By: Heather Bien
No matter how careful you are with your clothing, accidents happen—whether it’s a spaghetti sauce stain on your spaghetti strap or a lipstick smear on your favorite new shirt.
If you’ve recently bought some brand-new viscose clothes, you might be uncertain about the best wash setting for this silky-smooth but somewhat delicate fabric.
Have no fear. We’re here to help you keep your viscose fresh and soft, whether you’ve recently stained it or simply need a wash after everyday wear. Read on for our guide on how to wash viscose.
Viscose washing instructions
Viscose is a blanket name for different cellulose-based fabrics made from pulped woody fibers. There isn’t just one type of viscose. Viscose is a rayon fabric created with semi-synthetic fiber, made from the wood pulp of numerous fast-growing, woody, regenerative trees and plants such as:
- Pine
- Beech
- Eucalyptus
- Sugarcane
- Soy
- Bamboo
You may not be able to tell exactly what species of plant your viscose garment came from (unless the brand is upfront about it). It’s always a good idea to follow any manufacturer care instructions, but in their absence, you should generally follow the same care procedure for your viscose clothes.
Dry clean delicate viscose clothing like shirts and dresses to preserve their color, luster, and drape.
However, for viscose casual wear, loungewear, undergarments, and pajamas, dry-cleaning isn’t feasible or cost-effective. In this case, keeping your viscose in good shape at home means giving it a little extra love and consideration in the laundry room.
Follow these steps:
- Hand wash in cool or lukewarm water– Viscose is highly absorbent, which is part of what makes it great for activewear and underwear. At the same time, that can make it more sensitive to rough washing machine settings. To maintain the fabric’s texture and strength, wash your viscose in cool or warm water. This will also help prevent dye bleeds.
- Wash with similar colors – As you likely know, this is a good rule for all your laundry. Since viscose is a highly absorbent fabric, you’ll want to be extra sure to keep your wet viscose garments away from any darker fabrics that might transfer color onto them.
- Choose biodegradable detergent – A biodegradable, gentle detergent will leave your viscose item clean without harming the environment. Synthetic surfactants contained in conventional laundry detergent are the top pollutant in wastewater—and can also be harsh on your clothing.
- Rinse and shake dry – Once your viscose garment is clean, you can gently rinse it and then shake the excess water from it. Do not squeeze or hand-wring the item, as this can stretch and break the threads. And if you’re wondering does viscose wrinkle, yes, yes it does.
A word on bleaching viscose
If you happen to own a white viscose garment, you may be interested in learning how to keep it looking its snowy best.
Luckily, it is possible to bleach viscose. However, there is a big caveat here. You should only use oxygen bleach on viscose. Never use chlorine bleach, which can burn and break the viscose fibers.
Drying viscose
In general, it’s best to avoid putting your viscose clothing in the dryer.
The tumbling action of a machine dryer can be too rough for viscose. High temperatures and the possibility of snagging on other items make this a tricky choice. We recommend laying your viscose flat to dry or hanging it on a drying rack.
If you’d prefer to use a dryer, heed these tips:
- Use the lowest temperature setting
- Take advantage of any “delicate” options on your dial
- Protect your viscose in a mesh bag to avoid any snagging or rubbing
Viscose FAQs
Still have some questions about washing your viscose? Let us answer:
Achieve long-lasting comfort with Boody Eco Wear
Laundry is, by definition, a chore—but learning the proper steps is definitely worthwhile. If you treat your viscose with consideration, it can last you many beautiful, silky years.
All you need is a biodegradable detergent, cold or lukewarm water, and perhaps the help of a mesh bag on days when there’s just no time for hand washing or air drying.
At Boody, we specialize in top-quality bamboo viscose sustainable clothing that feels good on your body and does good for the planet. From underwear and sleepwear, to women’s bamboo shirts and loungewear, keep that good feeling going by taking proper care of your viscose items.
Sources:
Fabrics Galore London. A Guide to the Different Types of Viscose Fabric. https://www.fabricsgalore.co.uk/blogs/news/a-guide-to-the-different-types-of-viscose-fabric
MasterClass. Fabric Guide: What is Viscose? https://www.masterclass.com/articles/fabric-guide-what-is-viscose-understanding-viscose-fabric-and-how-viscose-is-made
About the Author: Heather Bien is a copywriter and writer based in Washington, DC. She works with retail, ecommerce, and creative brands on their website copy and digital presence, and her freelance writing has appeared on MyDomaine, Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, and more. When she's not with laptop and coffee in hand, you'll find her planning her next weekend getaway, working on her budding green thumb, or scouting for her next great vintage find.
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By: Heather Bien We’re all trying to be better stewards of Mother Earth. From recycling to upcycling and eating conscientiously to dressing mindfully, our choices affect the planet. So choosing organic cotton clothing seems like an easy decision, right? Not so fast! As with all sustainable choices, it’s important to take a moment to learn a bit more about why organic cotton might win over conventional cotton—and what makes these two materials different in the first place. Read on if you’re interested in learning about organic cotton and whether it’s the best choice for you and the environment. Conventional cotton Before we get into debating modern cotton farming techniques, let’s get familiar with the plant we’re talking about: cotton. It’s soft, durable, and probably on your body right now. But what else do you really know about cotton? 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In order to combat these common pests, conventional cotton is routinely sprayed with a veritable salad-dressing of pesticides, many of which can remain in the soil and water supply for years afterward. Cotton harvesting requires defoliation – In order to quickly and efficiently harvest cotton, many commercial growers use chemical defoliants to strip the leaves from the cotton plant prior to harvesting the bolls. Like pesticides, these chemicals remain in the environment and on the cotton itself. Is organic cotton better? All of those cotton factoids point pretty compellingly to buying and wearing organic cotton fabric. But first, it’s important to understand what sets this organic alternative apart. Why exactly is “organic” cotton anyway? You might associate the word organic with your healthy fruits and veggies, but it’s not always clear what this term means when it comes to cotton. 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But when it comes to plant-derived textiles, the ones which help us create a healthier world are always a better alternative. Explore the benefits of bamboo with Boody Whether you choose to purchase conventional or organic cotton clothing, the fact that you are shopping mindfully for yourself is a win for the environment. At Boody, we believe in bringing you quality, comfy, sustainable clothing basics that keep you feeling good about yourself and your personal impact on Mother Earth. From our sleepwear to our loungewear, women’s bamboo shirts to our underwear, sustainable and ethical are our touchstones. Our clothing is made of bamboo viscose, requiring less water than cotton while putting precious oxygen back into the environment. That just feels good, doesn’t it? Explore the bamboo benefits today, with Boody. Sources: Britannica. Cotton. https://www.britannica.com/topic/cotton-fibre-and-plant Cotton. The Story of Cotton - Where Cotton Grows. https://www.cotton.org/pubs/cottoncounts/story/where.cfm World Wildlife Federation. Cotton. https://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/cotton Textile Exchange. Quick Guide to Organic Cotton. https://textileexchange.org/quick-guide-to-organic-cotton Soil Association. What is organic cotton? https://www.soilassociation.org/take-action/organic-living/fashion-textiles/organic-cotton/ USDA. Conservation and Biological Diversity in Organic Production. https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2016/02/29/conservation-and-biological-diversity-organic-production About the Author: Heather Bien is a copywriter and writer based in Washington, DC. She works with retail, ecommerce, and creative brands on their website copy and digital presence, and her freelance writing has appeared on MyDomaine, Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, and more. When she's not with laptop and coffee in hand, you'll find her planning her next weekend getaway, working on her budding green thumb, or scouting for her next great vintage find.
