It’s essential to learn how to wash rayon fabric safely and effectively. Rayon isn’t as sturdy as cotton since it tends to lose its stability and strength. It can also shrink and get distorted when exposed to water frequently. Many items are made of rayon because of its amazing features, so having the skill to wash this fabric will help you maintain most of your clothes, sheets, and more.
How to Wash Rayon - Important Reminders
Rayon is a delicate fabric made from cellulose in wood pulp. Knowing the proper technique of how to wash rayon fabric isn’t enough to ensure you maintain or prolong its quality. There are also important considerations that you need to keep in mind. Some of them are as follows:
1. Read the Label
For rayon garments, read the care instructions or laundry symbols tag. It goes without saying that the manufacturer is the only one that knows what’s best for their product.
2. Choose the Right Laundry Products
Mild detergents are the right option when it comes to washing fabric as delicate as rayon. They will prevent any damages and cause little to no damages to the fabric color. When treating stains, oxygen bleach solutions are preferable. Using chlorine bleach, even if diluted, can weaken the fibers.
3. Use Low-Temperature Water
Cold washing is the safest to use for most rayon fabrics because hot or warm water can cause fiber damage and shrinkage. Thus, when you follow instructions on how to wash rayon using a washing machine, ensure you set the water temperature to cool or cold.
4. Use Non-Metal Hangers or a Drying Rack
A drying rack is the best to use when air drying your rayon items to prevent sagging. If you prefer to use a hanger or don’t have a drying rack, use non-metal ones. Wire hangers can leave rust spots on the fabric.
Padded hangers are ideal for your rayon tops, many types of t-shirts, jackets, and blazers. The pads will ensure there won’t be any hanger marks and prevent sagging as they hold the items better than those without pads.
5. Do Not Twist, Wring, or Bunch Up
As noted, rayon fibers and fabric is a little weaker when it’s wet, so always make sure that you don’t wring, twist, or bunch it up, both during washing and drying. Doing any of those can cause fiber breakage and even stitching damages.
More Rayon
How to Wash Rayon - Step by Step Instructions
You’ll find that dry cleaning is the recommended method for cleaning most rayon clothing items. With the many rayon varieties, you can now find ones that you can wash manually or using your washer. It is important to have the rayon-made item dry-cleaned by a professional dry cleaner if the label says so.
How to Wash Rayon Summary
| Wash Method: | Dry clean, hand wash or machine wash. Check care label first. |
| Detergent: | Mild |
| Tumble Dry: | NO |
| Drying: | Air dry flat or on a padded dryer. |
| Iron: | Medium heat with pressing cloth |
Detergent Type
How to Wash Rayon by Hand
Washing rayon fabric by hand is the safest way to go if the item you’re washing doesn’t have its label anymore. It’s also the best choice if the fabric is both machine and hand-washable.
Follow the steps below when handwashing rayon fabric:
1. Pre-Treat Stains
Check the fabric for any stains present. If you have stain remover spray suitable for rayon, simply spray it on the stain and then dab a clean white cloth or cotton until the stain appears lighter.
Otherwise, you can put a little amount of mild detergent on a clean cloth and carefully dab it on the stain.
You can also use a homemade stain remover by mixing equal parts of water and distilled white vinegar. Just wet a clean cloth with the solution and dab it on the stain.
Whatever stain remover you use, let the solution sit on the stain for a maximum of 10 minutes. Next, dab a clean towel or piece of cotton on the solution-soaked stain. Repeat the whole process twice or thrice, especially for the most stubborn stains.
2. Make a Soap Solution
Fill your basin, bucket, or sink with cold or cool water, at least three-fourths full. Add the right amount of detergent by following the product instruction. Agitate the water with soap until you see suds.
3. Wash and Soak the Fabric
The next step in this manual method of how to wash rayon is to place the fabric in the solution until it’s saturated completely. Gently agitate the fabric to help loosen any dirt and stain present. Try focusing more on the armpits, necklines, hems, and cuffs or sleeves, as these are the areas where sweat and body oil accumulate more.
Once done, leave the fabric to soak in the solution for a maximum of 15 minutes. Then, gently agitate the soapy fabric, as discussed earlier.
4. Rinse Well
In the rinsing step of the how to wash rayon by hand, you have two options. You can fill another container with clean, cold or cool water or use running water.
- CONTAINER - Simply hold the fabric on both of its ends and dip it gently into the water. Then, lift it slowly. Do this a few times until clear or soap-free water runs. You may also do a second rinse using another container with clean water.
- RUNNING WATER - Spread out the fabric and hold its two ends. Let running water pass through the whole fabric until clear or soap-free water runs. Do this on both sides. Just make sure the water pressure isn’t too strong since it might damage the fabric.
5. Remove Excess Water
Get a thick, white towel and spread it on a flat surface. Put the wet fabric on top of it, and slowly roll the white towel. Doing this will allow the towel to absorb most of the water from the washed fabric. You can repeat the step using another towel if you want to.
The next step to take is to pull the fabric gently to remove any wrinkles or creases. Not doing this step will leave hard-to-remove wrinkles or creases on the fabric as it dries.
6. Allow to Dry
The best way to dry rayon fabric is to leave it on a clean, flat surface to maintain its shape. As mentioned, you can also place it on a drying rack or hanger.
Let it air dry, and make sure you don’t place it directly in the sun to prevent color fading. The rack or the flat surface should be in a shaded, open area where indirect sunlight still strikes and there’s sufficient air.
7. Pressing
Always iron rayon with a pressing cloth with the iron on medium heat.
How to Wash Rayon in the Washing Machine
When the rayon-made item is safe to wash in a washer, below are the steps that you need to follow.
1. Pre-Treat Stains
Follow the same technique as above.
2. Turn the Fabric Inside Out and Place in a Mesh Bag
Before washing rayon fabric in your washer, turn it inside out. This important how to wash rayon step will help protect the fabric’s color, even if the item is colorfast.
Put the fabric in a mesh bag, especially the most delicate ones and when you’ll wash it with other types of fabrics and/or use a top-loading machine. Doing so will help prevent damage to the thread or stitching and the fabric when the washer starts to function.
3. Fill the Washing Machine With Water
Fill your washer with the right amount of cold water detergent. You may also add fabric conditioner, if you prefer, in the right compartment.
4. Set Your Washing Machine
Set the wash to a gentle cycle and the timer from three to five minutes, depending on how dirty the fabrics you’re washing are.
Then, set the temperature to cold or cool based on the care label’s recommendation. Remember that there is a difference between a cold cycle vs. tap water, so again, make sure you read the label well.
Set it to the lowest cool or cold temperature if the exact temperature or temperature range isn’t indicated on the label.
5. Wash and Rinse
Of course, the next how to wash rayon in the washer is to start the wash-and-rinse cycle. You can rinse the washed fabric twice if you want to.
6. Drying Rayon
Most automatic washers today will ensure your fabric comes out a little damp and not too wet. Thus, you can just allow the washed fabric to air dry by following the same drying step as the handwashing procedure for washing rayon.
How to Wash Rayon FAQs
Does rayon shrink in the wash?
Rayon is prone to shrinkage however you can minimize this by washing in cold water either by hand or machine according to the care label on your item. Always air dry and avoid the tumble dryer. You should dry clean rayon when indicated on the label to prevent unnecessary shrinkage.
Is rayon dry clean only?
While some rayon items are dry clean only, there are others that can be hand or machine washed. Check the care label to see if washing is possible and follow the instructions carefully. As a general rule, rayon that can be washed needs to be done in cold water with a mild detergent and air dried.
Will rayon shrink in the dryer?
Yes, it will. Rayon will shrink with any heat, so avoid the dryer. It is better to air dry either flat or on a padded hanger.
How to Wash Rayon - In Conclusion
Washing items made of rayon fabric isn’t as complicated as washing more sensitive fabrics, such as wool. Still, you shouldn’t be reckless. Always make sure you don’t use strong detergent products, chlorine-based bleach or stain removers, warm or hot water, and force. Machine or tumble drying isn’t recommended, as well.
You can always refer to this guide on how to wash rayon, both by hand and using a machine, if you’re in doubt and can’t remember the right steps and precautions.
Tools
- Tub or Washing Machine
Materials
- Gentle Detergent
Instructions
- Always read the care label for laundry symbols and instructions. Dry clean if necessary.
- Pre-treat stains using a stain remover suitable for rayon. Alternatively blot with a mild detergent. Do not let it sit more than 10 minutes.
- If the item can be washed, use a mild detergent designed for rayon. Do not use bleach or harsh chemicals.
- Use cold or cool water.
- By hand - Add the mild detergent to a tub of water. Agitate to loosen dirt. Let soak for maximum of 15 minutes. Rinse well until water is clear. Use a towel to pat and roll excess water.
- By machine - Set to gentle wash.
- Drying - air dry only either flat or on a padded hanger. Do not use the tumble dryer.
- Press with a medium heat iron and use a pressing cloth.
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