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Washing Tencel
We get a lot of queries about laundering tencel,
mostly because the fiber is so new, and here is what we have gleaned from
various sources on Tencel Care. We're not crazy about 'perc' (the dry cleaning
solvent) and prefer to use water and detergents whenever we can.
Laundering - General
Tencel itself is machine washable and drip dry, no iron, and with much less
shrinkage than most other natural fibers. Tencel even fades like denim when
exposed to the same multiple washings. Tencel is susceptible to mildew and
damage by silverfish, so launder when soiled. It is the strongest cellulosic
fiber when dry, stronger than cotton, linen or rayon, and only linen is
stronger when wet.For really the longest lasting best looks in the fabric,
we like Ivory flakes, Orvus Quilt Shampoo or a good hair shampoo and the
gentle cycle. It might be worth your while to experiment with different
detergents to see which one work the best for you. What may be good for
getting little Johhny's grass stains out may fade that great Tencel dress.
Tencel performs best when drip dried rather than drying by machine.
For Tencel which you plan to sew up into a garment, pre-wash the fabric
by itself and drip dry before cutting. Throw a white cotton rag in with
the Tencel wash if you are concerned about color 'bleeding' (you probably
won't see any). Tencel dyes in our fabrics have proven very colorfast
with no noticeable 'bleeding'
Washing Tencel Garments
Some finished Tencel garments are marked 'dry clean only', and this may
have more to do with the lining or manufacture than the tencel itself. The
lining (may have a much greater shrink rate than Tencel (which is only about
3%), which would cause the garment to pucker. Proceed on very carefully
if you decide to wash a garment marked 'Dry Clean only', but it may be worth
the try.
Warning!
If you have looked at our other fabric care pages, you know to start with
a wash test on an inconspicuous part of the garment. Nothing in this
document should be considered a recommendation or guarantee of success.
If the garment is unlined, we would suggest that you try a small area
(say the back of the hem) with a little detergent and a white cloth. If
you get any dye bleeding, this may be the reason they have recommended
dry cleaning. This will be most noticeable if there is white trim on the
garment.
If there is no bleeding and you are feeling confident, you can proceed
with handwashing in cold water with a gentle detergent and a drip dry.
Remember, tencel itself will shrink about 3% when first washed. When this
is successful, you can proceed down to your regular river to beat it on
a rock. No, just kidding, if the hand wash results are OK, you can then
try a gentle machine cycle with the same temperature and detergent.
Dry Cleaning
Some fabrics made from tencel are not specially treated to prevent fibrillation
('split ends') and should be labeled as "dry clean only". Reduced moisture
and agitation during dry-cleaning prevent fibrillation. However, many manufacturers
take the chicken way out and label all their garments as 'dry clean only'
even if they could be washed. this lets you take up laundry problems with
your dry cleaner, not them.
Tencel fabrics that require dry cleaning may have either a smooth or
sanded surface. If machine washed or hand washed, they could develop a
"hairy" surface. In addition, water spotting may be noticeable in some
fabrics that are "spot" cleaned to remove stains.
If you have a garment labelled for dry cleaning only, and want to wash
it, you can start by handwashing a small, inconspicuous spot. If this
is successful, you can try to wash the whole garment if you dare. Be aware
that tencel may shrink as much as 2 to 3%. If you decide to launder a
dry clean only garment, you are on your own, we can't be responsible for
your results. Never launder a lined tencel garment, they will almost certainly
have different shrink rates.
Ironing: Tencel performs best when drip dried rather than drying
by machine, and the wrinkles tend to drop out while hanging. If line dried,
you can briefly toss in the dryer with a damp towel to soften the fabric
after it is dry or nearly dry. Or hang in the bathroom while you shower.
Because tencel is similar to cotton, it can take medium to high temperature
settings, but like other cellulosics, tencel will scorch, not melt, if
burned. It infrequently needs a little touch up with a warm iron, the
exception is fabric made from fine yarns or microfibers. Heat will penetrate
these fabrics more quickly with the potential for scorching. In many instances,
however, wrinkles are likely to hang out overnight, particularly in a
warm, moist environment like a steamy bathroom. Wrinkling may occur after
wetting the fabric.
Copyright ©: 1998-2006, Silk Road, inc.
3910 N. Lamar, Austin, TX, USA 78756
Tel: +1 (512) 302-0844
Fax: +1 (512) 302-0611
Comments? Questions? Write us at: webmistress@srfabrics.com
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