Introduction
Polyester is one of the most common synthetic fabrics found in clothing, loved for its long-lasting, versatile, and low-maintenance properties. It is one of the most commonly used fabrics in the modern garment industry, from casual wear and activewear to work uniforms and outerwear. Yet polyester is remarkably tough, and does require some treatment to keep it looking as good as new. Here washing methods become the secret to making sure your polyester clothing is still in good shape, both in terms of texture, color and performance.
Washing correctly helps to maintain polyester’s most essential attributes, including wicking, wrinkle resistance, and color retention. We might like to believe polyester is indestructible, but if washed badly it can cause fading, shrinkage or wrinkling of the fabric. We’ll cover the entire process of washing polyester clothes without damaging them in this guide, from prepping to cleaning and drying to drying.
1. Understanding Polyester Fabric
Polyester is a petroleum-derived synthetic fiber. This material is valued for its durability, comfort, wicking and easy care properties. The following are some of the principal features of polyester that are a staple in apparel today:
Properties of Polyester
Durability: One of the main factors behind polyester’s popularity as a fabric is durability. It’s resistant to wear from abrasion, stretching and shrinkage, making it a solid fabric for casual use. Polyester stays flat, even after repeated washings.
Lightweight: Polyester is incredibly lightweight, which is one of the reasons activewear and performance clothes use polyester. It hugs the body and allows air flow without bulking up the piece.
Wicking: Polyester can draw moisture away from the skin, which makes it perfect for athletic attire. It draws sweat to the surface where it can evaporate, allowing the wearer to remain dry and comfortable.
Rugged : Polyester is innately wrinkle-resistant. Unlike cotton or linen which is prone to wrinkles, polyester never forms creases and is therefore great for garments that don’t require too much care.
Dye Stability: Polyester carries dye very well, therefore, polyester garments retain vibrant colors even after multiple washes.
Common Uses of Polyester
Polyester finds its way into every clothing product, because it has so many functional properties. These are some of the most common uses of polyester:
Sportswear: Polyester is the best material to choose for sportswear and performance clothes as it wicks moisture away. We use it in fitness gear, yoga pants, gym shorts, and sport jerseys.
T-Shirts, Blouses, and Dresses: T-shirts, blouses, and dresses are typically made of polyester. It is hardy, thin, and wrinkle resistant, making it ideal for regular use.
Shirts and Uniforms: Polyester is widely used in uniforms, scrubs and other work clothing as it’s tough, easy to clean, and resistant to stains.
Outerwear: Polyester is lightweight, warm and resistant to water and is widely used in jackets, coats, and rain gear.
Polyester is a soft and tough material, but you have to wash it very carefully to keep its best characteristics intact. To keep it longer, you need to know how the fabric behaves when washed.
Why Polyester Needs To Be Washed In a Specific Way?
Polyester’s artificial fibers are more prone to heating, friction and toxic chemicals than their natural counterparts. Some washing methods are required to maintain the structure and color of the fabric:
Temperature Sensitivity: Polyester should not be washed in hot water as too much heat will cause the fabric to shrink, warp, or stretch. Polyester is fairly safty but some stains, such as oil, grease, or sweat, can be more challenging to deter if they aren’t prepped before use. You can either use a stain remover or just put a little bit of mild detergent on the stain and let it sit for some minutes before you wash it.
Focusing on the staining areas — the armpits, cuffs, and collar will keep the garment free of odor.
3. Washing Polyester Clothes
Once you’ve cleaned up your polyester clothes, it’s time to wash them. The tips below outline best practices for washing polyester garments on a machine or by hand.
Machine Washing: Best Practices
The most popular way to wash these clothes is by machine, but this must be done correctly as it can damage the fabric.
Cycle Gentle: Polyester can last a long time, but the excessive amount of friction will still degrade it. To prevent friction, put the machine on the gentle or delicate cycle. This position reduces movement and preserves the integrity of the fabric.
Cold or Lukewarm Water: Polyester should be washed only in cool or lukewarm water (never more than 30°C or 86°F). Warm water makes the fabric wrinkle or fall apart; cold water maintains the color of the fabric and prevents rippling.
Mild Detergent: Select a mild detergent that does not contain bleach or other noxious chemicals. Strong detergents can harm the fabric over time, stripping fibers and reducing their ability to retain moisture. A delicate detergent makes sure the polyester doesn’t shrink or rip or change colour.
Use a Mesh Laundry Bag: Wash soft polyester garments or embellishments (such as zippers, buttons) in a mesh laundry bag before use. It provides an extra layer of protection from snags, stretches and damage during the wash process. It also eliminates the chance of your polyester clothes being tangled with other clothes.
Hand Washing: For Lightweight Polyester Clothes.
Some polyester clothing, especially those with fine appliqués, fine blends, or very soft materials, may require hand washing. Hand washing is less damaging to fabric and it offers you more control over the process.
To hand wash polyester:
Fill a Basin with Cool Water: Fill the basin with cool water (20-30°C/68-86°F) and add a little mild detergent.
Place Garment into Water: Dip the polyester cloth in the water and let it soak for 10-15 minutes.
Swish gently: Turn the cloth around without rubbing or bending it. This removes dirt and oils without damaging the fibers.
Rinse well: After you’ve washed, rinse the clothing with cool water until the detergent is removed.
Wash Out Extra Water: You don’t want to wring or twist the garment and stretch or pull the fabric. Instead, squeeze out excess water by pressing the garment between your fingers or against the edge of the basin.
The hand wash works best with lightweight polyester garments because it eliminates agitation and wear. It also keeps the fabric supple and comfortable.
4. Drying Polyester Clothes
When washing your polyester clothes, you have to dry them just as thoroughly as you did when you put them in the dryer. Polyester dries quickly, but improper drying can cause shrinkage, loss of shape or fade.
Avoid the Dryer
Polyester cannot be dried in a high-heat dryer. Extreme heat will destroy the fabric, making it shrink, stretch or become distorted. You can air dry your polyester clothing by leaving it on the counter or hanging it to dry.
Tumble Dry on Low Heat
If you are going to use the dryer, select the low setting so that you don’t heat the fabric too much. Polyester tends to dry quickly even at low temperature so you do not need to heat up very hot.
Avoid Direct Sunlight
Polyester fabrics tend to decolorise if exposed to the sunlight. When drying polyester clothes by air, hang them in a shaded space away from direct sunlight to maintain their colour and avoid UV rays.
Use Fabric Softener Sparingly
Although fabric softeners can soften polyester, they are not as effective at keeping the residue from collecting on the fabric. This can impair the wicking of moisture from the fabric, making it less breathable. Apply fabric softener sparingly or use a fabric softener made especially for synthetic fabrics.
5. Ironing and Steaming Polyester Clothes
Polyester doesn’t naturally wrinkle, so it doesn’t always need ironing. But if your polyester garment needs ironing, there are a few steps you can take to make sure that it doesn’t damage anything.
Ironing Polyester Clothes
3) Iron on Low Heat: Place your iron on the low heat or synthetic fabric setting. Polyester fibres are highly prone to heat, so don’t turn the heat up high enough to melt or scorch the fabric.
Apply Cloth between Iron and Fabric: Place a cotton or pressing cloth between the iron and the garment to avoid it touching the polyester fabric directly. This will preserve the fabric from heat and prevent wrinkles.
Do Not Steam Immediately: Polyester is water-resistant, but direct steam can leave water spots or watermarks on the fabric. If you’re using steam, make sure to distribute it evenly or use a steam iron with the setting switched off.
Steaming Polyester Clothes
We prefer steaming polyester over ironing it, which is a less rougher way to iron out wrinkles. Steaming is where hot water vapour untangles the fibers, softening wrinkles without touching them directly. Steaming polyester clothing won’t cause it to shrink or crack, making it safer for supple polyester blends.
Use a handheld garment steamer or steam function on your iron to steam polyester. Hold the steamer a few inches away from the fabric and let the steam do the work for the wrinkles. Just make sure to keep the steamer moving so that you don’t end up with all the heat in one place.
6. Some Extra Special Notes For Polyester Blends Other Polyester Blends
Polyester is often blended with other fibers, such as cotton, spandex or wool to optimize its performance. Every blend calls for its own cleaning procedures to keep the garment in tip-top shape.
Polyester/Cotton Blends
Polyester and cotton fabrics are popular in casual clothing and uniforms. Cotton is more delicate than polyester, so wash and dry polyester/cotton blends on gentler settings to prevent shrinkage of the cotton. Please read the garment’s care label as the cotton content might require water temperature or drying times to adjust.
Polyester/Spandex or Lycra Blends
Polyester blended with spandex or Lycra is typically used in sportswear and stretchy clothes. Polyester makes them durable, but spandex makes them elastic. To avoid pulling or tearing the fabric, wash these clothes in cold water on a gentle cycle. You want to be careful of the heat while drying and ironing it, as this can weaken the stretch fibers and cause the garment to stretch out.
Polyester and Wool Blends
Polymers infused with wool make soft, comfy materials for sweaters, coats and knitwear. Wool is soft compared to polyester, so run on a gentle cycle and use cool water to ensure that the wool fibres don’t shrink or felt. : Make sure to check the care label of your garment for laundry and drying recommendations.
7. How to Keep Polyester Clothing Fresh Longer?
The most efficient way to prolong the life of polyester fabrics is to properly take care of them.
Regular Washing vs. Over-Washing
If it’s not dirty or sweaty, polyester doesn’t require washing after each use. Excessive washing erodes the fibers and can strip them of their moisture-wicking and dye-holding abilities. Instead, wash polyester only on the occasions that you need them to prevent overuse.
Storage Tips
Polyester garments should be kept in a cool, dry location to keep wrinkles and rips at bay. Polyester clothes should be laid out on a foam-lined hanger to hold their shape, and folded gently to prevent creasing. You should not store polyester clothes in the sun or in humid environments to stop them from fading or developing mildew.
Dealing with Pilling
Pilling occurs when tiny fibers on the fabric surface press together into tiny balls. Polyester does not pill easily when washed and dried, but it will not be warped if this happens. If pilling occurs, shave the pill off with a fabric shaver or lint roller. Avoid sharp brushes which will damage the fabric.
Yashvi Jain, a writer by day and reader by night, is an accomplished content writer and published author of ‘Mind Under Construction. Yashvi possesses extensive knowledge of fabrics, sustainability, and literature. On occasions, you would catch her scripting for her YouTube channel, engrossed in fiction, or ardently dedicating her time to research and storytelling.