If you’ve ever bought any clothes from Zara, you’ll need to know how to wash them without them shrinking. The last thing anyone wants is to shrink their favourite top, dress or trousers in the wash, especially if you’ve only worn them once. It’s happened to me several times, and I’m still trying to learn my lesson.

There are plenty of things you can do to avoid it happening, but perhaps the best place to start is by checking whether the brand you want to buy from creates clothes that can handle being put in the washing machine in the first place. So what’s the deal with Zara? Do their clothes shrink in the wash?

As a high street brand, it’s fair to expect the clothes you buy from them to be machine washable. Designer items are often dry clean only, but basics like jeans, leggings, tees and dresses usually tend to be pretty low maintenance. As a long-time Zara customer, I know first-hand how well their pieces handle being cleaned. So below, you’ll find everything you need to know about how to care for your pieces the moment you get them home.

Next, read everything you need to know about the next Zara sale and whether Zara stocks plus sizes.

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Do Zara clothes shrink?

As far as my own wardrobe goes, I haven’t found it difficult to wash any of my Zara pieces nor have I noticed them shrink after washing. I own plenty of Zara items, including jeans, knits, dresses, trousers and accessories, and I haven’t found any issues putting them straight in the wash. I tend to wash all my pieces on a low heat setting anyway and I recommend doing so to ensure your garments have a long life.

To ensure I give you an accurate representation, I did some research on what other Zara shoppers say too. According to one customer, their pieces often have shrunk in the wash. In a review of the brand on Zara’s official Facebook page, they wrote: ‘About 95% of my wardrobe is ZARA, however I feel lately the standards of the fabrics are used have become very poor.

‘At least 5 of my sweaters have shrunk by 1-2 sizes and not to mention they have lint balls forming all over them after the first wash, which was disappointing. I am careful to follow all the wash instructions, but despite following the directions they shrink.’

Do Zara jeans shrink?

I have a number of Zara jeans, and I haven’t found they have shrunk in the wash any more than the jeans I’ve bought from other brands. The colours have faded slightly, so I recommend reading our handy guide to how to wash jeans to avoid this happening. Avoid overwashing all Zara jeans and clothes to keep them in tip top condition. Consider spot cleaning instead of putting them through countless washes, as this will prolong their life span.

How to wash Zara clothes

Read Zara’s care labels

First and foremost, take a look at the clothing labels. Each garment will have a care label, which offers clear instructions on how it should be washed. If it says hand wash, that’s what you should do or you risk ruining it after one wash.

Zara also offers recommendations about the best way to care for different garments. You can read it here.

Use the delicate setting on your washing machine

Most washing machines have a delicate setting for baby clothes and hand wash-only items. It’s also there to help prevent your clothing from shrinking in the wash.

The gentle cycle is often used for those clothes, but you can use the delicate setting instead if you’re washing something that’s not explicitly labelled as needing special care.

Wash in cold water—it makes all the difference

Washing your clothes in cold water has plenty of benefits, including preserving your clothes’ vibrant colours and preventing the dreaded shrinkage.

At the same time, switching to cool water reduces your energy consumption, saving you money and decreasing your carbon footprint.

Dry them on a rack or set your dryer to the lowest setting

Set your dryer on low heat instead of high heat—this will help prevent shrinkage and keep more of their natural fibres intact. But there are a few fabrics that you shouldn’t put in the dryer.

Any delicate materials like cashmere, lace and silk should be dried on a rack

The general rule of thumb is to read the care label and check if the clothing item is suitable for the dryer before you pop it in.