How to Shrink a Shirt

How do you shrink shirts?
I did a stupid thing. I should have known better. I bought clothes from the internet. I've never had good luck buying clothes from the internet, but it wasn't SO bad this time since they're only probably about one size off.
The last time I went by a size chart using my measurements instead of ignoring it and going by what sizes I actually wear, thinking "Well, maybe their sizes run different than every where else I've bought clothes?" Psht! Then I got the outfit and it was probably like 3 sizes too big or more!! Maybe I just have a weird ass body, I don't know.
Anyway! I don't have money to return/exchange them. We don't have the store in my town any more (where I bought them online at their website) so I can't just go to the physical store and return/exchange them. I don't have money to go to the dry cleaner people or a tailor or whatever to have them do whatever they do to make them fit me better. So I'm wondering if anyone here knows a way to shrink shirts no more than one size 90% guaranteed no more than one or two sizes.
I did do some research online, but I want someone's personal experience with regular success, I guess, (if I can) instead of just following some random instructions from some random place (if that makes sense. It does to me).
I did read that the material it's made out of matters so:

One is cotton.
Two are polyester.
One is polyester/rayon/spandex.
On the website it just says "machine wash" for all of them and there's no special instructions on the tags about how to wash them.

Myself, I'm laundry retarded, which is why I have to ask this in the first place. I don't bother washing things "special" or separating or sorting them (I'm not trying to make a career out of doing laundry, plus I only do my own anyway) and I make a special effort not to have clothes that need to be handwashed or dry cleaned. I just throw all the dirty clothes in a washer and then throw them all in a dryer and viola!! Laundry done! And always set the middle temps to "compromise" on any clothes' "special needs" that might be in there, like, "Oh! You want hot?" "Oh? You want cold?" "Here's warm for both of you! Deal with it!" :smt019

 

:smt095

 

hot water & hot dryer...i know you can shrink cotton

 

Polyesther isn't going to shrink at all. You better send them back for another size.

The cotton will to some degree but if it is hugely too big it probably won't be enough. A lot of manufacturors preshrink nowadays too.

 

Damnit, heh, well I am a little concerned about using a lot of heat because I don't want to lose any color or fade them. I guess I'll just see about exchanging them for a smaller size. Well, one of the polyester ones was the last one in stock so I'll have to keep that one, I guess. But, I'd rather exchange them than gain a few or so pounds so they fit, LoL. Thanks ladies.

 

BASTARDS!!!!!:smt013 (@ Target)

 

LoL! :smt011

 

What kind of shirt are we talking about? If it's t-shirty, a 90 degree wash will do it(not sure of equiv. US temps, sorry), but it's likely to make it look washed-out and old too.

Are you any good at sewing? If you can't return it, unstitching it and stitching it back a bit smaller is probably your best bet. As basic guides go, this should help: http://www.ehow.com/how_4966143_alter-mens-tshirt-womens-tshirt.html

 

Even if you succeed it will never really look quite right with the fit, you could try a dryer but it will stretch back out eventually.



Otherwise I would see if you can work it some other way like a belt or tie,
or kiss your $ goodbye or try and sweet talk where you purchased it from for an exchange.