How to Wash Polyester: Easy Tips for Machine-Washing and Drying (2024)

FAQs

How to Wash Polyester: Easy Tips for Machine-Washing and Drying? ›

Turn it inside out – a handy tip to ensure your favorite polyester-knit items survive the wash is to turn them inside out to prevent any snags from happening. Low heat works best – when washing, drying or ironing your polyester garments use a low to medium heat as the fabric is heat sensitive.

Yes, polyester can shrink with repeated washing and drying at high temperatures, but it's more resistant to shrinking than cotton or wool. To prevent shrinkage, wash in cold water and use low heat in the dryer to preserve the size and shape of your polyester garments.

Usually, polyester can be washed at temperatures up to 60°C. Polyester is resistant to stains, so there is usually no need to wash it at such a high temperature and it is enough to set it in the range of 30-40°C.

Use cold water if at all possible.

Warm water may slightly shrink cotton-polyester clothes, especially if they're new, so it's best to use cold water. Only use warm water if your clothes are particularly dirty. The washing machine is less likely to shrink your clothes than the dryer.

Let the garment dry for 2-4 hours.

Polyester is made to be fast-drying, so it shouldn't take too long to be finished. Wait a few hours and check on the clothing to see if it's dry. If you're laying the clothes on a towel to dry, flip them over every hour to quicken the drying process.

Fabrics like polyester don't do well with fabric softeners. The chemical coating that softens your laundry also makes water cling to it. Mildew and other types of mold can grow on wet laundry that remains damp even while drying on a rack, so it's best to eliminate products that risk making your clothes retain moisture.

You can put polyester in the dryer on a cool to medium setting. The dryer won't cause wrinkles, but polyester can be ironed on low or steamed.

Can 100 percent polyester go in the dryer? Polyester is heat sensitive: High temperatures can cause it to melt, shrink, or deform. Never select hot water or high-heat settings when using the washer, dryer, or iron for polyester. When drying, use only low heat, tumble dry, or permanent press settings.

Toss It in the Dryer

You can mist the wrinkled piece with water, throw in a damp towel, or add a handful of ice cubes to the cycle to generate steam. Use a medium heat setting, and run the dryer for about five to 10 minutes.

Set the wash cycle to normal and use a gentle laundry detergent. Because polyester is a synthetic material, high heat can break down the fibers and cause damage to your clothes. As a result, polyester should be washed using warm or cold water. Make sure to check your care label.

Can you shrink polyester without washing? ›

Iron the polyester on a low or medium heat setting.

Keep ironing until your garment is completely dried. The heat from the iron combined with the warm water in the garment will cause the fabric to shrink! Don't use the steam setting on your iron—it will prevent the polyester from drying.

Not only does 50/50 polyester and cotton come out of the wash ready to wear, it's much easier to wash and care for to begin with. It's a far less temperamental fabric than 100% cotton, and washes and dries with little fuss. This fabric responds best to being washed in warm water and dried on low to medium heat.

To further reduce problems with color bleeding, choose clothing made from synthetic fibers, like polyester or nylon. These synthetic fibers tend to hold on to color better than natural materials, like cotton or wool, resulting in less dye transfer and fading in the wash.

Polyester can be ironed at a medium temperature, so if your iron has a dial, set it to “poly” or “medium.” If you're not sure what heat setting to use, test the iron on a small area of the fabric first. Next, make sure your iron is clean before you start.

Machine wash polyester clothing in hot water and dry it on high heat to shrink it. Re-wash and dry your garment 2-3 times until it's small enough. For more drastic shrinkage, iron your polyester clothing on medium heat while it's wet.