Do American Eagle Jeans Shrink?

Last Updated on September 8, 2023 by Chase Reiner

Yes, American Eagle jeans can shrink slightly when washed and dried. They typically have a cotton blend, and hot water or high heat can cause minor shrinkage of up to 3-5%. To minimize shrinkage, follow care instructions and avoid excessive heat.

Do American Eagle Jeans Shrink?

American Eagle is one of the most popular brands when it comes to jeans. However, customers are often plagued by the crucial question: Do American Eagle Jeans shrink? This listicle takes a pointed look into the matter.

1. Material Composition:

One of the key factors in the shrinkage of any garment is its material composition. The materials used by American Eagle in their jeans are primarily cotton (90%), polyester (7%) and elastane (3%). Natural fibers like cotton are prone to shrinkage, but the inclusion of synthetic fibers like polyester reduces this risk. The small portion of elastane enables the jeans to maintain their shape.

2. Pre-Shrunk Fabric:

Most of American Eagle jeans are made from pre-shrunk fabric. This means that during their manufacturing process, the fabric was subjected to a process that forces fabrics to contract, reducing the chance of them shrinking after your purchase. Therefore, under normal washing instructions, American Eagle jeans should not shrink dramatically.

3. Care Instructions:

Following the proper care and washing instructions can significantly minimize any potential shrinkage of your jeans. American Eagle recommends washing their jeans in cold water and air-drying them instead of using a dryer. This method helps to preserve the shape and size of the jeans, preventing any drastic shrinkage.

4. Quality Control:

American Eagle has a robust quality control process in place to ensure that their jeans meet a consistent standard. This includes ensuring that the jeans maintain their shape and size after washing. Despite this, individual pairs can occasionally slip through, leading to issues with sizing and potential shrinkage.

5. Customer Experiences:

Many customers have reported that their American Eagle jeans have not shrunk significantly, even after several washes. However, a smaller group of customers has experienced some degree of shrinkage.

Factors	Shrinkage Influence
Material Composition	Moderate
Pre-Shrunk Fabric	Low
Care Instructions	Moderate
Quality Control	Low
Customer Experiences	Variable

Overall, it seems that American Eagle jeans are not particularly prone to shrinkage, mainly due to the materials used and the pre-shrinking process implemented during manufacturing. Nevertheless, individual experiences may vary, and following care instructions is essential to prevent possible shrinking.

Do American Eagle Jeans Shrink in The Dryer?

Yes, American Eagle jeans can shrink in the dryer, especially if exposed to high-heat settings. The heat can cause minor shrinkage, so it’s advisable to follow care instructions, use lower heat settings, or air dry to minimize any potential shrinking.

Do American Eagle jeans shrink after washing?

American Eagle jeans may experience some minor shrinkage after washing, especially if they contain a significant amount of cotton. To minimize shrinkage, follow the care instructions on the garment’s label, use cold water, and avoid high heat when drying.

Unshrink American Eagle Jeans

American Eagle jeans are known for their excellent mix of quality, durability, and fashion. However, they can sometimes shrink due to factors like incorrect washing and drying methods. Here is a listicle on how to unshrink these jeans and retain their original size and quality. 

1. The Water Method

The application of water is one of the earliest and simplest solutions for unshrinking clothes, including American Eagle jeans.

Step 1: Fill a tub with warm water, never hot, as it can cause further shrinking.

Step 2: Add a gentle laundry detergent, mixing it well into the water. Place the jeans into this mixture and let them soak for approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 3: Rinse the jeans with cool water, gently squeezing out excess water, but be careful not to twist or wring them as this can result in stretching the fabric in an unintended way.

Step 4: Lay the jeans flat on a clean towel and roll the towel along the length of the jeans, pressing as you go to remove excess water.

Step 5: Lay the jeans out flat on a dry towel and manually reshape them to their original dimensions. Let them air dry.

2. The Hair Conditioner Method

This method involves using hair conditioner, which can soften the fibers in the jeans, making them easier to stretch back to their original size.

Step 1: Follow the first three steps of the water method.

Step 2: Add a spoonful of hair conditioner into a tub of warm water and soak the jeans for 30 minutes.

Step 3: Do not rinse the jeans; instead, drain the water and gently squeeze out excess.

Step 4: Follow steps 4 and 5 from the water method.

3. Professional Help

If the above methods pose a challenge or fail to work, taking the jeans to professional dry cleaners may be the most practical solution. They will have specialized knowledge and tools to restore the jeans back to their original size.

4. Prevention is Ideal

To avoid shrinking in the first place, there are precautions that can be taken:

• First, always check the washing and drying instructions on the label of the jeans.
• Use cold water for washing.
• When machine drying, use a low-temperature setting or better yet, air dry instead.

10+ Ways To Care American Eagle Jeans For Less Shrinkage

Shrinkage is a common issue with denim jeans. When you buy jeans, they will likely shrink in length and width during the first washing. This is caused by the combination of water, detergent, and vigorous agitation that shrinks your jeans. You can reduce the amount of shrinkage by following our 10 simple tips for washing your American Eagle Jeans.

• Avoid exposing your jeans to chlorine bleach or any other bleach-containing product. Chlorine bleach is corrosive and can cause rapid or irregular color loss on certain dyes or fabrics
• Keep track of how much you wash them
• Make sure to use cold water instead of hot water
• Air dry your jeans instead of using a dryer
• Wash your jeans inside-out in cold water and then turn them inside-out again before drying them or putting them in the dryer.
• Turn your jeans inside-out before washing them so that they don’t have excess water from the washing machine soak into the denim’s fibers and cause unwanted shrinkage.
• Dry with cool air
• Hang dry or lay flat to dry
• Never use fabric softeners or bleach
• Keep away from heaters or radiators
• Store jeans in a cool, dark place (don’t leave them in the car)
• Don’t put denim on denim (this will cause more shrinkage)
• Avoid the dryer as much as possible; if you do use it, make sure to take jeans out right after drying and hang them up before they cool completely down to avoid wrinkles and creases that are difficult to remove later on.

Conclusion

American Eagle Jeans has been one of the leading denim brands for many years. It’s a company that’s been around for generations, and it’ll probably continue to be around for generations more.

But as with all clothing, there are a few steps you should take to make sure you’re caring for them properly to avoid shrinkage and ensure they last as long as possible. Hope you got all the points to care about your American Eagle Jeans from now on.

References:

https://sewingstudy.com/do-american-eagle-jeans-shrink/
https://jeansfact.com/do-american-eagle-jeans-shrink/