PVC Clothing Care - Our Top Tips

PVC is made from a fabric base with a polyvinyl chloride coating which provides the shine. Due to the nature and structure of this material, it is rather heat sensitive, and should be treated with care, by keeping it away from heat sources, not machine-washing or ironing it, and not overstretching it, as these can cause cracking or melting of the material. Non-organic solvents are another enemy of PVC, especially acetone (commonly found in nail polish remover) as these can distort the material.
PVC is naturally shiny, and therefore does not need to be shined in the same way latex does. Poor care and storage can cause PVC to dull over time, however if it requires a quick refresh, you can use a microfibre cloth to give it a little buff.

How can I clean PVC, is I can't machine wash it?

If the PVC is only being worn for short periods of time and stays relatively clean, some wearers may opt to temporarily freshen it up using a fabric freshener spray on the inside of the garment. This is only a short term solution and PVC should be cared for the same way you would care for any other garments. Follow the simple steps below to get your PVC garments fresh and clean;

1 - Choose your PVC cleaner - we like the BeGloss Vinyl Wash, but there are other products out there to choose from.

2 - Dilute your PVC cleaner with fresh lukewarm water, following the directions on the bottle, making sure the water is not too hot.

3 - Submerse the garment in the water and use a very soft cloth to gently wipe the surface of the garment to remove any visible dirt. You should keep the garment submersed for no more than 2-3 minutes.

4 - Rinse out the garment with cold clean water, then hand out to dry inside out to allow the fabric lining to fully dry first, before turning it back in the right way to allow the PVC layer to finish drying. The garment should be dried out of direct sunlight.

5 - Once dry, store your PVC in a cool dry place away from moisture to keep it in the best condition. If you have multiple colours of PVC (especially white) we recommend having some form of barrier between the colours in case of dye transfer as this can happen, and cannot be removed.

Different types of PVC

Many seasoned PVC wearers will be aware that PVC does not have much stretch, which makes up the majority of the PVC we sell. This PVC has some stretch across, but a minor amount of stretch in the opposite direction.

This is why we introduced the VynX range, which stretches more, and in 4 directions, including along the diagonal! This kind of PVC should be cared for in the same way as regular PVC, however it can be much more flattering and provide a fit more akin to that of latex.

Shop our New In PVC below!