What happens if you tumble dry viscose

Please check our privacy policy for more details. You may unsubscribe anytime. Can viscose shrink when you wash it? Why does viscose fabric shrink? Can viscose shrink in cold water? Can viscose be washed in the washing machine? Can you hand wash viscose? How to care for viscose after washing.

Shop All viscose. Email address. First name. Often, rayon is mislabeled or partially labeled, so when in doubt, perform a water test in an inconspicuous area. If your viscose dress passes the water test, treat it as a delicate item when washing using the following steps. Work silk stain treatment gently into the fabric with a finger or Stain Brush, plus cool water if needed.

To handwash , submerge the item and soak for up to 30 minutes. Rinse the item well with cool water; do not wring; instead, press the water out of the item and lay it in its natural shape on a flat surface, drying rack, or clean towel to dry.

If you opt for machine washing, you should turn the viscose item inside out, and place it in a Mesh Washing Bag to avoid snags and tears. Select the delicate cycle on the washing machine, and make sure the water temperature is cold and the spin is on low. Add the appropriate amount of Delicate Wash according to the machine and load size. Lay the item flat in its natural shape on a drying rack or hang to dry. Do not put it in the dryer, as it may shrink!

To freshen items between wearings, spritz with Delicate Spray. Never place viscose items in the dryer because viscose does shrink! For more expert fabric and home care tips, check out the Clean Talk Blog. Knit items like tops should be stored folded to prevent stretching or distorting. Woven items such as pants can be hung. Always store items clean and store in a breathable cotton storage bag to protect items from pests.

Storing in plastic encourages yellowing and can trap mildew-causing moisture, a prime environment for pests. Storing in plastic encourages yellowing and can trap mildew-causing moisture, a prime environment for bugs. All techniques are based on textile science. Tumbling viscose without heat will not shrink it but could harm the fiber in other ways. Completely natural fibers can take more aggressive laundering than viscose and other semi-synthetics.

The chemical processing makes the fibers vulnerable to damage. The best ways to minimize shrinking in the dryer are to put your viscose items in a mesh bag like a lingerie bag and use a heat-free dryer setting.

Otherwise, you will shrink your viscose. The mesh bag will help protect the garments from snags and tears. Even low heat can shrink viscose some. Tumble-only cycles may not dry your viscose clothing all the way, though. After a tumble cycle, there will be less water in the fibers of the viscose fabric.

You can hang-dry the clothes at this point without risking too much stretch or misshaping. Drying viscose flat is always the best option for keeping your clothing in good condition. It helps the garment maintain the right size and shape, especially for heavier garments like dresses. Viscose blends can shrink. How much they shrink depends on what the other fabrics are in the blend.

Even if the other fibers are very sturdy, the fabric will still shrink if you wash it incorrectly. Blends are more likely to shrink unevenly, as the viscose fibers may shrink more than the other fibers in the blend. Because it is so delicate, many manufacturers blend viscose with other fibers before they weave or knit it into the fabric.

However, when you have a fabric blend, it is always best to treat it the way you would treat the most delicate fiber in the blend. This method also works if you want to shrink just one portion of a garment, as the cuffs or waistline.

Also, be mindful that hanging up wet viscose can stretch it , as the weight of the water will pull the bottom of the garment down. However, if your viscose ever unshrinks, you can always repeat the 6 steps above to readjust the size.

Be careful not to re-shrink very often, or you could wear the clothes out too quickly. When you shrink viscose by mistake or want to restore intentionally shrunk viscose to its original size, you may be in luck. Depending on how much the clothes shrunk, you may be able to stretch them back out to their original size. However, if your viscose shrunk significantly, or it has shrunk multiple times over the course of some time, you may not be able to restore it all the way.

Water and a softening agent like hair conditioner or baby shampoo can unshrink viscose, but severe shrinkage can be irreversible. Minor shrinking is easy to address. Dramatic size and shape changes will be harder to correct. It may seem counterintuitive, but water is an important step in unshrinking viscose. It can help make the fibers more adjustable. The early steps to unshrinking viscose may seem close to the steps to shrink it.

But pay attention—leaving your viscose clothing in the water too long could have the opposite effect on them than you want. The conditioner in the water solution helps loosen the fibers while still protecting them. Dry cleaning will not shrink your viscose. Professional dry cleaners also know how to work with viscose.

Viscose is a fun, versatile fabric that can add a lot of color and pizazz to your wardrobe without breaking the bank. However, to keep that wardrobe vibrant and un-shrunk, you have to wash your viscose carefully.