Does viscose shrink when washed?

There are many fabrics that shrink when washed if it is not done in a manner appropriate to the treatment that said material must have. Thus, the risk of clothing shrinking is present in the vast majority of fabrics if the treatment for washing, drying or ironing it is not appropriate. If we add to this that some fabrics are especially delicate, such as viscose or rayon, the danger increases. Below, we clarify the issue of whether viscose is among the clothes that shrink or in what cases it can happen.

Does viscose shrink in the washing machine?

Viscose is elastic but it is not very elastic, as it only has 2-3% elasticity. On the other hand, if around 5% elastane is added to its composition, its elasticity greatly increases and it becomes the fabric known as elastic viscose. This means that this elastic fabric presents fewer risks in its care, which is why the purest viscose is more delicate. In fact, it is an artificial fiber widely used in the textile sector and is considered a delicate fabric to wash: May shrink in the washing machine if not washed properly.

To avoid this, you must schedule a specific washing of delicate garments that is, low revolutions and at a low temperature.

Does viscose shrink in the dryer?

Rayon can also shrink if you don’t dry it properly. You must avoid using the dryer with clothing made of this fabric, since excessive heat can easily damage and shrink it. That is why at FoxWiki we recommend that you dry it lying down, shaking it first.

To remove moisture from the garment if it comes out very wet when using a low spin program in the washing machine, spread it on a surface such as a table and dry it with towels and gentle touches before hanging it well to finish drying. On the other hand, if you don’t mind that some water may drain when hanging it, then hang the garment directly without drying it first with towels. Also avoid using any type of dryer because it will cause the same damage as the dryer and viscose fabric will shrink.

Does viscose shrink when ironed?

The iron is another appliance that viscose can shrink due to heat if you don’t use it correctly. To prevent this from happening, iron the garment inside out: this will prevent the fiber from shrinking and becoming damaged and creating unpleasant shine. Also, so that the rayon fabric does not shrink, set the iron to the low heat setting and before ironing the garment you must moisten it, spraying a little water on it will be enough. You can also place a cotton cloth or handkerchief between the fabric and the iron to prevent possible burns or damage to the fabric. We recommend you take a look at these tips on How to iron delicate clothes.

What to do when clothes shrink? How to make clothes bigger? Despite the previous instructions, sometimes we can make mistakes and it is impossible to prevent clothes from shrinking. If your rayon garment has already shrunk, these will be some of your questions.

If your garment is made of 100% viscose, it will be difficult to get it to give and recover its original size, but if it is elastic viscose, surely it will not have shrunk too much and, furthermore, it has the ability to recover, at least to a large extent. At FoxWiki we give you the solution for recover your shrunken viscose garments.

1. Fill the sink with hot water and baby shampoo or hair conditioner. The amount of shampoo should be the same as the cap on the container, but if the item of clothing is large you will have to double the dose. You can also opt for a special soap for sensitive clothes.
2. Put the garment in the water and leave it submerged for 10 minutes. In this way, the viscose fibers will relax and spread and soften again, recovering their original state.
3. Empty the sink and squeeze the clothes without wringing them to finish eliminating the absorbed water. Do not rinse it with other water: the goal is for it to dry as soon as possible.
4. Place the garment tightly on a stretched towel and roll it up to absorb the water. It has to be moist, not too wet.
5. Place the garment again on top of another extended towel to finish drying and you will be able to see that it has regained its size. If you have not yet recovered it completely, you can repeat the indicated steps below.

This procedure is one of the most effective to recover a shrunken viscose garment, but there are more tricks and products with which you can achieve this, such as the following:

• Immerse the clothes in a mixture of baking soda and vinegar.
• Soak the clothes in a solution of hydrating hair mask and white vinegar.

After verifying that rayon may shrink If it is not treated properly, the big question remains: how to wash viscose correctly? At FoxWiki we give you the following Tips to prevent viscose from shrinking when washed:

• Check the labels on viscose garments to find out how to wash them, as some can be dry cleaned. Here we explain What do laundry symbols mean?.
• If you want to wash viscose clothing in the washing machine, put all the garments made of this fabric and program a cycle that is gentle and uses cold water.
• Put the viscose garments in a pillowcase to serve as a protective shield against contact with other clothes and the drum of the washing machine itself.
• Avoid wringing and twisting these clothes to avoid damaging the fabric and preventing it from becoming deformed.

Now that you know that viscose can shrink and you know some tips for washing it correctly, we also recommend you discover these tips on How to prevent my clothes from shrinking when washing them.

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