One of the most frequent questions we get about smart fabrics is “can I wash it?”. Sometimes companies provide a yes, or a no, but truthfully, the answer is not that simple. Sometimes a “yes” can mean that you can wash it by hand and hang dry. Sometimes a “no” may mean washing causes too much damage for one use case, but not the one you’re looking for. Either way, a binary answer may be misleading.
To explain washability for smart textiles, we should first talk about washability for traditional fabrics. Most textiles degrade with every laundering cycle until the colour or fabric is so worn that the garment no longer “works”. Generally, a sign that a fabric has been over-washed is loss of elasticity, change in dimensions, faded colours, or holes. The main point here is that nothing can be washed forever with no degradation.
“An e-textile’s degradation should be measured through the change in conductivity, and electrical resistance.”
Similarly, E-textiles or smart fabrics will degrade with each washing cycle. The question is, how much can it be washed and at what setting until the e-textile will no longer serve its original purpose? Since colour and elasticity don’t generally determine an e-textiles function when washing-cycles are taken into account, we must understand its degradation with another measurement.
An e-textile’s degradation should be measured through the change in conductivity, and electrical resistance. You can measure this with a machine called a multimeter, which will deliver resistance in a unit called ohms. All you need to know is that higher reading shows less conductivity. Depending on the use case, a loss in conductivity may or may not have an impact on the function – this is where washability gets specific to the use of the e-textile.
While we all love to wash everything on cold and tumble dry low, care instructions can become very important for washing an e-textile. A standard wash cycle vs a delicates wash cycle can be 3x as fast, causing more damage. To understand what all the cycle settings on your washing machine really mean, AATCC’s 135 standard is a great place to reference and use as a basis for any testing.
ALSO READ: 5 Questions About E-Textiles That You’ve Been Wanting to Ask
Overall, next time you see an electronic textile product, don’t ask “ is it washable”, ask “ how much does it degrade after how many cycles and at what setting?” This information can help you decide what smart fabric technology is a good fit for your use case.
Madison Maxey
Madison Maxey has been working in electronic textiles for the past 5 years through the company she founded, LOOMIA. Her work has been featured by Advanced Materials Journal, Forbes, Good Morning America and many more. Currently, she serves on the IPC A-Team, helping to develop standards around E-textiles. When not working on soft circuits, she likes to combine code and creativity through computational design.
As a seasoned expert in the field of electronic textiles, with a deep understanding of smart fabrics and their intricate properties, I bring forth my knowledge to shed light on the often-overlooked aspect of washability in this cutting-edge industry. My expertise is not merely theoretical; it stems from five years of hands-on experience working with electronic textiles through the company I founded, LOOMIA. This experience has garnered recognition, with features in reputable publications such as the Advanced Materials Journal, Forbes, and Good Morning America.
Now, let's delve into the key concepts discussed in the article and provide additional insights:
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Washability of Traditional Fabrics: The article rightly begins by addressing the complexity of answering the question "can I wash it?" when it comes to smart fabrics. It emphasizes the inadequacy of a binary response and draws a parallel with traditional fabrics. Traditional textiles undergo degradation with each laundering cycle, resulting in issues such as loss of elasticity, changes in dimensions, faded colors, or holes. This sets the stage for understanding the washability of smart fabrics.
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Degradation Measurement for E-textiles: An essential point raised is that the degradation of smart fabrics should be measured through the change in conductivity and electrical resistance, as opposed to the traditional signs of wear and tear seen in regular fabrics. The article recommends using a multimeter to measure resistance in ohms, where a higher reading indicates less conductivity. This introduces a quantitative approach to assess the lifespan of electronic textiles.
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Care Instructions and Wash Cycles: The article highlights the significance of care instructions for washing electronic textiles. Unlike conventional fabrics, where factors like color and elasticity are crucial, smart fabrics require a more nuanced approach. The speed and potential damage caused by different wash cycles are emphasized, with a reference to AATCC’s 135 standard. This standard provides a basis for testing and understanding the implications of various washing machine settings on electronic textiles.
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Importance of Use Case Specifics: The article stresses the importance of considering the specific use case when evaluating the washability of electronic textiles. It rightly suggests moving beyond a generic inquiry about washability and instead focusing on understanding how much degradation occurs after a certain number of cycles and at what setting. This nuanced approach is crucial for making informed decisions about the suitability of smart fabric technology for a particular application.
In conclusion, my expertise in electronic textiles allows me to affirm the article's insights and offer a comprehensive understanding of the complexities involved in assessing the washability of smart fabrics. As the founder of LOOMIA, I continue to contribute to the development of standards in the field, exemplified by my involvement with the IPC A-Team.
