Acetate explained: What it is and how to care for this fabric!
When it comes to caring for your acetate fabric garments, it’s important to give some extra special care to this delicate, silky fabric. Find out more about acetate fabric care and how to clean acetate for optimal results.
What is acetate?
Acetate is a man-made fibre derived from cellulose. The purified cellulose is obtained from wood pulp, using a chemical reaction with acetic acid and acetic anhydride with sulphuric acid. This fabric has a luxurious feel and appearance, but it’s also very delicate and in its pure form it must be hand washed. It’s often blended with other fibres to create garments that are more durable, which may be machine washable.
What clothes are made from acetate fibres?
Acetate material is soft and silky, and tends to dye well. That’s why acetate clothing often includes soft garments like blouses and linings, as well as wedding and party attire. As a fabric, acetate also drapes well, so you’ll find draperies and home furnishing are also often made from this synthetic fabric.
How to wash acetate fabrics?
- Check the garment’s fabric care label before washing. Since acetate fibres can be blended with other fabrics, the washing instructions may vary depending on the fabric’s blend.
- Acetate fabrics in their pure form must be hand washed.
- Take care not to twist or agitate the fabric.
- Fabric blends that contain some acetate fabric may be washed in the washing machine on a cool wash setting.
How to dry acetate fabrics?
- Lay the garment down on a towel or hang it up on a hanger to help it dry naturally.
- Do not dry acetate fabrics in a tumble drier.
How to iron and store acetate fabrics?
To avoid creases, iron the garment while it’s damp by pressing the inside of the garment with an iron that’s on a low temperature setting. Make sure to store acetate garments away from anything like perfume, nail polish remover and alcohol based organic solvents. Hang or fold the item depending on the garment.
Acetate fabric care tips
- If machine washing acetate fabrics, then use a gentle cycle and avoid high spin speeds as these can leave the fabric very creased.
- Do not soak the fabric for too long, as this can cause the dye to bleed.
- When it comes to stain removal, never use acetone or organic solvents as this can dissolve the fibres and cause irreversible damage to your garment.
Since fabrics are not all created equal, it’s important to give each garment its own special care. Whether you’re dealing with tough stains or with natural fabrics like cotton or synthetic fabrics like rayon, Ariel can help you give your garments the care they need to give you outstanding results in the 1st wash.