What Is Shrinkage?
Tensile test is the measurement of the reduction in size of the textile product after the maintenance process. It is the negative result of the dimensional stability measurement and is determined with the same experimental setup. Shrinkage occurs when the tension applied in production is released during washing and the fibers swell and shift.
Purpose of Shrinkage
The purpose is to determine numerically how much the product will shrink under the declared maintenance conditions and to check whether the mold allowance is given correctly.
Which Products Is Shrinkage Applied To?
- Ready-made clothing and knitted products
- Cotton and viscose fabrics
- Towel and bathrobe
- Curtains and upholstery
- wool products
In Which Sectors Is Shrinkage Used?
Standards Related to Shrinkage
- TS EN ISO 3759 (sample preparation and marking)
- TS EN ISO 6330 (domestic washing and drying)
- TS EN ISO 5077 (dimensional change calculation)
- TS EN ISO 3175-1/-2 (kuru temizleme)
- AATCC 135
Shrinkage Conditions
- Maintenance method
- The method declared on the product label is applied.
- Temperature
- According to the label declaration; the test does not go beyond the statement
- Conditioning
- Before and after measurement in ISO 139 atmosphere
Equipment for Shrinkage
- Reference washing machine
- Drying cabinet and drum dryer
- Dry cleaning machine (for ISO 3175)
- Marking template and measuring table
Sample Requirements for Shrinkage
- At least three samples or three final products
- Signs must be placed at intervals defined in the standard.
- Samples should be conditioned before washing
- Separate sample required for dry cleaning test
Duration of Shrinkage
A one-cycle experiment can be completed in one business day; Hang drying with three or five cycle programs extends the drying time.
Shrinkage Procedure
- 1The sample is conditioned and marked; First measurements are taken.
- 2The maintenance procedure declared on the label is applied.
- 3It is dried by the declared method.
- 4It is reconditioned.
- 5Second measurements are taken and the shrinkage percentage is calculated.
- 6If desired, the cycle is repeated and the cumulative shrinkage is reported.
Shrinkage Acceptance Criteria
The acceptance criterion is the maximum shrinkage rate in the specification. The limit varies by product category; It does not define a standard limit.
Evaluation of Results
Pulling is evaluated on a directional basis. Cumulative shrinkage and single-cycle shrinkage are reported separately: a fabric that stabilizes in the first cycle and a fabric that continues to shrink in each cycle are different problems and different solutions.
Shrinkage Report
- Sample description and label declaration
- Applied maintenance program and number of cycles
- Shrinkage percentages in length and width directions
- Cumulative results
Accreditation
EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.
Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Scope and authorisationsRelated Regulations
- EU 1007/2011 (textile fibre names and labelling)
- EU 1907/2006 REACH Annex XVII (restricted substances in textiles)
- Regulation on the Naming of Textile Products
Tekstil Testleri — What Does This Testing Field Cover?
The section below describes the field that the Shrinkage test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Textile testing answers two questions separately: does the fabric hold up physically over its service life, and does it carry any substance restricted for human health? These two axes require different laboratory infrastructure and different decision mechanisms.
On the physical side, breaking and tear strength, abrasion resistance, pilling, dimensional change, colour fastness and water and oil repellency are measured. Most of these tests depend on the USE SCENARIO: Martindale abrasion cycles are decisive for an upholstery fabric, while dimensional change in washing and colour fastness come to the fore for a shirting fabric. The same fabric goes through a different test set for a different use.
Colour fastness is a body of work of its own in this field and is not a single test. The fastness of the same fabric to light, washing, rubbing, perspiration, saliva, chlorinated water and ironing is measured separately; each represents a different moment of use. Results are rated from 1 to 5 on the grey scale and the specification gives a separate minimum rating for each agent.
On the chemical side, aromatic amines released from azo dyes, formaldehyde, heavy metals, phthalates, short-chain chlorinated paraffins, alkylphenols and PFAS compounds are screened. These items come from REACH restrictions, brand restricted substance lists (RSL) and voluntary schemes such as OEKO-TEX. Brand lists are often stricter than legislation; the target customer is decisive.
There is NO CE marking on consumer textiles. The obligation has three legs: fibre composition and care labelling, compliance with chemical restrictions, and general product safety. Textiles claiming a protective function (workwear, flame-resistant clothing, high-visibility clothing) fall under personal protective equipment legislation, where CE is mandatory — this distinction is commercially critical.
Verifying the label declaration is the most routine work in the field. Quantitative fibre analysis confirms the blend ratio stated on the label; tolerance ranges are defined in legislation. An incorrect fibre declaration both misleads the consumer and affects customs classification.
Sustainability claims have added a new body of work to the field in recent years: verification of recycled content (GRS, RCS), organic content (GOTS), restriction of harmful chemicals and water/energy footprint declarations. These claims now require auditable evidence.
Method groups in this field
Strength and durability
Strip and grab breaking strength, tearing by the Elmendorf and tongue methods, seam strength, bursting strength.
Abrasion and surface
Martindale and rotary platform abrasion, pilling and fuzzing, fabric mass and thread density measurements.
Dimensional stability
Dimensional change in washing and drying, wrinkling behaviour, appearance after ironing.
Colour fastness
Fastness to light (xenon), washing, rubbing, perspiration, saliva, water and chlorinated water; rating on the grey scale.
Functional properties
Water repellency (spray test), oil repellency, waterproofness, air permeability, effectiveness of antibacterial finishes, UV protection factor.
Chemical analyses
Aromatic amines from azo dyes, formaldehyde, pH, heavy metals, phthalates, chlorinated phenols, PFAS and alkylphenols.
Commonly confused in this field
- A brand restricted substance list (RSL) may be stricter than legislation; REACH compliance does not mean compliance with the customer specification.
- Textiles claiming a protective function fall under PPE legislation and require CE; an ordinary textile test report does not satisfy that file.
- Colour fastness is not a single number; a rating cannot be interpreted without stating which agent it relates to.
- A result obtained for a fabric does not cover the whole garment made from it; lining, sewing thread, print and trims are assessed separately.
- Performance claims after washing are valid together with the stated number of wash cycles; the word "permanent" on its own is not verifiable.
Which decisions these results support
- Compliance with the brand restricted substance list (RSL)
- Verification of label declarations: fibre composition and care instructions
- Determining the performance class of upholstery and technical textiles
- Pre-import shipment inspection and lot acceptance
- Supporting sustainability and recycled content claims
Related Tests
Frequently Asked Questions About Shrinkage
Does the sanforizing process completely prevent shrinkage?
It doesn't prevent, it reduces. Sanforizing pre-releases some of the stress in production; residual shrinkage must still be measured. Testing is also done on treated fabrics.
Does the dry cleaning result replace the washing result?
It doesn't pass. The two processes act through different mechanisms; Fiber swelling is the determining factor in water washing, and solvent and mechanical effects are decisive in dry cleaning. The experiment is carried out using the method stated on the label.