Nylon—a material that was once synonymous with “stockings” (“nylons”)—is today used in all sorts of garments, especially activewear. This synthetic fabric continues to grow in popularity, and if you take a quick look through your closet, you’re almost certain to find several items featuring at least some nylon.
To help your nylon garments last, it’s important to wash and care for them properly. In this post, we provide some tips to help you do just that.
A Dedicated Load
One of the best habits you can develop for your nylon items is to wash them separately from the rest of your laundry. While some nylon items are especially delicate, they should all be treated gently to avoid damage. And if you don’t have enough nylon items to make a full load, try combining them with your other delicates, as they will need to be treated similarly.
Use The Right Detergent
You may notice that your nylon garments still stink even after they come out of the wash. If so, your detergent could be the culprit. Most regular detergents are made to treat cotton and are not as effective when washing synthetic fabrics like nylon. To knock out odor and keep your items in good condition, consider using a detergent that’s made specifically to treat synthetics, like WIN Activewear Detergent.
Use Cold Water
Whether you put your nylon garments through the washing machine or wash them by hand, always use cold water. Cold water is gentle on delicate fabrics and is less likely to cause shrinkage or fading. It’s also energy efficient and can help you to save on energy bills in the long run!
Use Care When Drying
The drying stage has the most potential to damage your nylon clothing, so it’s important to take care. Generally, it’s better to air dry nylon clothing than to put it in the dryer. However, if you would like to speed up the process, most nylon garments can go in the dryer on a low setting. Keep in mind that high heat settings could damage the material, rendering it useless or shortening its lifespan.
No Chlorine Bleach
If you are trying to brighten up a nylon item that isn’t looking its best, don’t be tempted to reach for chlorine bleach. This product has its uses, but washing nylon is not one of them. If you wash nylon using chlorine bleach, the fabric may come out of the wash looking yellowed, and the fibers may be damaged, as well. Should you feel that bleach is needed, opt for a non-chlorine version.
Each Wash Adds Stress
Each time you put your nylon garments through the washing machine, you are bringing them one step closer to the end of their useful life. Of course, that’s true of all garments, but the clock moves a little faster with nylon.
With this in mind, do your best to avoid unnecessary wash cycles. For instance, you might decide to wash your nylon items by hand when you have time, saving trips through the laundry machine for occasions when you are in a hurry. Even if you only hand wash half the time, that reduction in trips through the machine can help to extend the life of your garments.
Nylon Collects Static
If you own many nylon items, you are probably well aware of the static cling they collect while they are in the dryer. Using a dryer sheet is a good way to prevent this.
To save money, consider cutting your dryer sheets in half before use. You’ll likely find that you get the same performance from only half a sheet, and your box will last twice as long.
Delicate Items Require Even More Attention
For delicates made from nylon, such as hosiery and lingerie, consider using a mesh laundry bag to protect them. Place the items in the bag before putting them through the wash cycle to avoid snags and damage. Even with the bag, you should still use a gentle cycle. If you have time, air dry these delicate garments to help them last as long as possible.
Try WIN Detergent
WIN Detergent is designed specifically to treat synthetic materials. It’s the perfect solution for washing your nylon garments and activewear made with synthetics. Try WIN today to see (and smell) the difference for yourself!