How to Wash Dralon Fabrics Properly in Laundry Shops

In fall and winter, Dralon thermal underwear and base-layer tops are essential for every family. Laundry shops should treat Dralon fabrics carefully. If washed properly, they can achieve thermal insulation. Otherwise, they may become stiff and reduce their thermal insulation. Customers can lose their confidence in laundry shops. This article explains why Dralon keeps warm and how laundry shops retain its warmth by washing properly.

Applications & Features of Dralon Fabrics

Dralon is an ultra-fine, modified acrylic fiber with irregular cross-sections. Its core component is the acrylic fiber. Actually, Dralon fabrics are blended with acrylic fibers, spandex, and polyester. Sometimes, rayon is added to enhance skin comfort and breathability.

● Applications

Dralon has been in the Chinese market for over 10 years. It began to be widely used in thermal underwear around 2011. Currently, Dralon is mainly used in next-to-skin garments, such as thermal underwear, base-layer tops, loungewear, and thermal leggings. Dralon is excellent in warmth without being bulky. Thus, it is often used as sportswear thermal layers and coat linings.

● Features

Dralon is fine and soft, which is more skin-friendly than regular acrylic fibers. Spandex offers good elasticity. So it’s comfortable to wear without feeling tight. It uses reactive dyeing. Thus, color fading does not easily occur after repeated washing. Besides, Dralon fabrics are breathable. They are not prone to pilling and deformation. Dralon is also known as diamond velvet for its lustrous appearance.

Why Dralon Fabrics Keep Warm

Many people misunderstand that Dralon can generate heat by itself. In reality, Dralon achieves thermal insulation by trapping still air. Lower conductivity means it has a low heat transfer rate, so heat does not easily escape. Thus, the more still air fabrics can store, the better their thermal insulation.

Dralon uses its unique cross-sectional structure to trap a large amount of still air. Its ultra-fine acrylic fiber’s cross-section is double-T-shaped. Thus, individual fibers are hard to cluster closely. Tiny gaps form between them, which trap more still air. This forms an insulating layer to reduce heat loss from human bodies.

The finer the fiber and the fluffier the fabric, the better the warmth performance. Meanwhile, Dralon has more curls than regular acrylic fibers. It is close to the natural curls of wool. It also feels softer than cotton and has good elasticity. Thus, thermal underwear made from it is more skin-friendly, fitted, and breathable.

The key to dralon laundry is protecting fluffy fibers. If fibers are compressed and surface piles are flattened or worn away, the air layer can be damaged. Thus, the thermal insulation performance can be reduced.

Correct Washing Methods

Dralon fiber is strong and resilient. Its thermal performance highly relies on the air layers between fibers and fine, dense fluffs on its surface. This structure can be damaged by high temperatures, strong mechanical action, and improper chemical agents.

● Water temperature

This parameter needs to be strictly controlled during washing. Acrylic fibers can be damaged by high temperatures. Thus, garments may become stiff, lose elasticity, and even shrink. The recommended washing temperature is under 30℃. During summer, tap water can be used directly. If the water temperature is too low in winter, heat it slightly. Use a thermometer to ensure it does not exceed 30℃. Besides, Dralon fabrics cannot be dry-cleaned. Dry cleaning agents can damage acrylic fibers. Kingstar wet cleaning machines can protect fabrics.

● Spin speed

Dralon fabrics are machine-washable, but require protection. During washing, use laundry bags and choose mild or wool modes. This can reduce high-speed agitation and strong friction. The entire washing process should be within 20 minutes. Longer washing time can increase friction between fibers. This can cause surface fluff shedding and pilling.

The extraction stage is also critical. It is recommended to choose low-speed mode. Excessive twisting or high-speed extraction can damage fibers. Garments may quickly become worn out. Thus, slightly press out the residual water after washing. Also, place garments on a large bath towel with good absorbency. Remove most moisture before drying.

● Laundry detergents

Choose neutral detergents. Do not use laundry detergents containing bleaching agents, optical brighteners, or strong alkalis. Besides, excessive detergent can make rinsing more difficult. Also, this can affect garment texture and feel.

Detergents cannot be directly applied to garments. They should be dissolved in 30℃-40℃ water. They can be used for garments after complete dissolution. This can protect fibers from high-concentration detergents. Also, this can reduce uneven color or fiber damage.

Softeners can reduce static problems. But they can form a thin film on the fiber surface. This can block small gaps between fibers. This may affect the ability to trap still air. Also, this can reduce thermal insulation. Therefore, it is not recommended to use regular softeners for Dralon garments. If customers complain about severe static problems, use a small amount of anti-static products designed for synthetic fabrics, rather than traditional softeners.

Parameters for Kingstar wet cleaning machines:

● Drying

The drying method directly affects thermal insulation. Dralon dries quickly with low drying costs. But its drying temperature should be strictly controlled. It is recommended to choose the Kingstar dryer’s low-temperature mode. The temperature should be under 60℃. The residual moisture content can be set at 30%. This can protect the soft feel of fabrics. If low-temperature drying is unavailable, air drying is a gentler choice. When drying, protect dralon from being exposed to sunshine. UV rays can accelerate fiber aging and affect fabric texture.

Do not iron dralon. After ironing, fine surface fibers can be flattened and stiff. This affects its entire texture. Also, this can reduce fiber fluffiness and warmth performance. If laundry shops find slight wrinkles on dralon garments, hang them up and lightly steam them. Humidity and gravity can relax fibers. Do not press them with an iron.

Operational Suggestions

Dralon garments should be washed separately from other clothes. Garments with metal zippers or hard buttons may snag and scratch Dralon fabrics. After washing, remove them from the washer promptly. Leaving them in the washer for too long can cause bacterial growth and unpleasant odors. For storage, fold them rather than hang them for a long time. This can prevent stretching and deformation.

Conclusion

The core of dralon’s warmth is trapping the still air between fibers. The key to laundry and care is treating them gently: low temperatures, mild programs, neutral detergents, low-temperature drying, non-ironing, and avoiding sunshine exposure. By following these standards, laundry shops can effectively preserve the thermal insulation. Also, they can reduce customer complaints caused by improper operations and improve their reputations.

Q&A

Q1: Can Dralon fabrics easily shrink during washing?

A1: No. But Dralon has a special structure. So they require low-temperature washing and drying. Kingstar wet cleaning machines and dryers support low-temperature programs.

Q2: Can Dralon fabrics be washed with other fabrics?

A2: No. They should be washed separately. Laundry bags can be used for mixed washing. Also, choose low-temperature programs. Avoid excessive mechanical action.

Q3: Does the Kingstar wet cleaning machine have pre-programmed wash cycles?

A3: Yes. They are programmed by Kingstar and experienced washer experts. Also, stores can customize blank programs. The machine can store up to 79 wash programs.