.
The air temperature should be the same as the water temperature, which is 110 degrees Celsius. Since Polyester is a kind of plastic, it is susceptible to breaking down when subjected to very high temperatures.
Step 4: Hot dryer to dry pants
After washing, you should put the trousers in a hot dryer until dry. This will cause the fibers to shrink substantially more, resulting in an improvement in the way the trousers fit. Be careful to set the appliance to its highest possible temperature, as directed on the instruction label.
It is important to ensure that the baseball pants are dry since even a trace of moisture might result in wrinkling or uneven shrinkage. There is a strong recommendation that the highest temp should not exceed 80 degrees Celsius (180 degrees Fahrenheit). Before putting the pants into the dryer, you should double-check to ensure they are still turned outside.
Step 5: Check out the stage of shrinkage
After the baseball pants have dried, remove them from the dryer and allow them to come to room temp level. Following this, try them on and find out whether or not they get smaller.
If you are not happy with the amount of shrinkage, you may try the method again. Only for a certain number of times, you can carry out this procedure before it becomes obsolete.
The color can start to fade by washing baseball pants an excessive number of times.
Step 6: Pressing it with the iron
After the trousers have been dried thoroughly, remove any creases that have formed by pressing hot iron on them. It will help to restore the pants to their standard shape. It is essential to use a hot iron to guarantee that the fibers will maintain their new form.
Always follow the instructions on care instructions regarding the setting of the iron temperature and how the ironing board should be set up. Moreover, you can use the hot iron to induce shrinkage in case you find that the method mentioned above does not generate the desired amount of shrinkage.
Step 7: Iron-induced shrinkage
Shrinking baseball pants using a hot iron process includes the three primary stages as earlier- checking care instructions, flipping over the pants, and washing them with hot water.
You should immediately transfer your wet baseball pants to the ironing board after taking them out of the washer. Check out whether they have flipped back to their inverted state.
When you have the pants on your ironing board, drape a pressing cloth to protect them. The fabric ought to completely cover the player’s baseball trousers.
Use iron settings that are either moderate or low to prevent the Polyester from becoming excessively stiff.
When you apply the steam setting, there is a chance that the fabric may get ruined. Before you put the pants away, check that they are completely dry.
Step 8: Check for perfect shrinkage
When you’re done ironing, measure the pants to be sure the shrinking was successful. It is not required to use the iron for multiple uses. You need to do so to avoid ruining and fading the color of your baseball shorts.
After several times of washing, drying, and ironing, the baseball uniform has already shrunk to the possible lowest size. You will be able to acquire the perfect fit for the baseball pants if you pay close attention to these instructions and follow them step by step.
To be successful in making baseball pants maintain their original form after being shrunk, it is important to proceed gently, execute a test over a small portion first, and try not to shrink them too much.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you shrink any baseball pant styles?
Yes, you can shrink different types of baseball pants. Nevertheless, the procedures necessary to shrink the pants are going to vary according to the fabric using which the pants are constructed.
Is using high-temperature water and heat in the process of pant shrinking safe?
If you carefully follow the directions, you should not have any problems if you choose to reduce the size of your baseball pants by using heated water and heat. The trick is to flip the pants on their sides before washing them, and afterward, dry them using the setting with the highest possible temperature for the longest time.
Can shrinking cause damage to the baseball uniform?
When done correctly, shrinking won’t do any harm to the baseball pants. The only thing you need to maintain is to stay away from excessive shrinkage and adhere to the necessary measures to prevent any harm to the fabric that may be caused by heat.
Will the shrinking process affect the form and durability of the baseball pants?
It depends on the quality of the cloth and how thoroughly the shrinking procedure is carried out. When appropriately shrunk by following the recommendations mentioned in the care instructions, baseball pants ought to maintain their structure or their durability.
Would it be possible to shrink baseball clothes in a washing machine with an agitator?
It is not a smart idea to try to shrink baseball trousers in an agitator-equipped washing machine. Because the agitator can wiggle and stretch the trousers, leading to uneven shrinking or damage to the fabric. Washing the pants by hand is highly recommended. Yet, you can use a washing machine without an agitator.
To what extent can I continue the shrinking procedure till it fits properly?
The answer depends on the cloth and the level of shrinkage it has achieved. It is in your best interest to go slowly and carefully, checking the sizing after each cycle of the shrinking process. If you are still unhappy with the pants size after trying a few different things, consider purchasing a new pair.
Final Thought
Now you know how to shrink baseball pants, right? This should work for practically all different styles of baseball pants, but you should verify that the process is appropriate for the fabric from which your pants are constructed.
Put forth the appropriate amount of time and effort. Determine the amount of shrinkage that has occurred. It shouldn’t be shrunk down too much. Some materials are resistant to shrinking. In such a scenario, there is nothing that can help.
It is better not to wash the pants in bleach or any other kind of detergent that might strip the color from them. If you suspect the color is deteriorating, you should halt the procedure. If the pants are too large, don’t bother shrinking them since most fabrics may only be reduced in size by a maximum of two sizes.
