Loving Lycra

Have you ever had customers bring in jeans or dress pants with a bubbled crotch area or tiny fuzzy hairs along the seams?

If you look at the label, it’s likely you will find that the garment has a small percentage of elastane, (also known as Lycra or Spandex)

In today’s clothing industry, it’s hard to find a wardrobe that doesn’t include garments with a small percentage of elastane—usually around 3–5%. This subtle addition of stretch has quietly revolutionized everything from jeans to blouses, giving clothes greater flexibility, comfort, and shape retention.

While elastane brings many benefits, it also changes how these garments need to be washed, dried, and stored. Without proper care, even just a small percentage of elastane can break down, causing clothes to lose their shape, pill, or wear out faster.

Here’s what you need to know:

What Is Elastane?

Elastane is a synthetic fiber known for its ability to stretch up to 500% of its length and return to its original shape. It’s never used on its own in clothing—rather, it’s blended with other fibers like cotton, polyester, or rayon to improve fit and flexibility.

Why Just 3–5%?

• Comfort: This small percentage adds just enough stretch to make clothing more comfortable and form-fitting without changing the structure of the fabric.

• Shape Retention: Elastane helps garments bounce back after wearing or washing, reducing sagging and wrinkling.

• Movement: It allows for better movement, especially in tailored or slim-fitting styles.

  
  

You will find 3–5% elastane is in a lot of garments like

• Jeans and trousers

• T-shirts and blouses

• Dresses

• Office wear and uniforms

• Even suits

  
  

What does it mean for you - the Dry Cleaning Operator?

Now, more than ever, it is important that your staff reads the garment labels you are processing.  It is also key to make note of any garment that has come in with damage.

So how do you keep your customer’s stretch-blend garments looking and performing their best?

First - Check the Label

Always read the care instructions. Some garments may have specific recommendations based on the fabric it’s blended with (e.g., wool-elastane, cotton-elastane).

These garments should not be processed on the laundry side of your plant.  Even if it is a pair of jeans that look like they could be pressed on the hot head, after a few trips through your laundry department, they will eventually get damaged.  You should try to reduce the time these garments are in high heat.  Whenever possible, air dry and then lightly steam press.

If your customer insists that they want it processed on the laundry side (because they want starch) then get a release.  Train your customer service staff to know how to look at the labels.  This way your customer understands that it will absolutely shorten the life of the garment.

Finally, even when the garment is well cared for, having elastane will shorten the life of the garment significantly. Here’s what to watch for:

• Loss of stretch: The garment feels baggy or doesn’t snap back into shape.

• Shiny or rough patches: Indicates fabric stress.

• Pilling, thinning or fuzzing: Especially in high-friction areas like inner thighs or underarms.

As a professional, you can help your customer get the most wear out of their elastane blend garments by training staff and being knowledgeable.  Well-cared-for elastane-blend garments keep their shape longer, fit better, and look newer over time. In a world of fast fashion and rising clothing costs, that’s a win for your customer and your business.

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Article by Erika Paine – Owner, CleanOps Consulting

At CleanOps Consulting we are more than a business—it’s a way to give back to an industry that shaped me. It’s a chance to help other operators avoid the mistakes I made, capitalize on opportunities faster, and build businesses that don’t just survive, but thrive.

If you’re in the dry-cleaning business and you’re ready to work on your business instead of always in it, I’d love to connect. Because sometimes, the best insights don’t come from outside the industry—they come from someone who’s been there, pressed that www.cleanops.consulting