Polyester Spandex Fabric Stretchy Manufacturers

How to wash and dry Polyester Spandex Fabric Stretchy? ​

I. Characteristics and washing and care points of polyester spandex fabrics​

As a representative of synthetic fibers, polyester has a tight molecular structure, which gives the fabric high strength, wear resistance and excellent wrinkle resistance. It is not easy to have obvious wrinkles and damage in daily wear; however, its hygroscopicity is poor, and sweat is not easily absorbed when worn, which may cause stuffiness. Spandex is known for its unique elastic fiber structure. It can stretch to 5-8 times its original length and quickly return to its original shape after releasing external force. This makes the fabric have excellent elasticity and is particularly suitable for making tight clothing and sportswear that fit the body curve. However, the chemical properties of spandex are relatively active and not resistant to high temperatures. If it is exposed to hot water for a long time or exposed to the sun, its molecular chain is easy to break, which accelerates aging and causes the elasticity of the fabric to weaken.​
Colorful Fish Textile is an enterprise combining industry and trade. Its weaving factory is located in Huangmei County, Hubei Province. It has introduced more than 1,000 high-end water-jet and air-jet looms and other equipment from Japan, South Korea, Germany and other places, and established a production base with an annual output of nearly 60 million meters of high-end fabrics. The polyester spandex fabrics it produces are treated with special processes to give the fabrics functions such as antibacterial and deodorizing, UV protection, moisture absorption and perspiration wicking. These functional coatings or treatment layers are attached to the surface of the fabric through precise coating, impregnation and other processes. Although they improve the performance of the fabric, they are relatively fragile. For example, if the UV protection coating is subjected to strong rubbing or high temperature during the washing process, it may fall off; the antibacterial layer will also have a greatly reduced antibacterial effect under improper washing and care. Therefore, understanding the characteristics of the fabric and adopting the correct washing and care methods can not only protect the physical properties of the fabric itself, but also maintain its functional durability. ​

II. Preparation before washing​

(I) Check the washing label​
Before washing, carefully checking the washing label of the clothes is the key first step to ensure correct washing and care. The label usually contains detailed information such as the proportion of fabric ingredients, suitable washing methods, water temperature requirements, whether it can be machine washed or dry cleaned, whether it can be bleached, and ironing temperature. For fabric products produced by Colorful Fish Textile, clear and eye-catching labels are used on the clothing labels to indicate the washing and care precautions, such as "It is recommended to wash by hand in cold water, the water temperature does not exceed 30℃, and chlorine bleach cannot be used" and "Low temperature ironing, the temperature should be controlled below 110℃". These labels are based on in-depth research on fabric characteristics and process treatment. Strictly following the label guidance can effectively avoid fabric damage caused by improper washing and care methods. ​
(II) Checking clothing stains​
Before starting to wash, it is crucial to thoroughly check whether the clothes have stubborn stains. There are many common types of stains, such as oil stains, sweat stains, blood stains, juice stains, etc. Different types of stains have different chemical compositions and attachment principles, and the treatment methods are also different. For oil stains, due to their insoluble nature, you can first apply an appropriate amount of neutral detergent to the stains. The surfactant in the detergent can decompose the oil stains. After standing for 5-10 minutes, you can then wash it normally. Sweat stains and blood stains contain protein components, which will solidify when exposed to hot water, so they need to be soaked in cold water. The soaking time can be controlled at 15-30 minutes according to the severity of the stains, and then gently scrubbed. For pigment stains such as juice stains, you can try to use detergents containing biological enzymes. Enzymes can decompose pigment molecules and improve the cleaning effect. ​
(III) Choose the right detergent​
Spandex in Polyester Spandex Fabric Stretchy is more sensitive to chemicals. Alkaline or acidic detergents may destroy the molecular structure of spandex and affect the elasticity of the fabric. It is particularly important to choose a mild and neutral detergent. Detergents containing bleach, strong alkaline or strong acidic ingredients should be avoided. Colorful Fish Textile recommends consumers to use detergents designed for synthetic fibers. This type of detergent is specially formulated to not only effectively decompose oil and stains, but also contains antistatic ingredients to reduce static electricity on fabrics. Its pH value is close to the pH of human skin and will not damage the elasticity and functional coating of fabrics. When using detergent, the amount should be strictly controlled according to the number of clothes and the degree of stains. Excessive detergent is not only difficult to rinse clean, but the residual detergent will also make the fabric hard and lose its soft touch and luster. ​

III. Choice of washing method​

(I) Hand washing method​
Hand washing is a relatively gentle washing method for polyester spandex fabrics, especially for underwear, clothing with special decorations, and more delicate fabrics. When doing this, first add an appropriate amount of cold water or warm water with a temperature not exceeding 30℃ to a clean basin. Too high a water temperature will shrink the spandex fiber and cause the elasticity of the fabric to decrease. Pour an appropriate amount of neutral detergent into the water and stir gently by hand to fully dissolve the detergent. Then put the clothes in the water, squeeze and rub them gently with your hands, focusing on cleaning the collar, cuffs, stains and other parts. During the rubbing process, avoid twisting or excessive rubbing to prevent the surface of the fabric from pilling and deformation, which affects the appearance and wearing experience. After washing, rinse repeatedly with plenty of clean water to ensure that the detergent is completely removed, reduce the residue, and avoid residual detergent from irritating the skin or damaging the fabric. ​
(II) Machine washing method​
If you choose machine washing, you need to take protective measures in advance to protect the fabric. First, turn the clothes over and fasten the zipper and buttons to prevent metal parts such as zippers and buttons from scratching the surface of the fabric during the washing process; then put the clothes in the laundry bag, which can act as a buffer to reduce the direct friction between the clothes and the inner drum of the washing machine. When choosing the washing machine program, you should choose the gentle or delicate mode, in which the speed and strength of the washing machine are relatively small; at the same time, set the low-speed dehydration, and the dehydration time is generally controlled at 3-5 minutes. Excessive high-speed dehydration for a long time will cause the fabric to be overstretched and deformed. Colorful Fish Textile produces sportswear made of polyester spandex fabrics. Because they are often exposed to sweat and stains during exercise, stains may penetrate into the fabric fibers. When washing in a machine, the number of rinses can be increased by 1-2 times to ensure thorough cleaning. However, it should be noted that during machine washing, friction between the fabric and the inner drum of the washing machine is inevitable, which can easily cause pilling of the fabric, especially for finer fabrics with smooth surfaces. Therefore, for such fabrics, it is recommended to give priority to hand washing. ​

IV. Precautions during drying​

(I) Avoid exposure to the sun​
Polyester spandex fabrics are not resistant to high temperatures, and long-term exposure to the sun will have a serious impact on their performance. Ultraviolet rays and high temperatures in the sun will accelerate the aging process of spandex, gradually weaken the elasticity of spandex fibers, and make the fabric loose; at the same time, high temperatures will also destroy the dye structure of the fabric, causing color fading and discoloration. Fabrics that have been specially dyed have a special way of combining dye molecules with fabrics, and should be avoided from direct sunlight. The correct way to dry clothes is to hang them in a well-ventilated and cool place to dry naturally, such as the inside of a balcony or an indoor clothes drying rack. If it is unavoidable to dry clothes in the sun due to environmental restrictions, you can turn the clothes over so that the lighter colored inside faces outward to reduce the impact of ultraviolet rays on the color of the front of the fabric; or cover the surface of the clothes with white cotton cloth, which can block some ultraviolet rays and play a certain protective role. ​
(II) Choose the right drying method​
When drying clothes, choosing the right drying tools and methods is crucial to maintaining the shape and performance of the fabric. You should choose wide-shouldered hangers or clothespins, and avoid using thin hangers. Thin hangers have a small contact area with the clothes, and the weight of the clothes is concentrated on the contact point between the hanger and the clothes, which can easily cause the clothes to deform due to gravity, especially the neckline, shoulders and other parts. For heavy clothing, such as sports jackets, outdoor jackets, down jackets, etc., due to their high water content and heavy weight, hanging clothes may cause the fabric to be overstretched. At this time, the clothes can be laid flat on a clothes net or a clean towel to dry, which can evenly distribute the weight of the clothes and reduce the degree of stretching of the clothes. For waterproof and windproof polyester and spandex fabric clothing, special attention should be paid to maintaining good ventilation during the drying process to ensure that the moisture can evaporate quickly and thoroughly, and to avoid the growth of mold in a humid environment, which will affect the waterproof and windproof performance and service life of the fabric. ​
(III) Finishing after drying ​
After the clothes are dried, they should be taken down and sorted in time. When taking down the clothes, they should be gently shaken open to smooth out the wrinkles and restore the clothes to a flat state. If there are still obvious wrinkles on the clothes, when ironing is required, a low temperature setting (not exceeding 110℃) must be selected, and a wet cloth should be placed on the surface of the clothes. The wet cloth can insulate and increase humidity, and avoid direct contact between the iron and the fabric to prevent high temperature from damaging the fabric fibers and functional coatings. After finishing, the clothes should be hung or folded neatly for storage according to their material and style. During storage, avoid contact with sharp objects to prevent the clothes from being snagged or damaged; at the same time, desiccant can be placed in the wardrobe to maintain a dry environment and further extend the service life of the clothes.​

V. Handling of special situations​

(I) Applicable scenarios for dry cleaning​
Dry cleaning is a more appropriate cleaning method for polyester spandex fabric clothing with complex decorations, easy deformation or special processing. For example, dresses with embroidery, beads, sequins and other decorations may fall off and be damaged during the washing process; outdoor high-end equipment treated with special functional coatings, such as ski suits with multiple functions such as waterproof, breathable, windproof and warm, may be damaged by washing, affecting the functional effect. At this time, you can choose professional dry cleaning, but you should pay attention to choosing a dry cleaner with a good reputation and experience in handling synthetic fiber fabrics. When sending the clothes for cleaning, you must clearly inform the staff of the fabric composition and washing requirements to avoid the dry cleaner using dry cleaning agents that may damage the fabric, such as solvents containing tetrachloroethylene that are potentially harmful to spandex.
(II) Handling of stubborn stains​
If stubborn stains on clothes are still not removed after regular washing, you can try using a special stain remover. However, before using the stain remover, be sure to test a small area in an inconspicuous part of the clothing, such as the inside of the clothing, the hem, etc. Apply a small amount of stain remover to the test area, let it sit for a few minutes, rinse it with clean water, and observe whether there are any adverse reactions such as fading, deformation, and hardening. If there is no abnormality, apply the stain remover evenly to the stain, and let it sit for 5-15 minutes according to the type and severity of the stain to allow the stain remover to fully work. Then use a soft brush to gently scrub the stained area. The force should be moderate when scrubbing to avoid damaging the fabric. Finally, wash according to the normal washing process to ensure that the stain remover is completely removed. ​
Mastering the correct washing and drying methods is the key to maintaining the quality and performance of polyester spandex fabric clothing. Colorful Fish Textile provides the market with high-quality polyester spandex fabric products with advanced equipment and professional process technology introduced from Japan, South Korea, Germany and other places. In daily use, consumers strictly follow scientific washing and care methods, which can not only extend the service life of clothing, but also continue to enjoy the comfort and functional experience brought by the fabric, so that every piece of clothing can be kept in good condition for a long time.