How to Shrink Rayon

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Rayon is a sensitive material that can warp dramatically when exposed to heat or water. By simply washing and drying a piece of rayon fabric, you can shrink it down by a significant amount.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Washing Rayon

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    Rayon can be easily manipulated and permanently changed when exposed to water. Gently hand wash the garment and let it soak in the water for several minutes to significantly shrink your fabric but also protect the material. [1]
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    If your rayon garment is much too big, throw it in the washing machine with some regular detergent and wash on a warm or hot cycle.
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    If you don't want to make any drastic changes to your rayon garment, shrink it in a more subtle way. Soak a bath towel in water, lay the rayon flat on the towel, and then roll the towel up and let it sit so that the moisture can soak into the fabric. [2]
    • Try this method first if you're worried about shrinking your garment too much. If you want it shrunken more, you can always resort to one of the other methods for your second attempt.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Drying Rayon

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    After you've washed your rayon fabric, you can simply lay it down flat on a counter for a while and wait for it to dry naturally. [3] This may be your best option if you're trying to only shrink the garment a little bit, or if you want to be extra cautious about making sure the shrinking occurs uniformly.
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    You can dry your wet rayon by gently pressing out excess water and then hanging it on a clothes line to let the outdoor air dry it.
    • Avoid squeezing the water out because this could potentially create wrinkles and stretch the fabric out unevenly.
    • This method may make the fabric stretch the most lengthwise.
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    Put your wet rayon garment in the dryer on the gentle setting until it's completely dry. Drying your fabric in this way will most likely allow for the greatest possible amount of shrinkage.
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      Tips

      • Before choosing a method, Identify the blend of the fabric that you're trying to shrink. You might opt for a more aggressive method to shrink a garment only made 30% of Rayon and a less aggressive method to shrink a garment made 100% of Rayon.
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      • When in doubt, don't use a washing machine or a dryer.
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      • Don't dry clean your rayon fabric unless you change your mind about shrinking it. This will clean the garment well, but it won't change the size at all.
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      Warnings

      • Don't wring water out of rayon fabric; this with cause damage to fabric and change its shape in an undesirable way.
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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.apparelsearch.com/education/ohio_state_clothing_education/rayon_multi-faceted_fiber.htm
      2. ↑ http://www.sew4home.com/tips-resources/sewing-tips-tricks/happy-holidays-freespirit-rowan-working-rayon-and-linen
      3. ↑ http://www.sew4home.com/tips-resources/sewing-tips-tricks/happy-holidays-freespirit-rowan-working-rayon-and-linen

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To shrink rayon, gently hand wash the material and let it soak in the water for several minutes before laying it out flat to air dry. If you want to shrink the rayon more dramatically, wash the fabric in a washing machine on a warm or hot cycle. After the cycle finishes, you can hang dry the item or lay it out flat to dry. You can also put the fabric in your dryer and tumble-dry on low for even more shrinkage. For tips on using a wet towel for very subtle shrinking, read on!

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Anonymous

        Apr 15, 2019

        "This helped me salvage a dress that, unshrunken, looked quite matronly. Shrinking it was the only way to save it!"
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