Ask Angie and all: handwashing viscose

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Ask Angie and all: handwashing viscose

bj1111

Veteran

100% viscose zara dress. label says dry clean...should i chance a handwash?

any experience / advice out there?

13 years ago

Dressing

4 replies

Latest reply was from Vildy

Jem

Veteran

Hi, Viscose seems to be another name for rayon. When I sew with it, I always wash and sometimes dry it, but that's before I make something with it. The problem with rayon is that depending on the quality, sometimes it shrinks like crazy. I haven't actually had that problem with it for quite awhile (it seems to be better these days), but I'd be a little worried about that. It could be fine, though. I guess it depends on how much you love it. Also, if you do, rayon gets stiff when it gets wet, but softens up again once it dries (just so you know that's normal).

13 years ago

Anonymous

If your dress isn't brand new and very dear to you, you could chance a hand wash (literally in the sink with your hands...not the 'hand wash' selection on your machine). If the garment is super structured and fitted, you may be better off sticking to dry cleaning.

If it's a loose fitting, simply designed dress you'll probably be okay hand washing it and drip drying. I have had a few occasions where a viscose garment shrunk unevenly and never stretched back out. Also sometimes viscose and rayon smell horrible when they get wet, but the odor usually goes away once they dry.

13 years ago

bj1111

Veteran

it's a flower print shift that o got from zara. not very precious, but i wanted to wear to on vacation next week. i will have to wash it on the trip anyway. i'm sweaty betty. so might as well find out if it will shrink now.

13 years ago

Vildy

Veteran

I wash pretty much everything. Rayon will probably shrink up somewhat in length even when handwashed in cold water. Another thing to watch for - though not in the case of this loose dress - is sometimes manufacturers cut costs and cut out the waistband in the wrong direction. This works fine until the rayon garment is washed and the waistband shrinks horizontally: becomes smaller and tighter. I learned this from reading Fashion Incubator as an explanation of why so many skirts become unwearable.

13 years ago

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