I Tried to Wash My Carhartt—Now It’s Stiff, Faded, and I’m Mad

I thought washing my thrifted Carhartt would be a quick win. I followed the label, pretended I knew what 'gentle cycle' meant, and skipped the fabric softener like the internet said. Still, I pulled it out of the dryer and it felt wrong—stiff in weird places, faded at the seams, the canvas all bunched up. I tried to smooth it out with my hands, but it just looked tired. I spent twenty minutes shaping it, then another hour Googling if I’d ruined it for good. I kept thinking about the $70 I spent thrifting it, the hours I’d spent looking for the right one. All I wanted was a clean jacket. Now it feels like I washed the life out of it instead. #DIYDisaster #HomeBudgetFail #BrokeButCreative #Home