Clothes
BGB's post below has reminded me...

Why is it that I buy an item - a new fleece for climbing/hiking in, for example. I spend a fair amount of money on the fleece - £30 approximately from my local branch of Blacks. It's a good name - Berghaus - therefore I expect it to last a reasonable amount of time.

I do not expect it to bloody well shrink within a month of me buying it, thus causing me to think,
1)I've put on weight
2)My arms have shrunk

So why is it that then when I go and pick up a cheap fleece from Aldi (their outdoor gear is cheap and quite good) that one lasts forever!

The same thing happens with any cotton t-shirt.

Surely in this day and age when we can communicate with people all over the world at the press of a button, someone could come up with either a washing machine which doesn't shrink clothes or a fabric which doesn't instantly become smaller on contact with warm water.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Tue 6 May 2008, 14:53, 5 replies)

When I lost a lot of weight not too long ago..
I gave my mum all my washing to do. I knew it would come back smaller and thus would fit me perfectly.

She has a knack for shrinkage.
( girlinthehole, Tue 6 May 2008, 14:56, closed)

I think it's a mother thing
Mine (whenever let loose on the washing machine) does the same.

And she manages to turn all my whites a lovely shade of grey.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Tue 6 May 2008, 14:59, closed)

It must be an old mum thing
mine used to do that as well. I think everything went in the "boil the buggery out of it" wash cycle, and I mean everything. So the odds of getting clean clothes that (a) still fitted and (b) still retained the original colour were slim to nil.

I've only ever shrunk one sweatshirt (and that was on purpose, he bought it and I really, really liked it).
(TheWeeWitch hasn't been here much recently .., Tue 6 May 2008, 15:10, closed)

Mothers and washing
Mine - fine.

However, about twenty years ago, my gran was visiting and for some unknown reason took it upon herself to take charge of laundry. It took me ages to iron the creases off the front of all my jeans...
(Vice Admiral Sir Charles Cockbrush KCB MBE DSO, who is finding it increasingly difficult to log into b3ta.com wants to duck your aunt and kick your puppy, Tue 6 May 2008, 15:14, closed)

Gah
I spent £50 on a FCUK Transformers hoodie, limited edition, etc. etc.

My ex has it now, because the sleeves come about 8 inches up my arms.

Thanks, laundrette.
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Tue 6 May 2008, 16:04, closed)