Washing machines · Problem

washing machine clothes shrunk

The water temperature is too hot: A certain amount of shrinking of your clothes is inevitable as a result of them undergoing multiple washes, but consistently using hot water to clean them, specifically at temperatures above 70°C, can accelerate this process dramatically. Particular types of fabric are more prone to shrinking when exposed to high temperature washes, so always read the care label on your clothing items for instructions on which temperature range you can wash them. For more information about when to use hot and cold water to wash your clothes, click the link below.

In short

A washing machine clothes shrunk is documented by the manufacturers in this index with 1 possible cause and 1 recommended step. Documented causes include: The water temperature is too hot: A certain amount of shrinking of your clothes is inevitable as a result of them undergoing multiple washes, but consistently using hot water to clean them, specifically at temperatures above 70°C, can accelerate this process dramatically. Particular types of fabric are more prone to shrinking when exposed to high temperature washes, so always read the care label on your clothing items for instructions on which temperature range you can wash them.

What Bosch documents

Cause: The water temperature is too hot: A certain amount of shrinking of your clothes is inevitable as a result of them undergoing multiple washes, but consistently using hot water to clean them, specifically at temperatures above 70°C, can accelerate this process dramatically. Particular types of fabric are more prone to shrinking when exposed to high temperature washes, so always read the care label on your clothing items for instructions on which temperature range you can wash them.

What to check:

The water temperature is too hot: 1. Is it better to wash my clothes in cold or hot water?

Source: Bosch Home UK troubleshooting page, retrieved 3 Nov 2026 Verified

Questions people ask

Frequently asked questions

Why is my washing machine clothes shrunk?

The manufacturer documents these causes: The water temperature is too hot: A certain amount of shrinking of your clothes is inevitable as a result of them undergoing multiple washes, but consistently using hot water to clean them, specifically at temperatures above 70°C, can accelerate this process dramatically. Particular types of fabric are more prone to shrinking when exposed to high temperature washes, so always read the care label on your clothing items for instructions on which temperature range you can wash them.

What should I check first when a washing machine is clothes shrunk?

The water temperature is too hot: 1. Is it better to wash my clothes in cold or hot water?.

Sources

Where these facts come from

Every fact on this page was read from the manufacturer's own product page or document at the address shown, and is labelled with how far it has been checked. Last updated 3 November 2026. Read how we source data, or report an error.