Can I machine wash viscose?

The fibers in viscose, another name for rayon, come from ground-up cellulose, or wood pulp. Although viscose starts its life as plant matter, manufacturers treat the raw materials with chemicals before turning them into a fiber. Clothing made with viscose is soft and breathable, and doesn't require dry cleaning. Wash items safely at home using the delicate cycle on your washing machine.

Set your washing machine for the delicate cycle. Select cold water for the wash temperature.

Add liquid laundry detergent designed for delicate fabrics to the water in a top-loader or to the detergent dispenser in a front-loader. Read the detergent bottle for directions on how much to add.

Fill the machine two-thirds full with other delicates in like colors. Add the viscose article to the machine and allow the cycle to run.

Remove the clothing from the machine. Lay the viscose article flat on a drying rack or hang it on a plastic hanger to dry.

Iron the garment on the lowest setting, without steam, while it is still slightly damp. As an alternative, allow it to dry completely and steam the wrinkles out with a clothing steamer.

Items you will need

• Delicate laundry detergent
• Clothing drying rack
• Plastic hanger
• Iron
• Ironing board
• Clothing steamer

Tip

• Viscose fibers shrink when wet, but relax again as they dry. Your viscose clothing might look smaller when you take it out of the machine, but it will return to its normal size and softness when dry.