You may have noticed that your rayon garments call for different care. Some may say “Dry Clean Only” while others say to machine wash. Before you assume that all rayon is machine washable and the maker of the “Dry Clean Only” version was just trying to sound “high end” when they put that tag in, consider what type of rayon you may be caring for.
There are actually four types of rayon that your garment may be made of. Each type can vary in texture and feel. Rayon can feel like silk, wool, cotton, or linen. They are popular because they are absorbent, light, non-insulating, and very comfortable.
The most common rayon is referred to as “regular” rayon or “viscose” rayon. Some garments may even refer to it as “artificial silk” or “art silk”. Rayon is produced from naturally occurring polymers and so it cannot be called a “synthetic” fiber. However, because of the extensive process that it takes to make rayon, it cannot be referred to as a “natural” fiber, either. It is technically a “semi-synthetic” fiber. Regular rayon does not hold its shape very well when wet. It is also very fragile when wet. This is why regular, or viscose, rayon garments are dry clean only. If you wash it, it may come out looking a lot different than when it went in!
Machine washable rayon is called “high wet modulus rayon”, or HWM rayon. This rayon is a lot stronger than regular rayon when wet. It can also be mercerized, which is a process that makes fabrics lustrous, stronger, and easier to dye, like cotton. You may see HWM rayon called “Modal” rayon. Modal rayon is made from the cellulose of beech trees and is colorfast when washed in warm water. It is 50% more absorbent than cotton and is resistant to shrinkage and fading. Even though this type of rayon is strong, you should wash in cold if possible and on a gentle cycle because it is prone to stretching and pilling.
The third kind of rayon is called “high-tenacity” rayon. This type of rayon is almost twice as strong as HWM. It is unlikely that you have any garments made out of high-tenacity rayon, because it is mostly used in tire cord and for other industrial purposes. However, it is occasionally used in upholstery and embellishments. This type of rayon is extremely strong and can be washed however you want to wash it.
The last type of rayon that your garment could be is called “cupramonium rayon”. Care is the same as viscose rayon. This type of rayon is very rare because it is no longer produced in the United States, due to the harmful environmental effects caused by its production.
About the Author: Sam Morton is on the staff of USA Hanger, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers. They are known for the excellent quality and value of their hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.usahanger.com/.
