Nylon explained: What it is, how it's related to polyamide, and how to care for these fabrics!
Nylon is a fabric you’ll meet in your daily life from tights to blouses, but does it require special care? What are the characteristics of nylon? Does nylon shrink? Find out all about the types of nylon and nylon clothing.
What is nylon?
Nylon is a manmade fibre derived from a family of polymers called linear polyamides, which are made by reacting acids with amine molecules, then dried and heated under a vacuum to get rid of the water and set the polymer. This polyamide material is melt spun and after the cooling process is drawn to create this polyamide fabric.
Nylon fibres are exceptionally strong, elastic and abrasion resistant. They are also very easy to wash, while producing smooth and long lasting fabrics. Nylon is often blended with elastane for comfortable, yet silky fabrics.
Nylon exists in a variety of forms, often denoted by number. Nylon 6,6 is what we usually associate with nylon clothing. Other branches of nylon material have more industrial uses or are used with electronics or mechanical parts, for example.
What clothes are made from nylon fibres?
Due to the versatile characteristics of nylon, you’ll find nylon used in a range of garments, from shirts to blouses, dresses and even lingerie, underwear, hosiery and foundation garments. It’s also sometimes used for raincoats.
How to wash nylon fabrics?
Always check the fabric care label before washing, since nylon garments are combined with other fabric types.
If the garment is machine washable, then wash in warm water.
Wash with Ariel All-in-1 PODS Washing Tablets or Ariel Original Washing Liquid and Lenor fabric conditioner.
How to dry nylon fabrics?
If the garment can be put in the tumble dryer, then use a low temperature setting when drying the garment.
Unlike some other fabric types, nylon does not shrink in the dryer.
How to iron and store nylon fabrics?
Should your nylon garment require ironing, then use the iron on low heat, as nylon can melt under high temperatures. Store your nylon clothing in a cool and dry place out of direct sunlight. You can fold or hang the item depending on the garment.
Fabrics come in all kinds of shapes, colours and sizes, and then you have different fabric types, like cotton and elastane, as well as various fabric blends. Luckily, Ariel gives you outstanding results from the 1st wash whether you’re conscious about fabric care or tough stain removal.
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