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How do you shrink viscose clothes?

Author

Rachel Ellis

Published Jan 10, 2026

The best ways to minimize shrinking in the dryer are to put your viscose items in a mesh bag (like a lingerie bag) and use a heat-free dryer setting. Otherwise, you will shrink your viscose. The mesh bag will help protect the garments from snags and tears. Even low heat can shrink viscose some.

How do you shrink viscose clothing?

No matter what type of fabric you're attempting to shrink, there are only three effective methods for shrinking:

  1. Washing and drying on medium to high heat (depending on fabric).
  2. Ironing the clothes while damp.
  3. Soaking clothes in warm to boiling water and drying with a blow dryer.

Does viscose shrink every time you wash it?

Viscose clothing will shrink if you wash it in the washing machine (with a typical setting) or in boiling hot water. However, there are correct ways of washing viscose clothing, so that they don't shrink as readily.

Does viscose shrink if dried?

This type of fabric holds colours very well, but is very sensitive to any moisture. When viscose fabric becomes wet, it is weakened, which leads to a breakdown of the fibres that make up the garment. When viscose dries, it can lose its colours, and can also shrink.

How many sizes does viscose shrink?

When washed in hot water on normal settings and machine-dried, 100% viscose can shrink by up to 25% in a first wash, though 3–5% shrinkage is more typical. The amount of shrinkage depends on: The percentage of viscose in a blended material. Whether the material was pre-shrunk by the fabricator.

45 related questions found

Does viscose shrink 40?

Viscose is an absorbent and delicate fabric. For that reason, washing it at high temperatures, such as 40 degrees, can mean that it shrinks. To avoid this problem, you need to wash viscose clothes at lower temperatures.

Can you wash 100% viscose?

Although many rayons CAN be washed, viscose has been known to shrink to extreme proportions. Viscose washing shrink happens. Unless the garment is specifically marked washable - DO NOT wash it. Viscose is not machine washable unless marked otherwise.

Can I machine wash viscose?

Viscose is a highly absorbent fabric, relatively inelastic and therefore very delicate especially when wet. This is why we recommend you hand washing, with cold or lukewarm water (maximum 20° C) rather than machine washing.

Can viscose be ironed?

You can iron viscose when it is dry, but it is actually easier to iron when a little damp. Spray with a bottle filled with clean water. The garment should only be slightly wet to the touch.

Is viscose a fabric pill?

Also, viscose is one of the fastest synthetic fibers to stretch, pill, and generally fall apart. So don't buy viscose if you want to be able to wear the item over and over.

Can you shrink polyester and viscose?

Both 100% polyester and polyester blends can shrink in a dryer. Even if the garment has been washed by hand. Choosing a hotter setting on your dryer than you would normally cause a range of shrink levels from moderate to maximum. Go for a low heat setting if all you need is a minimal reduction in size.

Can you shrink clothes that are too big?

In a way, yes. Though every type of fabric behaves differently, heat will shrink most, if not all, fabric types. For example, both cotton shirts and denim jeans will shrink more in a warm or hot wash, followed by a high heat drying cycle.

How do you make viscose not wrinkle?

Viscose Iron Setting

You should iron the material while it is still slightly damp. The proper viscose iron setting is that for silk or rayon. As an added protective measure, place a clean piece of cotton cloth on top of the viscose and iron on that. Doing so keeps the viscose away from direct heat.

Can I use a steamer on viscose?

To remove wrinkles from viscose fabrics, use a medium heat temperature (silk setting) on your iron with a pressing cloth to protect the fabric. However, steam from the iron is usually the best way to remove the creases on viscose. A clothes steamer can work well to relax wrinkling, as well.

Can I heat press viscose?

Fabrics that contain polyester, rayon, or viscose are heat sensitive and require a transfer that applies at a lower heat application to reduce scorching or burn marks on the item. The ideal heat temperature is 280 degrees and below.

Is viscose fabric good for summer?

Viscose rayon is very breathable, making it a cool fabric for stylish summer wear. The delicate viscose rayon fibers may break apart if you wash them in the washing machine. The super absorbent nature of viscose fabric makes it a convenient option for activewear. It doesn't trap heat and wicks away sweat too.

Is viscose the same as rayon?

The terms Rayon and Viscose are often treated interchangeably. Even the Federal Trade Commission considers the terms to be the same. The viscose process is one of the most common ways to make rayon today. The term “viscose” comes from “viscous, which describes the liquid state of the spinning solution,” says Swicofil.

Does viscose crease a lot?

Viscose – Creases easily (lowest elastic recovery of any fibre). Stretches and shrinks more than cotton when wet, which is why it is always dry clean only. Dries slowly. Not durable.

Which fabric does not wrinkle easily?

Synthetics like polyester, nylon, acrylic and olefin, have a natural resistance to wrinkles and a greater stability since they do not absorb water as efficiently.

What is the best way to shrink clothes?

Regardless of the type of garment—shirts, cotton, hoodies, and pants/jeans—or fabric, from rayon to 100 percent cotton, the most common process for potentially shrinking clothes is to machine wash them with hot water and machine dry them with high heat.

What shrinks clothes washer or dryer?

Clothes are much more likely to shrink when exposed to hot water or high dryer settings. While cold water may not completely prevent shrinking with some fabrics, it goes a long way towards preserving the “off the rack” size. Also, try to avoid using heavy duty cycles or fast spins with fabric that's prone to shrinkage.

Does warm or hot water shrink clothes?

Yes, hot water does shrink clothes sometimes. The washer can cause clothes to shrink in both hot and warm water. However, hot water shrinks items to their maximum shrinkage capacity after one wash, whereas warm water will shrink them more gradually over multiple washes.

Does 95% viscose shrink?

Does viscose shrink? These are common questions we get on viscose fabric care. To answer them, yes, viscose does shrink if it is not washed properly. Handwashing this fabric at home will help prevent viscose from shrinking and keep it long-lasting, too.

How can I shrink polyester without washing it?

Hot drying can also shrink polyester. You can also try to shrink the fabric further by using the heat setting in the dryer. In hot Ironing, you can shrink polyester. You can use a temperately hot iron to attempt further shrinking.

Can you shrink cotton?

If you want to shrink cotton clothing, it is easy as cotton fabric shrinks the best. But since cotton clothing can bleed, make sure to separate the colors from the whites. Wash your cotton garment using hot water. If using a washing machine, set your water temperature to high.