Lyocell fabric is a form of rayon, made from plant-based and environmentally-sustainable materials, making it generally a more eco-friendly choice than synthetic fabrics like polyester. The ‘closed-loop’ process that’s used to make it even works to recover and decompose all the emissions or solvents used in production, so it’s a great fabric for the environmentally-conscious. It’s also great for sensitive skin, has anti-bacterial properties and is incredibly durable!
It's a man-made fabric, but it is still plant-based — so what is lyocell made of? The main product used to make it is wood pulp (usually eucalyptus wood) which is sourced from tree farms.
How to wash lyocell fabric?
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Hand wash lyocell items whenever possible
Choose a gentle washing detergent and swirl it into a bowl of cool water, rinse with fresh water.
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If you're using a machine cycle, keep it gentle
If you need to use a machine wash for your lyocell, washing on the gentle or hand wash setting and keeping the temperature low will help to prevent machine damage.
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After washing, hang your lyocell items up to air dry.
Hang them up to dry in the sun instead to protect the fabric.
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Does lyocell shrink?
When washed gently, you can expect lyocell to shrink around 3% in the first wash and then resist shrinking from there on. However, lyocell does shrink more drastically when it is exposed to high temperatures during washing or drying.
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Turn your iron down to the lowest heat
We'll say it again: lyocell is sensitive to heat! If you need to iron your lyocell fabric, always choose a low heat setting. Never turn it all the way up or you’ll just end up burning your clothing.