The short answer is yes, rayon does wrinkle. In fact, it wrinkles quite easily in certain environments, so you need to take some extra care to ensure that your outfit isn’t an unsightly mess for those special gatherings. This doesn’t mean you can’t wear this fabric for an important event, you just need to take special care to remove the wrinkles that are already there and prevent them from coming back. But why does rayon wrinkle so much and what can you do with that?
Rayon Trusted Source Rayon - Wikipedia Rayon is a synthetic fiber, made from natural sources of regenerated cellulose, such as wood and related agricultural products. en.wikipedia.org is a synthetic fabric that that is created when cellulose is dissolved and then converted back into insoluble fibrous cellulose. There are a few different methods for this process, though they all result in a versatile fabric that has a similar look and texture to some of the more popular natural fibers, such as silk, cotton, wool, or linen, with the drape and smoothness of nylon.
Rayon is used for making a variety of clothing, including tops, pants, skirts, and dresses. This fabric is soft and comfortable, plus it is highly absorbent without insulating your body heat, so you stay cool while wearing them, even on those extra warm days.
You can buy these pieces from your favorite shops or you can make your own. Rayon is sold by the yard in many cases, with a variety of colors available. A favorite of many sewers is the Rayon Challis Fabric, which is a lightweight plain-weave that has multiple uses, plus comes in several color options. You can use a cheap sewing machine or a more advanced computerized sewing machine to create your designs, depending on your skills in this area.
Though rayon is soft against your skin, comfortable to wear in varying temperatures, and drapes beautifully, it does have a rather large flaw, which is the ease at which it wrinkles. These wrinkles will appear any time this fabric comes in contact with water or any other type of moisture.
Of course, you can take measures to ensure that these wrinkles stay away. Laundering any items made from this fabric properly is the first step to keep you looking your best, plus there are a few other considerations to take into account, which we’ll cover below.
Items that are made of 100% rayon wrinkle quite easily. To counter this, many manufacturers blend rayon with a fabric that is not as susceptible to wrinkles, such as spandex. Spandex is one of the most stretchable materials there is for clothing, which actually helps it resist wrinkling.
When combined with rayon, it prevents wrinkles from forming as easily, keeping your clothing looking fantastic all day long. One popular example of this blend is the Daily Ritual Women’s Standard Rayon Spandex Wide Rip Scoop Neck Henley Dress, which has a simple, comfortable design and comes in a few fantastic colors. Some manufacturers also include polyester in the blend along with spandex and rayon to increase the wrinkle resistance.
Whether you’re buying a rayon blend or not, you should try to stay away from viscose rayon. This method of rayon production is the weakest of all of the rayon varieties. Though it is a low-cost and versatile fabric, it is also the weakest, so it tends to wrinkle more easily than high wet modulus or other types of strong rayon fabrics.
No matter what piece of clothing you put on, you’re going to risk wrinkles. This is from the consistent movements required throughout the day. You’re walking around, sitting down, getting up, making meals, cleaning, and a hundred other small tasks during your daily life. This can cause wrinkles in many fabrics, especially one that wrinkles as easily as rayon.
Though some types of rayon wrinkle faster than others, there are some things to consider when choosing your pieces. The different varieties of rayon may be given varying treatments, such as a sizing treatment that resists wrinkles.
The item you’ve chosen also factors into the number of wrinkles that will form throughout the day. A dress, skirt, or pair of pants that are constantly sat on throughout the day will wrinkle faster than a top.
If a rayon item that you’re wearing gets wet from rain, spills, splashed water, or even sweat, those wrinkles will form much faster than they would on a dry piece of clothing. Staying dry isn’t always possible but it is the best way to keep those wrinkles at bay and maintaining your fashionable look at every event.
Washing rayon is a sure way to cause wrinkles because moisture is one of the largest causes of wrinkles in this material. Even the strongest of the rayon fabrics will wrinkle when they are washed, so be prepared to deal with these every time you launder your clothing.
There are some ways to avoid this. Many rayon items are dry clean only, which prevents them from coming into contact with moisture during the cleaning process. This also makes the job of getting rid of the wrinkles someone else’s problem, so the clothing you pick up is wrinkle-free and ready to wear.
If you can’t afford to dry clean your rayon items all the time, you do need to take some special precautions when washing these pieces. The clothing should include specific laundry instructions on the label, which you should follow precisely to prevent wrinkles from forming. These include reducing the water temperature to prevent damage to the fabric and hanging the clothing immediately after washing. You also should limit ironing and keep the heat as low as possible when ironing can’t be avoided.
The reason rayon wrinkles so much has to do with how it is made. There are several different varieties of rayon available, some of which are much tougher and more durable than others. These resist wrinkles due to the stronger products used to create the fabric, though they don’t completely prevent them from forming.
The rayon fabrics that use weaker ingredients during manufacturing, such as wood fibers and wood pulp, can’t withstand the wrinkles, so they tend to form faster, so you end up with clothing that needs to be babied every time you put it on. These materials also require chemicals to extract the cellulose from the wood to make it possible to spin it into the fabric, which isn’t the best option environmentally.
The weaker the rayon fabric is, the faster it will wrinkle, and so even crossing your arms can cause these unsightly issues. A rayon blend will help to reduce the wrinkles in the weaker fabric, so it may be a good idea to stick to these when possible.
The easiest way to get wrinkles out of any fabric is to use an iron, though you do need to be extra careful with rayon pieces since they can’t handle high heat. This is why many irons include a rayon and nylon setting. If there isn’t this setting on your iron, you’ll need to stick to the lowest heat setting available.
Turn your rayon item inside out and lay it out on your ironing board or a towel-covered table. Lay a towel over the area you will be ironing, starting with the stiffer areas. Be gentle, moving the iron lightly in long, fast strokes.
A steamer is a great tool for maintaining delicate fabrics. It’s much easier to use with a precision that is so much needed to avoid damaging the material. One thing that is important to remember is not to leave the steamer targeting one area and move it around the garment.
There are special wrinkle-removing sprays that you can use when there is no iron to find. Its formula helps to make the fabric softer and neater. And while it’s not as effective as proper ironing or steaming, it’s still a life-saver when you travel.
Though it takes a bit of extra effort, it is possible to keep rayon clothing wrinkle-free. First, make sure your hands are clean and dry before handling them. Don’t use lotions before touching your rayon.
You should also avoid wearing rayon on hot days or any events that could cause sweating.
When packing your rayon items, keep them at the bottom of a suitcase where the hard surface will offer support. Storing rayon should be done with a plastic cover to prevent any moisture from wrinkling the fabric.
Washing your rayon items by hand, using the instructions on the item, is best. Stick with warm water, squeezing it gently to clean it, and dry it with a towel. Iron only if necessary.
Rayon is one of the more inexpensive fabrics available, so it is a great choice for those on a budget that still want to look good. Of course, the answer to the question “does rayon wrinkle” is a definite yes, so it takes some patience and care to keep it looking as good as possible. This is due to the materials used to manufacture the fabric and some of the stiffening agents added to this process.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that rayon should be avoided. If you are careful with the clothing you buy and give them the attention needed, rayon is a wonderful fabric that has a soft texture, drapes well, and helps maintain your perfect style. Choosing rayon blends is also a way to keep those wrinkles at bay for better-looking outfits.
