How do I prevent saree blouses and kurtis from stretching at the neck after washing?

Neck stretching is one of the most common garment complaints — particularly with cotton and rayon kurtis, and knit necklines. Here is why it happens and how to prevent it:

Why necks stretch:

• Machine washing agitates the neckline repeatedly, stretching the fabric
• Pulling garments over the head by the neck repeatedly distorts the shape
• Hot water relaxes fibre memory, especially in knit necklines

Prevention tips:

• Turn garment inside out before washing
• Button or hook the neck closure if present
• Wash in a mesh laundry bag — prevents agitation of neckline
• Cold water only — never hot for neck areas
• Dry flat — hanging a wet garment stretches the neckline under gravity

If neckline is already stretched: Soak in hot water for 5 minutes, shape back to original dimensions, and dry flat. This works for cotton — not for polyester.