Modal T-shirts: How to Wash & Care

Modal is a type of rayon fabric prepared from beech trees and purified cellulose. The blend of wood pulp extract and cellulose passes through spinnerets to form a fiber. This fiber is the yarn that is woven to form the modal fabric. Modal t-shirts are breathable and drapable. This semi-synthetic fabric is shrink-resistant compared to rayon. It absorbs moisture and does not cause irritation. Modal fabric feels smooth on the skin and is very comfortable to wear. It is susceptible to damage when handled roughly. Use the right technique and guide to wash, dry, and iron modal T-shirts. Washing modal t-shirts with care increases lifespan and reduces the fraying and pilling issues.

How Should You Wash Modal T-shirts?

Here are the four tips to wash modal T-shirts:

1. Cold or Lukewarm Water: Use the cold or lukewarm water at 30 °C to wash the modal T-shirts. This water temperature is ideal for all types of fabric and preserves their original colors. Hot water weakens the threads of modal even though it is stronger than rayon. This water temperature protects them from shrinking and changing shape.
2. Gentle Cycle or Hand Wash: Set the machine cycle to gentle and low spin when washing. The higher the spin cycle, the higher the tangling and wrinkles. Hard spins increase the friction between clothes, and they lose their shine over time. The manufacturer recommends people to handwash the modal T-shirts to avoid damaging the threads.
3. Mild Detergent Only: Use mild detergents with no fragrance and dyes. These mild detergents are suitable for modal fabric as they do not contain toxic chemicals like sulfates and phosphates that cause skin irritation. Prefer liquid detergents as they blend in water easily. Powder detergents take longer to dissolve and leave residues tangled with the t-shirt’s fabric. 
4. Avoid Fabric Softeners: Don’t use fabric softeners to add fragrance to T-shirts after washing. Their toxic bioproducts increase the risk of skin, lung, and hormonal disturbances. 

Can Modal T-shirts Shrink in the Wash?

Yes, modal T-shirts shrink in the wash, but less than rayon. Here are the three factors that play important roles in shrinking:

1. Minimal Shrinkage: Modal is the more refined and stronger version of rayon. Unlike rayon, which has high shrinking issues, modal fabric offers minimal shrinkage. 
2. Heat Causes Shrinkage: Extremely high temperatures of above 60 °C bring significant changes in the modal t-shirts. It changes the dimension of the fabric and melts its threads. People soak modal T-shirts in lukewarm or cold water to unshrink them. This process takes 15 minutes and restores the real shape of the T-shirt.
3. Air Dry Preserves Fit: Air drying refers to the process of using cold or lukewarm air to dry the modal t-shirts. People do not spread their clothes in the open air like traditional drying methods. They use a tumble dryer. It protects the t-shirts from sunlight and the threads from shrinking.

What is the Best Way to Dry and Iron Modal T-shirts?

Here are the four best ways to dry and iron modal T-shirts:

1. Air Dry: Spread T-shirts outdoors on a clothesline or hangers. Bring them back when they are a little damp and use an air dryer to dry them. Air drying works best for all types of fabric. It helps to reshape the sleeves, collar, and t-shirt to avoid wrinkles. Set the clothes on a flat surface before proceeding.
2. Avoid Direct Sunlight: Do not spread clothes directly in the sunlight. UV radiation damages and weakens the modal threads and affects their quality. Sunlight brightens the color and causes fading. Hang t-shirts in a shady area and remove them on time when they are a bit damp.
3. Tumble Dry: Set the tumble dryer to low heat to minimize the risk of thread weakening and fiber melting.
4. Iron on Low Heat, Inside Out: Use a low-heat iron to prevent damage to modal T-shirts. High heat damages the fabric and smudges the designs and prints on the t-shirt. Turn the modal T-shirts inside out. Make sure to use a pressing cloth to reduce the high heat transmission.

How to Remove Stains from Modal T-shirts?

Here are the four tips to remove stains from modal t-shirts:

1. Treat Stains Immediately: Try to remove stains quickly and don’t leave them to rest overnight. The higher the resting time, the harder it is to remove them. Use any natural or synthetic gentle stain remover and rub ot until it changes its color and lightens. 
2. Use Mild Stain Remover: Find any natural stain remover (vinegar, lime juice, salt) or synthetic (fragrance-free) to remove stains. People use soap (dishwashing) to remove grease from modal T-shirts. 
3. Avoid Chlorine Bleach: Don’t use chlorine bleach, as it contains harmful chemicals and toxins. It causes skin rashes and discoloration in colored t-shirts.
4. Pre-treat Before Washing: Sort the modal T-shirts on the basis of color and the level of stains. Pile them on the side and pre-treat with stain remover. This step reduces the labour required to remove stains even after a machine spin.

How to Store Modal T-shirts Properly?

Here are the four steps to store modal T-shirts properly:

1. Fold Instead of Hanging: Fold clothes neatly to store them for years. Avoid hanging them, as it causes stretching.
2. Cool, Dry Storage: Store the modal t-shirts in a cool and dry place. Make sure there is no moisture, as it creates a bad odour in the clothes and increases mildew growth. Use cedar blocks (aromatic wood) and keep them in a drawer to protect from moths. 
3. Use Cotton Bags: Use cotton bags with zippers to store the t-shirts. It allows the air to pass between clothes, and they keep their fresh appearance for many years.
4. Avoid Plastic Bags: Don’t use plastic bags as they trap moisture and leave a bad smell in T-shirts.

What Are the Long-Term Care Tips for Modal T-shirts?

Here are the four long-term care tips for modal T-shirts:

1. Wash Less Frequently: Don’t wash modal t-shirts too often, as it deteriorates the t-shirt quality over time.
2. Rotate Usage: The best way to reduce wash frequency is to take a gap before repeating the old t-shirt.
3. Follow Care Labels: Read the manufacturer's instructions on labels before buying or washing the modal t-shirts.
4. Handle Gently When Wet: Modal t-shirts are soft and prone to damage when they are wet. Handle with care and spread them on a flat surface to dry.