How to Wash Spandex

How to wash spandex, a flexible polyurethane elastic, depends entirely on the percentage of spandex that makes up the garment. In all kinds of clothing, spandex helps garments stretch while retaining their shape. Spandex is also known as Lycra (TM), and elastane. Here are important tips about how to wash, dry and iron spandex garments to retain their best qualities.

Step 1:      Find Out the Percentage of Spandex in the Garment Fiber

Read the fabric composition label to find out how much spandex is in the garment.

Step 2:      Washing and Drying Spandex

If 5 per cent or less of the garment's fabric is spandex, then you can wash and dry it as you would a garment made entirely of the other fiber. For cotton-spandex garments, machine-wash in warm water with a cold rinse, as preset by your washing machine. Machine-dry any garments containing spandex on the medium temperature setting of your dryer.

Polyester-spandex clothes are generally up to 20 per cent spandex. Machine-wash these in warm water with a cold rinse as above, but machine-dry on a medium or low setting. Always use fabric softener or a dryer sheet to prevent the build-up of static electricity in spandex in the dryer. Polyester-spandex garments dry more evenly when hung up on a hanger. Hang pants and skirts full-length from their waistband, using a clip hanger.

Most bras and support undergarments, such as the Spanx (TM) line of shapewear can contain up to 70 per cent spandex, with nylon, polyester or other synthetic fibers. While these can be machine-washed in lukewarm water on a gentle cycle, never put them in the dryer. Hang all spandex shapewear from bras to spandex pants on a drying rack to dry.

To maintain the shape, color and life of the trim of spandex lingerie, it is best to hand-wash these garments. Use cool water (feels cold but not icy to your hands), and a specialized handwashing detergent, such as Woolite (TM). You can substitute a mild dishwashing detergent, which will help remove salt and oils from perspiration. Scrub gently with your hands along all the seams. Rinse thoroughly with cool water. Wring to get most of the water out, but then roll the garment in a large towel and gently press out the rest of the water. Hang over the rails of a drying rack to dry. Do not stretch out spandex garments on a flat surface. They will return to their original shape when fully air-dried. Never use chlorine bleach when washing any spandex garment.

Step 3:      Ironing Spandex

When ironing fabric with as little as 2 percent spandex, iron it on the lowest steam setting, usually the one for wool. Too high a steam setting will form tiny ripples and blisters in the spandex that will never flatten out again.  

Polyester-spandex garments will require touch-up ironing if dried in the dryer. Hang-drying these items prevents wrinkling. Use a dry iron on the recommended setting for nylon. Move the iron smoothly, so it does not stick to the fabric. Never iron any garment made up of more than 30 per cent spandex.