How to Soften Rough Viscose

Table of Contents:

You Will Need
Steps to Soften the Viscose
Additional Tips
Sources

Charlie said, “Hello, so I bought a very soft jacket the other day and it’s materials are 85% viscose and 15% polyester. However, my mum decided to wash AND spin the jacket without telling me and now the interior of my jacket is ruined: rougher and when I wear it I can feel tiny things of the fabric on my skin (like a poodle’s fur anyhow(?)). Be aware that it’s only ONE wash that caused it. Is there a way I can revert it back to the original softness? I really don’t want to buy a new one.”

Viscose is a type of rayon fabric that can be woven into a variety of fabric types, such as silk or fleece. It can either be dry clean only or gently laundered, depending on how it was manufactured, so it is best to read the care label before attempting to clean it. There are several reasons why the fabric may have become rough: damage from a strong detergent, washing removed a coating on the fabric that made it soft or stain resistant, or the heat from a dryer. To restore viscose that has become rough, there are several things you can try.

You Will Need:

White vinegar
Water
A spray bottle
A fabric brush
A washing machine
Sizing

Steps to Soften the Viscose:

Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture over the fabric and let it dry. The vinegar acts as a fabric softener, softening the fabric.
If the material is still rough, try gently brushing it with a fabric brush.
If it is still rough, you can try rewashing the item on a gentle cycle and use either commercial fabric softener or two cups of white vinegar in a small wash. Do not use any detergent. Be sure to turn the jacket inside-out so that the viscose is facing the outside and can have the most contact with the fabric softener. Do not machine dry the item, which is often what causes the roughness. Hang the garment to air dry.
As a last resort, you can try spraying the viscose with sizing, which is similar to laundry starch but made for synthetic fibers. If your viscose had a coating on it to begin with that was removed in the wash, the coating will have been either sizing or something similar to sizing. Sizing can be found on the laundry aisle of most grocery stores. Do not use so much sizing that the material becomes rough from too much product; only use enough to restore the softness to the item.

Additional Tips:

If the fabric has pilling, which are tiny balls of clumped fabric, use the guide How to Remove Pilling from Fleece.
When washing viscose, it is always best to use a gentle detergent like Woolite.