Nylon is used to make a variety of household items ranging from umbrellas and designer bags to pantyhose. Since nylon is such a ubiquitous material, it is important to know how to clean nylon properly. In this article we tell you everything you need to know about how to clean nylon. We discuss general cleaning instructions for nylon fabrics as well as specific cleaning instructions for specific types of nylon garments such as pantyhose.
Is nylon easy to clean?
Is nylon easy to clean? Yes, nylon is easy to clean compared to many other fabrics. Nylon is known for being a durable fabric so it holds up well in washing machines and is compatible with most types of laundry detergent. The only types of nylon garments that are difficult to clean are those that are very thin such as pantyhose.
How do you wash nylon?
Here are all of our best tips on how to wash nylon.
- In general, nylon is a durable synthetic fabric that should do okay on normal settings in the washing machine.
- If you are washing very thin nylon garments like stockings and pantyhose you should put the garments in a mesh laundry safe bag and wash them on a gentle cycle.
- Most standard laundry detergents are okay to use on nylon. One exception is that you should avoid using laundry detergents that contain bleach on nylon.
- You should avoid putting nylon in the dryer. If you do put nylon in the dryer you should put the dryer on the coolest setting. Nylon is made of a plastic-based fiber and it can melt.
- You should always read the washing instructions that come with a garment and adhere to those instructions. Even though nylon is a durable fabric, there might be dyes or additional materials used in a nylon garment that require special treatment.

Can you put in the washing machine?
Can you put nylon in the washing machine? Yes, you can absolutely put nylon in the washing machine. Nylon is popular because it is a rather durable fabric and it generally does well in the washing machine. Of course you should consider the type of garment or item you are washing before you decide how to wash it.
Nylon is lightweight, durable, and moisture-resistant so it is often used to make undergarments like pantyhose. When you are washing very thin garments like pantyhose you should take some extra precautions. You should make sure not to wash thin nylon garments with other garments that have buttons and zippers that might snag. You should always put very thin nylon garments like pantyhose in a protective mesh bag before putting them in the washing machine. If you do not have a mesh laundry bag you should consider washing them by hand.
Can you use laundry detergent on nylon?
Can you use laundry detergent on nylon? Yes you can use laundry detergent with nylon. Nylon is a very durable synthetic fabric and it is not as sensitive to chemicals in laundry detergent as many other fabrics. I will caveat this by saying that any fabric might degrade over time if it is repeatedly exposed to very harsh cleaning chemicals. However, compared to other fabrics nylon is not easily degraded by laundry detergent.
Does nylon shrink in the wash?
Does nylon shrink in the wash? No, quite the opposite! Nylon is a popular fabric because it is durable and does not shrink or stretch much in the wash compared to other fabrics. Of course there are always exceptions and items that are made of a combination of nylon and other fabrics might be less durable than nylon. In general, nylon blends tend to be more prone to stretching than shrinking.
Can you put nylon in the dryer?
Can you put nylon in the dryer? You should avoid putting nylon in the dryer. If you do put nylon in the dryer, you should make sure to put the dryer on the coldest setting. The issue with putting nylon in the dryer is that nylon is a plastic-based fiber and it can melt if it gets too hot in the dryer.
How to wash nylon stockings
How do you wash nylon stockings? Nylon stockings are fragile and can be difficult to wash. This is not due to the nylon material the stockings are made of but rather how thinly the nylon material is stretched. Any material that is stretched that thinly is susceptible to snags and tears. We recommend hand washing nylon stockings if possible. If you need to put nylon stockings in the washing machine you should encase them in a protective mesh bag and put the washing machine on the gentle setting. You should also make sure there are no other garments with zippers and buttons that might snag on the nylon stockings in the washing machine at the same time.
How to wash a nylon bag
How do you wash a nylon bag? In general you can wash a nylon bag in the washing machine. You do not need to wash nylon bags on the gentle setting and you should be able to wash them on the same settings that you use to wash less temperamental clothing like jeans and sweatshirts. You should not put nylon bags in the dryer. Instead you should let them air dry. Nylon is made of plastic-like fibers that can melt if they become too hot in the dryer.
Make sure to read the washing instructions that come with your nylon bag before washing it. Always follow the provided cleaning instructions. There may be other materials used in your bag that are not as durable as nylon.