So yeah, that pair of my absolute favorite black leggings? The ones that felt like a second skin? They kinda started sagging around the knees and just generally felt less… supportive after maybe a year of pretty heavy wear and washing. I lived in them! Hitting the gym, running errands, even just lounging – they were on point. Seeing them get loose was a bummer.
The Question Hit Me
It got me thinking: do leggings just stretch out over time, like an inevitable thing? Or was I maybe doing something wrong? Were they doomed to eventually feel sloppy? I needed answers, and decided to figure it out through my own little tests.
My “Leggings Lab” Setup
First thing I did was raid my leggings drawer. I pulled out:
- My trusty, now-slightly-baggy favorites (RIP).
- A brand new pair of the exact same brand and style (bought specifically for this!).
- A couple of other pairs in different materials I had, some older, some newer.
I needed that side-by-side comparison. I laid them flat on my bed, smooth, no wrinkles. Then, I grabbed a soft tape measure – the kind you use for sewing. I knew the new pair’s exact size specs from the website, so that was my baseline.
Taking Measurements & Feeling the Fabric
I measured key spots on each pair:
- Waistband laid flat
- Hips laid flat
- Inseam length
- And crucially, the knee area – width laid flat.
I jotted all these numbers down in a notebook. The difference between the new pair and my old favorites was way more obvious in the numbers than I expected, especially around those knees. It wasn’t massive, maybe half an inch to an inch wider in some spots, but you could feel it way more than that when wearing them.
Then, I just felt the fabric. The new ones felt springy, firm. The old favorites? Softer, less snappy when I stretched a bit with my fingers. Other pairs showed varying degrees, depending on age, wear, and material mix.
The Washing Machine Tumble Test (Yikes)
Okay, here’s where it got real. I washed both the new leggings and a moderately worn pair exactly how I used to wash my poor old favorites: Hot water. Heavy-duty cycle. Into the dryer on high heat. Over and over. Like, maybe 5 cycles back-to-back.
The results were kinda horrifying. That new pair? After just a few brutal washes and dries, they already felt looser, softer. Not destroyed, but definitely heading down the path of my old ones. The moderately worn pair got noticeably worse. Heat and rough treatment are killers!
My 5 Key Takeaways to Fight the Sag
So, based on my little kitchen investigation:
- Cold Water Only, Seriously. Hot water just relaxes those stretchy fibers way too much. Cold wash every single time. No exceptions.
- Gentle Cycle or Hand Wash. Be nice to them! The agitation in a normal cycle is like beating them up.
- Skip the Dryer, Air Dry Always. Heat is enemy number one. Seeing the dryer’s impact firsthand was shocking. Lay them flat to dry. Takes longer, but way better.
- Wash ‘Em Inside Out. Seems small, but flipping them protects the outer surface and color during the wash.
- Rotate Your Leggings. Wearing the same pair constantly is a fast track to overstretching. Give them a break between wears so the fabric can recover its bounce.
Sticking to these has made a huge difference for my newer pairs. They’re staying snug way longer. It’s not rocket science, just treating that fancy fabric with some respect. My old favorites? They’re comfy for lazy days now, but the mission to keep the new ones tight is definitely a success!
