How to Wash and Care for Viscose Fabric

How to Wash Viscose Fabric

How to Wash Viscose Fabric
Detergent	Mild
Water Temperature	Cold
Cycle Type	Hand-wash only
Drying Cycle Type	Air-dry only
Special Treatments	Never wring or twist
Iron Settings	Medium heat/silk setting

1. Fill Sink and Wash

   Fill a sink or basin with cold water and add a mild detergent. Gently submerge the viscose item and swish it around. Allow the clothing to soak for up to 30 minutes.

2. Rinse

   Drain the tub and fill it with more cold water or run the garment underneath the faucet. Continue until the suds are gone, and the water runs clear.

3. Remove Water

   After hand-washing, gently squeeze out excess water.

4. Roll

   Place the wet garment on a thick cotton towel and roll it up to absorb most of the water.

5. Air-Dry

   Allow the garment to air-dry flat or hang on a padded hanger to drip-dry.

6. Reshape

   Gently pull and shape the garment back to its original form as it begins to dry. Don't leave it crumpled, as that will create set-in wrinkles that can be difficult to remove.

What Is Viscose Fabric?

The term "viscose" is used throughout Europe and Asia and is an alternative term for "rayon," which is often used in the United States. Both viscose and rayon are made from wood pulp or cellulose. Viscose is made by treating plants' cellulose stalks and stems with sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide. The solution is spun into fibers or yarns that eventually create the fabric.

While cotton, linen, and wool are considered natural fibers, viscose is regarded as a bio-based textile. It begins with cellulose (a natural element), but it must be treated extensively with chemicals to become a fiber. Other examples of bio-based fabrics made from plant or tree pulps are modal and lyocell.

Viscose fibers or yarns are woven into soft, smooth, almost silk-like fabrics. Textured viscose textiles are made by twisting the fibers during manufacturing. The weight of the yarn can vary from lightweight for linings to heavy for creating drapery and upholstery fabrics. Viscose is often combined with other fibers like spandex, silk, and cotton. Viscose fabric is breathable and perfect for hot, humid climates, but it's not ideal for insulating from cold. The fibers are easily dyed, and the finished material retains color well.

Treating Stains on Viscose Fabric

To remove stains on viscose clothes, follow suggested removal tips depending upon the type of stain. It's important to avoid scrubbing the stained area too much as it can cause the viscose yarns to weaken and break, leaving the fabric looking worn.

You can use a diluted white vinegar solution or an oxygen bleach-based stain remover for most stains. First, scrape off any solid pieces of food, grease, or dirt. Then dab on a little bit of the cleaning agent. Using a dampened, clean cloth, blot away the soap and wash as you usually would.

Viscose Fabric Care and Repairs

Due to its delicate nature, patching or sewing viscose can be tricky. If your clothing has a tiny hole or slit, you can use a matching thread to hand-stitch it back together from the underside of the garment. If you'd rather leave the task to a professional, bring your torn clothing to a tailor shop for mending.

Viscose fabric can fade if exposed to alcohol, perfume, hair treatments, or urine. To keep it from shrinking, do not clean it in the washing machine, do not use a dryer, and wash it using cold water. Avoid using any spot-cleaning treatments that have bleach or alcohol.

Storing Viscose Fabric

Because viscose is a plant-based fabric, it tends to attract mildew that will, in turn, eat away and damage the fabric. Cotton bags that allow airflow are ideal for packing away your viscose clothing. Avoid storing in plastic bins as they can trap residual water that may cause mildew growth. Fold knit items before storing; delicate pieces can remain on hangers inside a cotton garment bag.

How Often to Wash Viscose Fabric

Though viscose fabric is delicate, washing it after every wear is safe if it's hand-washed. Handwashing is gentle enough to prevent damage, but it's essential never to wring or twist wet viscose. 

If you decide to chance using a washing machine, place your garment inside a mesh bag, wash in cold water, choose the gentle cycle, and select the slowest spin speed.

Ironing

To remove wrinkles from viscose fabrics, use a medium heat temperature (silk setting) on your iron with a pressing cloth to protect the material. However, steam from the iron is usually the best way to remove the creases on viscose. A clothes steamer can work well to relax wrinkling, as well.

Tips for Washing Viscose Fabric

• Turn a viscose garment inside out before washing to retain the color and texture.
• When viscose is wet, it's stiff and rigid because it's a highly absorbent fabric. Once the water leaves the material, it becomes soft again.
• Viscose doesn't have static buildup, so using an anti-static spray on the garment is unnecessary.