crunchy tyvek

**beasty-beast** · 03-19-2012, 08:08

okay so i jus got my hands on some tyvek. now i have heard rumors but nothing specific will it soften up if i put it in the washing machine?

**G...Hawk** · 03-19-2012, 08:17

Yes it will.

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**MAD777** · 03-19-2012, 08:17

You are correct! Let it go though the entire regular wash cycle with cold water but no soap.

**AaronAlso** · 03-19-2012, 08:46

no detergent & especially no fabric softener. Aleternatively, you can just run it through a few dryer cycles with a pair of shoes or some tennis balls and not heat.

**TFC Rick** · 03-19-2012, 08:47

What worked best for me was just crumpling and uncrumpling over and over. The washing machine didn't do much (for me). Soft as can be after you are done though.

**oldgringo** · 03-19-2012, 09:26

Use a top loading washer with no soap and cold water. It may take more than one cycle to obtain the desired effect, but eventually the Tyvek will feel like an old shirt. Avoid heat.

Lay out, cutting, taping, and sewing is best done before the wash cycles, as the Tyvek loses some dimensional stability with washing.

**MAD777** · 03-19-2012, 10:46

But, if you measure and cut before washing, add about 3-5% because Tyvek shrinks that much in the washer!

**Knotty** · 03-19-2012, 11:17

Originally Posted by MAD777

But, if you measure and cut before washing, add about 3-5% because Tyvek shrinks that much in the washer!

I would guess that the "shrinkage" is actually a reduction in overall dimensions due to the material going from being perfectly flat to wrinkled.

**AaronAlso** · 03-19-2012, 11:42

Honestly, heat isn't a real big concern. We used to use it as filter paper in the mycology lab. It would survive repeated runs through the autoclaive or pressure cooker. (15psi/~255F*, for 2-4hrs)

That's the type 10 hard structure/house wrap style. A.k.a. Tyvek paper. I can't speak for type 14. We didn't reuse the suites.

Knotty is probably right about the shrinkage. It's just flashspun & pressed HDPE. This paper type is very dimensionally stable. I'll bet pressing the wrinkles out would result in less than 1% shrinkage after washing.