Acrylic fabrics are made of synthetic fibres and are widely used for socks, sweaters, pyjamas, and many other garments we all use on a daily basis. This material is popular thanks to its durability and low maintenance. It is also broadly used for blankets, upholstery and even luggage bags.
As with most materials, acrylic clothing comes in acrylic blends and 100% acrylic fabrics. Sweaters that are 100% acrylic, can be washed in the laundry machine using a gentle cycle and cold or warm water. However, you should always check the care label of the fabric since some garments may be labelled as ‘’dry cleaning only’’.

Acrylic fibres dry quickly and pull moisture away from the body. The fibres are resistant to mildew, odour absorption, insect infestation, and deterioration from sunshine, oil, and most chemicals. The fibres retain their shape nicely, and most acrylic items are simple to wash in a typical laundry cycle. Most acrylic garments stand up well to tumble drying at low temperatures.
To avoid stretching, delicate goods like sweaters should be hand-washed and dried flat. Use a gentle laundry soap or a normal liquid laundry detergent labelled for delicates to hand-wash acrylic garments. Soak the objects in the cleaning solution for 15 to 30 minutes before rinsing them with warm or cold water. Hot water might cause the fibres to stretch.

Here is how to ensure the proper cleaning of your acrylic garments

Pre-treat stains – Make sure you start treating stains as soon as they happen. Use a regular stain remover (read the instructions on the packaging to make sure it is suitable for acrylic fabrics). Apply the solution to the stained area for at least 15 minutes before washing the garment. This time will allow the product to break down the stain.
Load the laundry – Place all garments in the laundry machine. Make sure you don’t overfill it. Use your regular laundry detergent (make sure it is suitable for acrylic fabrics). If the items are heavily soiled, use a heavy-duty laundry detergent like Tide or Persil. You can also pour a tiny bit of fabric softener to reduce the amount of static electricity that acrylic fabrics are usually prone to.
Pick the correct cycle and water temperature – It is preferable to use cold or warm water to avoid stretching or misshaping your acrylic garments. If your laundry has one, pick the permanent press cycle to reduce wrinkles and make sure your cycle is set to a low spinning rate.
Inspect for remaining stains – Once your laundry load is done, carefully inspect the whole surface of the fabric for stains. This is an important step if you are about to dry your garments in the dryer. Make sure there is no stain residue remaining on the garments. If there are still visible spots, repeat the steps above. Do not place stained items in the dryer – the heat from the drying cycle will set the stains and cause them to become permanent.
Dry – When using the dryer, choose a low heat cycle. Extreme heat can set in wrinkles, cause damage, stretching and misshaping of the fabric. It is best if you remove the clothes while they are still slightly damp, then hang them to air dry completely.
Iron – To avoid melting the fibres, use a very low iron temperature, steam, and a pressing cloth while ironing. There is no way to undo the damage if the fabric becomes shiny or develops a hole.

Storing acrylic clothes

Make sure that your acrylic clothes have been fully washed and dried before storing them. To avoid stretching, sweaters and other knitted garments should be folded and stored flat. Sweaters should never be hung to dry. To minimise wrinkling, woven acrylic shirts and blouses should be hung on hangers with plenty of space between clothing. Place acrylic sweaters in sealed plastic containers when storing them for the season.

Extra tips on cleaning, storing and maintaining acrylic clothing:

Never hang acrylic garments to dry. The weight of the wet fabric will cause them to stretch and lose shape. That is extremely important, especially for knitted goods.
Allow the acrylic clothes to cool down after the dryer. Handle them once they are no longer hot, since they are susceptible to stretching and wrinkling.
Acrylic clothing that has gotten slightly wrinkled can be easily smoothed out by utilising light steam or simply hanging the garment in a steamy bathroom.
To prevent melting, scorching, and other kinds of damage when ironing, use the lowest possible temperature and a pressing towel. Make sure the steaming is turned on, and avoid using excess pressure.
Always read the care label of the fabric. If the garment is 100% acrylic, you will need to make sure you are using cleaning products and laundry/dryer cycles suitable for acrylic. However, if the garment is a blend of different materials, you may need to approach its cleaning differently.