The Ultimate Guide To Washing Your Acrylic Coat

Acrylic is a common fabric used in everything from sportswear to knitwear. It is prized for its water, stain, and wrinkle-resistant properties, but it can be stretched or even melted when exposed to high temperatures. When washing acrylic, it is best to use cold or lukewarm water and avoid scrubbing, twisting, or wringing the fabric.

To hand-wash an acrylic coat, fill a sink or bucket with cold or lukewarm water and add a small amount of mild liquid detergent. Swish the coat through the water, gently agitating it to loosen dirt and stains. If there are any stubborn spots, try rubbing them lightly with your fingers. Rinse the coat thoroughly with cold water, then press out any excess water and lay it flat to dry.

If machine-washing, turn the coat inside out to minimise pilling and set the machine to a gentle cycle with warm or cool water. Use a small amount of mild liquid detergent and consider placing the coat inside a mesh laundry bag for extra protection. Acrylic can be tumble-dried on a low-heat setting, but it is best to remove it from the dryer while still slightly damp and hang it up to finish air-drying.

Hand-washing acrylics

To hand-wash an acrylic coat, start by filling a sink or bathtub with cold or lukewarm water. Acrylic is prone to stretching or melting when exposed to high temperatures, so it's best to use cool water.

Next, add a mild liquid detergent to the water and whisk it by hand to ensure it's evenly dispersed. You only need a small amount of detergent—about 1–2 tablespoons (15–30 mL) for every 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water.

Now, you can start washing your coat. Lower it into the water and gently plunge and squeeze it repeatedly. Avoid scrubbing, twisting, or wringing the fabric, as this could damage the delicate fibres. The gentle agitation of the water flowing through the fabric should be enough to remove most dirt and stains. For stubborn spots, try rubbing them lightly with your fingers to create a little extra friction.

If your coat is heavily soiled, you can let it soak for up to 30 minutes. Come back periodically and swish the coat through the soap solution to help release dirt and debris.

Once you're satisfied with the cleanliness of your coat, remove it from the soapy water and rinse it thoroughly with clean, cold water. Turn the coat slowly under the tap to ensure that all the soap is rinsed out.

After rinsing, gently press the excess water out of the coat. Be careful not to wring, twist, or ball up the fabric, as this could cause it to lose its shape. Instead, wad it up loosely and squeeze it gently between your palms to remove most of the water.

Finally, lay the coat flat on a clean, dry surface to air-dry. Avoid hanging the coat, as the weight of the water may cause the fibres to stretch.

Machine-washing acrylics

Preparing the Acrylic Coat

Before you begin, check the fabric care label on the coat to ensure it is safe to machine wash. Acrylic is generally machine washable, but it's always good to double-check. Turn the coat inside out to reduce pilling—this occurs when loose threads become tangled and form little balls, giving the coat a worn look.

Setting Up the Washing Machine

Set your washing machine to its gentlest wash cycle, such as "Delicates" or "Hand Wash." Acrylic retains its shape better than most synthetic fabrics, but it can still stretch when handled roughly. Select a cold or cool water setting, as acrylic can stretch or even melt when exposed to high temperatures.

Adding Detergent and the Acrylic Coat

Use a mild liquid laundry detergent, adding somewhere between 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) and 1 tablespoon (15 mL) for a small or medium-sized load. Less is more when it comes to washing acrylics and other delicate items. If your coat is brightly coloured, you may want to add a colour catcher to the drum to prevent dye from bleeding into the machine or other items.

The Wash Cycle

Consider removing the coat from the machine prior to the spin cycle to reduce wear and tear. The rapid spinning action of the drum can damage delicate fabrics. If your machine has a "Low Spin" or "No Spin" option, select this.

Drying the Acrylic Coat

Acrylic coats should not be hung to dry, as the weight of the water can cause the fibres to stretch. Instead, tumble dry on low heat or dry the coat flat on a rack. If tumble drying, remove the coat from the dryer as soon as the cycle is complete and while it is still slightly damp. Finish air-drying on a rack, ensuring the coat is in its natural shape to prevent wrinkles and creases.

Drying acrylics

Drying acrylic fabric and acrylic paint are two very different processes. I am able to provide information on both.

Drying Acrylic Fabric

Acrylic fabric dries very quickly and is flexible. To dry acrylic fabric, you can tumble dry it on the cool setting of your tumble dryer. Use dryer sheets to prevent static electricity. Remove the fabric from the tumble dryer as soon as the cycle is finished. If the fabric requires ironing, use a moderately warm iron, but always refer to the garment’s fabric care label for the appropriate care. Make sure you store your acrylic fabric in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.

Drying Acrylic Paint

Acrylic paint also dries quickly, and sometimes very quickly. The wetter the air around the acrylics, the longer they stay wet. The drier the air, the faster the acrylics will dry. You can control the drying time of acrylic paint by controlling water evaporation. You can also use a hairdryer on a thin layer of paint to dry it as quickly as possible.

Ironing acrylics

Ironing acrylic fabric can be tricky, and it is important to remember that acrylic should never come into direct contact with a hot iron, as the heat may melt or stretch the fibres.

Setting up to iron

First, make sure your acrylic garment is clean and dry. Set up your ironing board on a flat surface, or use a folded bath towel on a flat surface that will not be damaged by heat, like hardwood or a granite countertop. Plug in your iron and set it to a low temperature—no higher than 275°F (135°C). If your iron is dirty, clean it with a damp cloth or a paste made from baking soda and water.

Ironing your acrylic garment

For best results, turn your garment inside out and lay it flat on the ironing board. Spray a clean, white washcloth with room-temperature water, then place it over the garment. Press the iron onto the cloth, rather than moving it back and forth as you would usually. Repeat on the other side of the garment if necessary.

Tips for ironing acrylic

• Use a low to medium heat setting to prevent the yarn from melting or scorching.
• Use a pressing cloth or damp cloth as a barrier to shield the yarn from the heat.
• Avoid stretching the yarn or exerting too much pressure while ironing.
• If the yarn gets too warm or starts to smell odd, stop ironing and let it cool down.

Storing acrylics

Storing acrylic clothing is simple, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Before storing acrylic clothes, be sure that they are thoroughly washed and dried. Sweaters and other knitted garments should be folded and stored flat to prevent stretching. Never hang up sweaters for storage. Shirts and blouses made with woven acrylic should be stored on hangers with ample space between garments to prevent wrinkling. If you're putting acrylic sweaters away for the season, place them in sealed plastic containers.

Acrylic clothes should be stored in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.

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