Synthetic materials

Acetate

This material, which is used in inexpensive satin and the lining of clothing and draperies, usually requires dry-cleaning. If the care label specifically permits washing, launder it in cold water with mild suds. Do not use any cleaner that contains acetone, which will dissolve acetate. Don't wring or twist the garment, and don't soak colored items. Once the garment is clean, do not dry it in a dryer. Instead, air-dry it by carefully spreading the garment out on terry-cloth bath towels on a horizontal surface or by draping it over a clothesline, avoiding direct sunlight. While it's still damp, press the garment inside out with a cool iron. If pressing right side out, use a pressing cloth.

Acrylic

Acrylic fabrics resemble wool and are often blended with wool. Modacrylic is an acrylic fiber that is flame retardant, lightweight, bulky, and warm. It is commonly used in fake fur, curtains, and wigs and for stuffing toys. Most acrylic garments are hand- or machine-washable, and they can also be dry-cleaned. Hand-wash delicate items in warm water. For machine-washable items, use warm water and the gentle settings on your machine. Acrylic can pill, so turn your garments inside out before washing. Use fabric softener every third or fourth washing to reduce static electricity. After laundering, gently squeeze any water from the garment. Then smooth or shake it out. Acrylic sweaters should then be pulled into shape and left to dry flat on a horizontal surface. Dry other acrylic garments on nonrust hangers. If the care label permits machine drying, use a low temperature setting and remove the garment from the machine as soon as it is dry. Acrylic tends not to wrinkle, but if ironing is needed, set the iron to medium.

Lyocell

Lyocell is the generic name for a form of rayon that is often marketed as the brand Tencel. In 1996, it became the first new generic fiber group in 30 years to be approved by the Federal Trade Commission. Lyocell is strong and easy to care for, and is used in woven and knitted fabrics (often blended with cotton), including jersey, sweaters, hosiery, denim, sueded fabrics, chinos, sheets, and towels. A few lyocell fabrics should be dry-cleaned only, but some lyocell fabrics should not be dry-cleaned, so check the care label. If the label permits machine-washing, wash warm, rinse cold, and dry on a permanent-press setting. Wrinkles may hang out. If your garment needs a slight touch-up, use an iron set on medium; don't iron fabric made from fine yarns or microfibers.

Nylon

This strong, lightweight fabric might yellow if dried in direct sunlight. And when washed with other garments, it might fade, look gray, or attract dyes. Hand-wash nylon stockings and other garments or machine-wash warm on a gentle setting with similarly colored items and fibers. Add a fabric softener to the final rinse cycle if you plan to air-dry. If you machine-dry, use a dryer sheet to reduce static electricity and remove garments as soon as they are dried. (Don't use softeners in washing or drying; they can build up.) Use a warm iron.

Polyester

Quick drying and resistant to wrinkling, shrinking, and fading, this synthetic material is nonetheless difficult to maintain. Polyester pills easily when laundered with other fabrics and attracts oil stains like a magnet. Dry-cleaning is okay for most items. Hand-wash or gently machine-wash a polyester garment, turning it inside out to reduce the possibility of exterior pilling. Let the garment drip-dry or use a low temperature setting and remove the items as soon as the tumble cycle is complete. If ironing is needed, use a medium setting. If you want the convenience of polyester without its drawbacks, look for a garment made from a blend of polyester and natural fibers—it will be more durable and easier to care for than an all-polyester or all-natural-fiber garment. This fabric attracts oil stains and soiling from other items in the wash. Wash oily stains as soon as you notice them by rubbing them with a wet bar of hand soap, then with a wet towel, and rinse.

Polyolefin (olefin)

This fabric is often used in underwear, socks, sweaters, pantyhose, and swimwear. You can hand-wash or machine-wash items in warm or cold water. Air-dry or tumble-dry on a gentle setting. Avoid ironing, but if it's necessary, use the lowest temperature settings. Otherwise, the heat can melt the material.

Rayon

Also known as viscose, this fabric is lightweight and strong when dry but weak and flimsy when wet. It's prone to wrinkling and doesn't hold its shape particularly well. Dry-cleaning is recommended for most rayon items. If the care label permits, hand-wash with mild suds in cool or lukewarm water, or machine-wash using a gentle setting. Do not twist or wring wet items. Lay sweaters flat to dry, but air-dry other items using nonrust hangers. You can iron damp items using a low or medium setting. Begin with the garment turned inside out; finish ironing right side out using a pressing cloth. Press dry items with a cool iron only.

Spandex

Also known as Lycra, spandex is used in swimwear, sportswear, underwear, and other garments, and provides shape and elasticity. Some fiber blends may be dry-cleaned, but usually hand- or machine-washing is preferable. To ensure that spandex maintains its elasticity, hand-wash items in lukewarm water, or machine-wash on a gentle setting, using a low temperature setting and a mild detergent. Never wash spandex with chlorine bleach or a detergent that contains it. Be sure to rinse well. Drip dry, or use your dryer's low temperature settings. It's usually not necessary to press an article of clothing made from spandex, but if you need to remove wrinkles, set the iron on a low temperature setting only and don't leave the iron on one spot for long. If wool blended with this fiber gets wet, air-dry away from heat or sunlight. Do not tumble dry.

Triacetate

This material is used in sportswear and clothes in which pleat retention is important, such as robes, dresses, and skirts. It is shrink- and heat-resistant and easily washed. Hand-wash pleated items. You can machine-wash nonpleated items that are l00 percent triacetate. Do not use any cleaner that contains acetone, which will dissolve the material. (Triacetate might also be adversely affected by perfumes containing organic solvents.) Air- or machine-dry. Check the care label before you iron—triacetate usually needs only touch-up ironing. Some garments or blends might be no-iron.