Elastane

Elastane, commonly known as Spandex, is a synthetic fiber used to improve fabric’s elasticity in apparels like sports clothes, bathing suits, stockings, and orthopedic items. Now this material can also be found in many other items for daily use like in pants, skirts, and tops. This is primarily because of its capacity to improve a fabric’s elasticity with as little as 2% Elastane in it.

Tips To keep bathing suits or products with Elastane in good shape, it is recommended to rinse the items with cold water after use. When one has to set it aside for a long period of time, after a year for example, one can sprinkle talc powder before keeping them.

Laundry These items can be dry cleaned but it is usually not necessary. It can be washed with warm water and any detergent without bleach. Chlorine or bleach destroys Elastane.

Dry Elastane easily gets deformed with the application of heat. Thus, NEVER dry products with high percentage of elastane in a dryer. If the fiber has only around 2%, then it can be placed in the dryer but in gentle spin and low temperatures. The best way to dry it would be air dry.

Iron It depends on the percentage of elastane in the product. One can check the label for ironing instructions. Many items with elastane do not need ironing. Some contains only around 2% elastane and the rest cotton for example. Thus it can be ironed like any other cotton fabric.